Lamictal is widely used to treat epilepsy, but a growing number of patients and doctors are concerned about the connection between Lamictal for epilepsy and Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

How do I Know I Have Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. The Mayo Clinic says that Stevens Johnson Syndrome is arare condition that is believed to be a disorder of the patient’s immune system.

Symptoms of Stevens Johnson Syndrome include flu-like problems. A person who has Stevens Johnson Syndrome might experience cough, fever, sore throat and burning eyes in the days before the rash develops. These initial symptoms may be followed by a purple or red rash or blisters. This can eventually cause the patient’s top layer of the skin to die and shed away.

Although the exact cause of Stevens Johnson Syndrome cannot always be identified, it is typically found as an allergic reaction to a drug, illness or an infection. The Mayo Clinic says Stevens Johnson Syndrome is an unpredictable and rare reaction and without having all of the information, a physician might not be able to identify the exact cause.

Speaking to a physician immediately is strongly recommended for anyone who finds themselves in the position of having possible Stevens Johnson Syndrome because this can become a serious medical issue. Complete withdrawal of a medicine such as Lamictal may be necessary for a patient who has developed the early signs of Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Growing reports indicate that there may be connection between using Lamictal for epilepsy and the development of Stevens Johnson Syndrome. Lamictal is an anti-convulsant as well as a mood stabilizer. It is currently approved by the FDA to treat seizure disorders and bipolar disorder.

Lamictal was the second medication following lithium to be approved by the FDA for treating bipolar disorder to prevent hypo-manic or depressive episodes. Lamictal decreases abnormal activity in the brain and appears to be effective for treating depressive episodes of bipolar disorder.

However, there are side effects associated with Lamictal for epilepsy, including double vision, drowsiness, constipation, weight loss, loss of balance and eye movement that can’t be controlled. Lamictal can also lead to the development of Stevens Johnson Syndrome rash.

Since Lamictal can cause SJS quickly, anyone who develops symptoms of this condition must be treated immediately for the problem. Some people even have to be treated in an intensive care or burn unit. The first thing the physicians involved in the treatment plan will recommend is to discontinue the use of the medicine that led to the original sickness.

A reaction to the Lamictal drug can start while you’re using it, or up to two weeks after you have stopped using it. Many different medications have been connected to SJS, including penicillin, pain relievers, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants and antigout medications.

It can take the body time to rebuild, which is why hydration and building up protein are both important for a person who has been diagnosed with SJS. A person who ends up in the hospital for SJS treatment might even need a feeding tube as their body builds the strength back up.

Severe Cases of SJS Lead to Investigations and Lawsuits

After a teenager had a severe reaction to using Lamictal, the Medical Board of California has opened a formal investigation into the side effects. A psychiatrist had prescribed Lamictal to this teen for the purpose of treating mood swings, but the reaction the teen had was so severe that some of the patient’s skin appeared to melt off.

Another young patient, this time in Australia, developed a sudden rash just prior to her 19^th birthday. When she went to the doctor, she was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Her skin blistered and fell off. She had been put on Lamictal for treating epilepsy prior to developing SJS.

Some patients will get a rash first, but others will have flu-like symptoms as the earliest signs of SJS. When the condition gets worse, the blisters can spread such that the top layer of the skin can die and shed away.

When a patient catches the symptoms early and gets to the doctor, there is treatment for SJS. When the condition has been caused by use of a drug like Lamictal, usually the prescribing physician will recommend stopping that drug in addition to other treatments. Addressing the underlying cause and then minimizing complications are two of the most common ways that doctors will manage the diagnosis of SJS.

If the situation spreads quickly, however, a severe reaction like the two cases above could occur. The rash can become a life-threatening complication depending on the individual patient.