Lamictal rash symptoms have been linked to the prescription medication used to treat bipolar disorder and seizures. Other severe adverse side effects and complications such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) have also been associated with the drug.

If you or a loved one developed Lamictal rash symptoms or adverse side effects such as SJS or TEN you may be eligible to file a Lamictal lawsuit or join in a Lamictal class action lawsuit.

Overview: Lamictal Rash Symptoms

Lamictal (lamotrigine) has been linked to a serious number of rash symptoms, adverse side effects and complications. Side effects linked to the medication include:

• Chest pain
• Blurred vision
• Sleeping problems
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Head pain
• Joint pain
• Others

Two forms of life-threatening skin diseases have also been linked to Lamictal. Both SJS and TEN are skin diseases linked to Lamictal that cause severe symptoms such as skin peeling, sores on the mucous membranes and rash.

Other side effects may also include a flat red rash, body aches, and a fever. Patients that have been affected and those who have developed either skin disease are typically hospitalized in a burn unit where they are given medications and fluids.

TEN and SJS usually begin 1-3 weeks after the start of a medication. The symptoms of SJS or TEN can begin with headaches, coughing, body aches, fever, and inflammation of the cornea or conjunctiva.

After these symptoms, the skin can change. The hallmark of these SJS and TEN is severe skin peeling — the entire epidermis layer of the skin, the top outer layer, can peel off from large areas of the body.

During the period of time where the skin begins to change, a flat red rash may also be seen on the neck, trunk or face. The rash then spreads irregularly throughout different parts of the body.

When the rash enlarges and spreads, blisters can form in the center. Blistering of the mucous membrane may also occur within the eyes, mouth and even vagina. The skin blisters may then fall off easily with just a light touch or pull, and may be seen to do so in the span of 1-3 days.

TEN may affect almost 30 percent of the body, whereas SJS typically affects a smaller area of the skin roughly 10 percent. However, an overlap between SJS and TEN is seen to occur affecting up to 30 percent of the epidermis layer of the body. These two diseases can be life-threatening.

Half of patients diagnosed with TEN of SJS develop either of these two life-threatening skin diseases because of a reaction to a drug. Most often, the drugs are anticonvulsants, such as phenytoin and carbamazepine, or antibiotics. Other medications may also include allopurinol or piroxicam.

In other cases, TEN or SJS may develop from a graft-versus-host disease, bacterial infection or  vaccination. Patients with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), connective tissue diseases or chronic joint diseases are also more likely to develop these conditions.