According to a safety warning released by the Food and Drug Administration in April 2018, seizure and bipolar medication Lamictal has been linked to a possible life-threatening immune reaction, in addition to other serious Lamictal side effects.

Since Lamictal was approved by the FDA in 1994, eight serious reactions have been reported in conjunction with its use, including at least one fatality.

Lamictal is a popular anti-seizure drug, but a growing number of reports draw concerns over serious side effects, including Lamictal Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. The drug has also been linked to hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a type of immune reaction that may cause severe inflammation throughout the body and lead to hospitalization or death.

HLH is a condition that causes the body to make too many activated immune cells. Symptoms of the condition may include neurological abnormalities, enlarged liver or spleen, cytopenia (a decreased number of mature blood cells), fever and rash, lymph node enlargement, breathing problems, kidney abnormalities, heart problems, easy bruising, jaundice, and abnormal bleeding.

According to the FDA warning, patients who experience symptoms congruent with HLH, especially rash or fever, while taking Lamictal should seek immediate medical attention. The drug should also be discontinued if doctors suspect that HLH is a possible adverse reaction for their patient.

In addition to the risk of HLH, use of Lamictal may also result in side effects including Stevens Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis. Patients who have suffered serious side effects of Lamictal may be eligible to hire an attorney and file a class action lawsuit to pursue compensation for their pain, suffering, medical expenses, and other damages.

Background of Lamictal

Lamictal (also known by its generic name, lamotrigine) is a popular prescription medication manufactured sold by GlaxoSmithKline. Lamictal was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in 1994 as an anti-seizure drug to treat epilepsy in children and adults. Since its approval, it has also been used for the treatment of bipolar disorder and manic depression.

Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Of course, any medication is going to come with certain mild side effects, and lamotrigine is no exception to this rule. However, a growing number of reports and studies are linking lamotrigine with serious side effects, some of which can even be life-threatening.

Indeed, the most serious concern associated with this medication is Stevens Johnson syndrome, a skin condition that can lead to painful injuries, permanent disfigurement, and even death.

The rate of fatalities from the syndrome is worryingly high. For patients with SJS, the mortality rate is 15 percent, but that spikes up to 40 percent for patients who have been diagnosed with the more advanced form of this condition, known as toxic epidermal necrolysis or TEN.

The difference between these two conditions lies in their severity. Once Stevens Johnson syndrome covers over 30 percent of a patient’s body, it is reclassified as toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Unfortunately, this Stevens Johnson syndrome is not nearly as rare as one might assume from such a major medication and so severe a condition. In fact, one in 1,000 adults who take Lamictal suffer from Lamictal Stevens Johnson syndrome and/or toxic epidermal necrolysis.

The condition is a substantially greater risk for children, affecting approximately one in 50 children who take the drug. Indeed, Lamictal is considered by the medical community to be “strongly associated with the risk of Stevens Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis,” especially in children. If symptoms of SJS appear, usage of Lamictal must be stopped right away. The symptoms of Lamictal SJS are very serious complications and must be treated immediately.

What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

When a person has SJS, the epidermis, or top layer of skin, begins to blister and peel severely. This usually occurs a mere few weeks after the initial usage of lamotrigine. These SJS blisters and rashes are painful for the user, leading to intense pain, eye problems, and even damage to internal organs. In most cases of SJS, patients are left with significant and disfiguring scarring.

Stevens Johnson syndrome symptoms are similar to severe burns and are therefore commonly treated in the hospital burn unit. SJS side effects can also lead to life-threatening infections, as well as other dangerous complications.

Nearly 10 percent of patients who take lamotrigine experience some kind of skin rash after beginning to take lamotrigine, according to clinical trials. Most of these rashes are not associated with SJS and do not even require hospitalization, but a simple rash can turn deadly in some cases, so lamotrigine users should be extremely cautious when displaying such symptoms.

Filing a Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has experienced Lamictal Stevens Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis, you may be able to file a lawsuit. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by Stevens Johnson syndrome or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.