Lamictal Rash Can Lead to Fatal Reaction
By Anne Bucher
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lamictal (lamotrigine) to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Approximately 10 percent of people who take lamotrigine develop a rash within the first six weeks of treatment. What is Steven Johnson Syndrome?
Stevens Johnson Syndrome often manifests with flulike symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat and burning eyes. These symptoms often develop several days before any signs of a rash or blisters appear. Lamictal SJS often involves blisters on the mucous membranes, especially in the mouth, nose and eyes. The rash may be red or purple and spread throughout the body.
SJS victims sometimes report facial swelling, tongue swelling, hives, skin pain and shedding of the skin. Because SJS can be fatal, patients taking Lamictal should seek emergency care if any of these symptoms develop.
Lamictal SJS has been reported in about 1 in 1,000 adults who take the medication and in 1 in 300 children under the age of 12. Due to these risks, doctors have changed the way in which they prescribe Lamictal, starting with a smaller dose and gradually increasing it over a period of a few weeks. This gradual process reduces the risk of developing Lamictal SJS. Combining Lamictal with valproate also increases a patient’s risk of developing a Lamictal rash.
Treating the Lamictal Rash
Because Stevens Johnson Syndrome is rare, many doctors are unfamiliar with the condition and will try to treat it with antibiotics or other ineffective drugs. Because the SJS blisters closely resemble those of burn victims, people who develop SJS are often treated in burn centers. To minimize the risk of blindness, treatment of Lamictal SJS should involve a consultation with an eye specialist. In some cases, SJS victims require months of treatment. They are often left with permanent scarring from the loss of skin tissue.
As awareness of Lamictal SJS grows, many people are filing lawsuits that accuse GlaxoSmithKline of failing to warn about the risks of developing the potentially-fatal reaction to the drug. They want to hold the drug manufacturer accountable for the safety of its products. They are seeking compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and other losses they have suffered from the adverse drug reaction.
Learn More about Your Legal Options
If you or someone you love developed Lamictal SJS, you may have legal options. Visit the Stevens Johnson (SJS) & Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) Class Action Lawsuit Investigation for more information. When you submit information about your injury, a lawyer will conduct a free case review to find out if you qualify to join a Lamictal lawsuit.
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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One thought on Lamictal Rash Can Lead to Fatal Reaction
I have been on 3 different thrush medications now. The 2nd my tongue was swabbed but they didn’t see any yeast. But was given a 10 day supply each time of first pill that you swallow , then the second tablets that you dissolve in the mouth and third liquid that you swish and swallow. I have sores on my tongue, lip that looks like ring worm and now it is spreading on the inside of my mouth and inside my ear. I have a sore in my ear. Is this caused by lamictal?