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Miss Mississippi Contestant Raises Awareness of Lamictal SJS
By Anne Bucher
Ever since she was a little girl, Kennitra Thompson dreamed of becoming Miss America. She came one step closer to her dream when she competed in the Miss Mississippi Pageant for the first time last year. Her dreams came crashing down, however, after her doctor gave her a prescription for Lamictal, an antiepileptic drug that is sometimes used to control mood swings associated with bipolar disorder.
After taking Lamictal for two weeks, Thompson thought she was coming down with a cold because she was experiencing a sore throat and fever. When her face began to swell, she sought medical attention. Her doctors told her that she was experiencing either an allergic reaction or a viral infection.
When her arm broke out in a rash, Thompson performed an Internet search of her symptoms and discovered that her symptoms matched those of Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), a rare condition that can be caused by an adverse drug reaction. Although her doctors were not convinced of this diagnosis, they admitted her into the hospital and monitored her condition. Two days later, SJS took over her body.
Lamictal SJS is a Rare but Life-Threatening Condition
Stevens Johnson Syndrome, while rare, is potentially fatal. While the early symptoms of SJS resemble those of the flu, a person afflicted with SJS will often begin to experience facial swelling and rashes that spread all over the body. Blisters tend to form around the mucous membranes, such as the eyes, nose, mouth and genitals. Because SJS blisters resemble those of burn victims, SJS victims are frequently treated in burn centers.
In Thompson’s case, the Lamictal-induced SJS affected her entire body. The swelling caused her airways to close. The SJS continued to burn her organs and her skin. Thompson was eventually put on life support. Her doctors were not sure that she would survive. She spent more than two weeks in a coma.
Lamictal is one of the growing list of drugs that have been associated with Stevens Johnson Syndrome. One of the most tragic features of SJS is that it can strike at any time, even if you have successfully taken the drug before. While children under the age of 16 are more likely to develop Lamictal SJS, no other predictive factors have been identified. Because the symptoms resemble those of the common cold or flu, it is especially important to be aware of the risk of SJS. Because the disease is rare, many physicians initially mistake Lamictal SJS for a bacterial or viral infection.
Thompson’s case is remarkable because she defied the odds to survive Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome. She competed in the Miss Mississippi Pageant for a second time this year from July 10-13, 2013. She listed SJS as her platform issue, making it her mission to raise awareness about the condition that nearly took her life.
Take Legal Action
If you or a loved one developed SJS after taking Lamictal, you are not alone. To learn more about your legal rights, visit the Stevens Johnson (SJS) & Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. When you submit information about your Lamictal SJS, an experienced SJS lawyer conduct a free case evaluation to determine whether you qualify to take legal action.
Updated July 16th, 2013
All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.
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