Lamictal (Lamotrigine) is one of America’s most popular anticonvulsant medications, but it has been linked to a severe drug allergy reaction known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS).

The drug is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and was approved by the FDA in 1994 to treat a variety of seizure disorders, including epilepsy. However, it was not long after its release that Lamictal was reported to allegedly trigger Stevens Johnson Syndrome in some patients.

In January 2009, the medical journal Pediatrics published a study evaluating the different risk factors for Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) in children.

The study consisted of 80 SJS cases with 216 matched controls, using data from two international studies: the severe cutaneous adverse reaction (SCAR) study and the multinational severe cutaneous adverse reaction (EuroSCAR) study.

From this data, three cases of SJS were confirmed to be associated with Lamictal, with researchers suggesting that the anti-convulsant drug was strongly associated with the condition.

The concern of Lamictal SJS eventually incurred a Black Box warning from the FDA, addressing the risk of SJS and TEN. The warning stated that severe cases may occur in 1,000 adult Lamictal patients, and up to one in 50 children.

Complications from Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a severe allergic skin reaction, often characterized by the red or purple skin lesions that appear on the patient’s skin. More often, SJS is a drug allergy reaction, and can be induced by one or more medications such as Lamictal.

It is an extremely rare condition with less than 1,000 diagnoses per year, with it being potentially fatal if not diagnosed in a timely manner.

Experts warn that Stevens Johnson Syndrome begins with flu like symptoms, and can occur within the first two to eight weeks of starting a medication. However once the skin lesions appear, often red or purple in color, the patient’s condition can deteriorate very quickly and become potentially fatal.

In addition, the infected areas start to detach and melt off the patient’s body resulting inner tissue and muscle being exposed to possible infection. Due to the nature of these injuries, patients are often treated in the burn units of hospitals to replenish lost flesh.

At this point in time, medical experts have yet to identify which medications definitively cause Stevens Johnson Syndrome or which patients are more vulnerable than others. However, experts have recently confirmed that patients with certain genetic traits from the Asian Pacific Islands may be more prone to having an SJS reaction.

Filing a Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawsuit

Due to the condition’s rarity, many medications often lack SJS on their warning labels. This means that numerous patients are at risk for this drug allergy reaction.

Any patient who had been prescribed Lamictal or other medication and allegedly suffered Stevens Johnson Syndrome, may be eligible to file legal action against the manufacturing companies. Potential claimants should contact a specialized lawyer as soon as possible, to determine if they are eligible to file a Lamictal SJS lawsuit.