Lamotrigine – marketed under the brand name of Lamictal – is a prescription medication initially approved as an antiepileptic to prevent seizures.

Later, the drug was approved for use against Bipolar I disorder. Unfortunately, Lamictal may cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), both life-threatening skin disorders.

What Is Lamictal?

Lamictal is a prescription medication manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) that is used as an anticonvulsant to prevent seizures in people with epilepsy and as a mood stabilizer maintenance therapy, to prevent manic and depressive episodes in bipolar depression.

This drug blocks specific sodium channels, inhibiting the release of glutamate and aspartate.

Lamictal was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1994 and is the second drug approved by the FDA to be used for this purpose, whereas its predecessor, Lithium, had been approved 30 years earlier.

Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome can affect any age group, but it most commonly occurs in older people because they tend to be prescribed the drug more often, so many medical experts feel that this evidence is circumstantial at best.

Many doctors do not encourage Lamictal to be used in collaboration with other medications, for it has been shown to increase the risk of an SJS rash occurring.

SJS/TEN cause the epidermis (top layer of skin) to blister and peel off. These rashes are extremely disfiguring, painful, and almost always must be treated with intensive care. They can also lead to life-threatening infections or other complications.

Typically, medical treatment of Steven Johnson Syndrome is similar for patients with thermal burns. Beyond this kind of supportive care, there is no official or accepted treatment for SJS.

The most common cases of SJS cover less than 10 percent of body surface in rash, with a mortality rate of 5 percent. Other complications the patient may suffer include organ failure, cornea scratching, and blindness.

There are about 300 new case of Steven Johnson Syndrome in United States per year.

Lamictal SJS Warning

Lamictal includes a prominent Black Box Warning about the risk of Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). These severe rashes are estimated to affect one in 1,000 adults and up to 1 in 50 children.

The warning indicates that signs of SJS are most likely to happen within the first two to eight weeks of Lamictal treatment. It also warns that children ages 2 to 16 are the most likely victims of Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

People who are filing Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuits against GSK allege that the company knew about this possible side effect but failed to warn their customers and the medical community.