There are numerous prescription medications that can cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, one of them being Lamictal (lamotrigine), a drug that has been a cause of action in numerous lawsuits filed by patients who have suffered serious injuries as a result of taking it.

What is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) a severe skin condition that results in painful blistering and peeling. Most cases are due to the side effects of prescription medications; however, it can also result from mycoplasma pneumoniae, the bacterium that causes “walking pneumonia,” or a cytomegalovirus infection such as mononucleosis. 

What Are Symptoms of SJS?

Following exposure to a medication or a pathogen that can cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome, the patient typically experiences fever, sore throat, burning eyes, and generalized fatigue. After a few days, ulcers, blisters and/or other lesions start appearing on the mucous membranes of the mouth and perianal region. Eventually, lesions develop on the face, torso, and limbs. Approximately 30 percent of children who develop SJS wind up with conjunctivitis. 

What Drugs Are Known Cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?

SJS may be caused by any of the following medications:

• barbiturates (sedatives)
• cefixime (Suprax)
• lamotrigine (Lamictal)
• penicillin
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• sulfa drugs

Approximately 10 percent of patients who take Lamictal develop skin rash, which typically appears within 8 weeks of beginning therapy. When combined with forms of valproate sodium such as Epilim, the risk of contracting SJS increases.  

How is SJS Treated?

If a drug known to cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is determined to be the cause, the first step is to discontinue the medication. In these situations, the skin generally regrows within a few weeks, though complete recovery can take several months. If the cause is a viral or bacterial infection, doxycycline (Acticlate, Doxy-100, Morgidox, Targadox, et. al.) or a macrolide medication (azithromycin, Biaxin, etc.) may be administered.

Surgical treatment of blisters and legions is similar to that for thermal burn injuries.

Why is Lamictal Prescribed?

Lamictal is usually prescribed for the control of epileptic seizures. It may be used as monotherapy, or prescribed in combination with Epilim and/or Depakote (divalproex sodium). Less often, it may be used to treat bipolar disorder. While Lamictal-related skin rashes may be minor, they can develop into a serious and even life-threatening condition. For this reason, patients who develop skin rashes while taking Lamictal are advised to discontinue the medication immediately and consult their physicians.

Have Lawsuits Been Filed Over Drugs That Can Cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?

Several lawsuits have been filed over the past few years, citing Lamictal-related SJS as a cause of action. Most of these have been medical malpractice; few have targeted the drug’s manufacturer, Glaxo-Smith Kline. In most of these cases, the doctor has either misdiagnosed the patient, wrote an “off-label” prescription for Lamictal, or prescribed it in combination with another medication in a combination known to cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. A study conducted in 2008 asked 950 doctors to classify different drug combinations by severity of interactions. Over 33 percent were “not sure” about half of the combinations listed; in three-quarters of the highest-risk combinations, fewer than one in four knew that taking the drugs together could cause serious interactions.