Development of an incipient Stevens-Johnson reaction while on a stable dose of lamotrigine.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of a possible incipient Stevens-Johnson reaction while a patient had been on a stable dose of lamotrigine for several months and to consider the likely cause.


METHODS
The history is recounted.


RESULTS
One likely cause implicates differing effective doses of lamotrigine across differing brands and raises quality control issues.


CONCLUSIONS
The patient's severe reaction may reflect changing to a brand of lamotrigine that precipitously generated a higher serum level of lamotrigine.
Scientia Professor, University of New South Wales, and Professorial Fellow, Black Dog Institute, Randwick, NSW, Australia g.parker@unsw.edu.au.
Gordon
G
Parker
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D011786:Quality Control; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine
bipolar disorder; lamotrigine; skin reactions