The antiseizure medication Lamictal has been linked with certain severe complications, including DRESS syndrome, which can lead to further serious issues.

What is DRESS Syndrome?

DRESS syndrome — Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms — is a condition involving a serious rash that can occur after taking certain drugs, including Lamictal. DRESS syndrome is a reaction that affects both the skin and several internal organs.

Typically, the onset of DRESS syndrome symptoms is between two to eight weeks after beginning the drug that causes it. Symptoms may include fever and rash and typically involve at least one internal organ. Fevers are reported in some 85 percent of DRESS cases and rash in about 75 percent. DRESS occurs between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 10,000 drug exposures. In some cases, DRESS can indeed be fatal.

Due to the rarity of the condition, DRESS syndrome lacks research and available data and is often misdiagnosed by physicians. The earlier the condition is diagnosed, and treatment is begun, the better chance a patient may have of survival. The fatality rate associated with DRESS syndrome is between 5 percent and 10 percent, depending on the extent of the skin rash and internal organ inflammation.

Another common symptom of this condition is facial swelling, along with inflammation across other areas of the body. Generally, the inflammation affects the liver or kidneys. In more rare cases, inflammation may also affect the nervous system, lungs, or pancreas.

In a study of people who suffered DRESS syndrome, many were left with kidney and liver injuries. The study identified 69 DRESS patients out of 538 patients with hypersensitivity reactions. Additionally, of the 69 patients, more than half required hospital stays for treatment, with the median length of hospitalization lasting nine days. Treatment for the syndrome may also be expensive, averaging $17,000.

The condition may also result in respiratory, cardiac conditions, or neurological conditions including headaches, seizures, or coma, as well as vasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessels. While these additional complications may develop at the same time as DRESS syndrome, in some cases it may take years for DRESS-related conditions to develop, making it important for patients to continue to be monitored after their initial treatment.

First and foremost, the treatment of this condition usually involves stopping the drug believed to have caused it.

What Causes DRESS Syndrome?

The most common factors associated with DRESS include anticonvulsants, including aromatic antiepileptics, other antiepileptics, and antibiotics, among others. One of the antiepileptics or anticonvulsants linked with causing DRESS is Lamictal.

Sometimes, it is difficult to link DRESS with a particular drug, since there is a latency period of two to eight weeks before symptoms typically present themselves. This can make it more difficult to draw a connection between the two.

What is Lamictal?

Lamictal, also known by its generic name lamotrigine, is a popular anticonvulsant manufactured by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. Lamictal was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1994 and is used to treat the symptoms of epileptic seizures in both adults and children over the age of two. It is also commonly used for adults with bipolar disorder.

DRESS is not the only issue associated with Lamictal usage. Indeed, the FDA has issued a safety communication about the risk of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) linked with the medication, a serious immune system reaction.

Other major reactions to Lamictal include Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), a skin and mucous membrane condition that involves often severe blisters and skin burns covering up to 30 percent of the body. When SJS worsens, it becomes known as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) which covers more than 30 percent of the body’s surface area and carries with it far more risks, including a higher fatality rate.

Can I File a Lamictal Lawsuit?

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a serious condition such as DRESS syndrome after using Lamictal, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by this or other complications, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially while dealing with serious medical complications, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Join a Free Lamictal Lawsuit Investigation

If you or a loved one developed a Lamictal rash or other serious Lamictal side effects, you may qualify to pursue compensation by filing a Lamictal lawsuit. See if you qualify by filling out the short form on this page. It’s absolutely free to participate, so act now!

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