Epileptic patients are being warned against serious Lamictal skin peeling, which may be an indication of even more serious conditions, Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

Both of these reactions are severe allergic drug reactions and have been reported with a number of medications, with Lamictal skin peeling being one of the more frequently reported injuries in conjunction with SJS.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is an extremely rare drug reaction, often characterized by red or purple skin lesions.

Often SJS can cover up to 30% of skin surface area, but severe cases can evolve into TEN and cover up to 90% of the body. These allergic reactions are potentially fatal and should be reported to physicians as soon as possible. Lamictal skin peeling may indicate the beginning of SJS.

Patients who experience Stevens Johnson Syndrome may also suffer lesions in the eyes and other mucus membranes and internal organ damage. Stevens Johnson Syndrome can quickly turn deadly.

Even if patients survive Stevens Johnson Syndrome, they often have to contend with permanent skin damage and some degree of eyesight damage.

Overview of Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome Correlation

Lamictal is one of the most frequently reported medications in conjunction with Stevens Johnson Syndrome. The FDA and certain drug warning sites point out the correlation. According to drugs.com, Lamictal skin peeling could require hospitalization and could lead to Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

The website stated that Stevens Johnson Syndrome affects between 0.3% to 0.8% in pediatric Lamictal patients and between 0.08% to 0.3% in adult Lamictal patients. In addition, the website stated that one death was reported in a cohort of 1,983 Lamictal pediatric patients who were prescribed the medication for epilepsy.

As a very popular antiepileptic medication, Lamictal is often prescribed to patients experiencing a variety of epileptic conditions including partial onset seizures, primary generalized tonic clonic seizures and Lennox Gastaut syndrome.

Lamictal is also often prescribed to treat bipolar disorder, as the treatment mechanism helps manages the brain’s electrical signals.

The FDA also warned against Lamictal skin peeling, and the agency required that manufacturing company GlaxoSmithKline give physicians accurate prescription information regarding the Lamcital SJS risk. The FDA ultimately required a black box warning describing the risk of Lamictal SJS.

“Lamictal can cause serious rashes requiring hospitalization and discontinuation of treatment. The incidence of these rashes, which have included Stevens Johnson Syndrome, is approximately 0.8% in pediatric patients receiving Lamictal as therapy for epilepsy and 0.3% in adults on therapy for epilepsy,” the FDA warning stated.

It is important to note that Stevens Johnson Syndrome begins with flu like symptoms and will start within the first few weeks of starting the medication. At this point in time, researchers are unsure of what may cause SJS like reactions or which medications may trigger them.

Any medication associated with Stevens Johnson Syndrome should state the potential complication on the warning label. Patients should contact a physician as soon as possible if they experience any concerning symptoms to prevent the development of SJS.

Patients who experience Lamictal SJS can contact a lawyer to determine eligibility for legal action.