Toxic epidermal necrolysis after sun-exposure probably due to lamotrigine and chlorpromazine.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a life-threatening disease. It may be induced by many kinds of drugs especially anti-epileptics such as lamotrigine, but less sun-exposure related. Lamotrigine has been effective for partial complex seizure and bipolar disorder and caused serious side effects such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis. We reported a case of the patient who developed the manic episode and received lamotrigine and chlorpromazine drugs. After combination of lamotrigine and chlorpromazine, the patient developed skin rash to toxic epidermal necrolysis after sun-exposure. We had discontinued both drugs, given supportive treatment, and let him prevent sun-exposure greatly. The disease process got subsided nearly 4 weeks later. Clinicians should carefully prescribe mood stabilizer and photo-toxic or photosensitivity medications with higher drug-eruption rate.
Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Hsien-Te
HT
Huang
Chen-Lin
CL
Chang
Dong-Sheng
DS
Tzeng