A woman's face experienced severe blistering and burning after a rare and dangerous reaction to her prescribed depression medication. The 42-year-old patient was urgently hospitalised with extensive red and blistered skin affecting her face, head, neck, and torso.
Diagnosis of a Rare Skin Disorder
Medical professionals determined that the patient had been taking the drug lamotrigine to manage her depression, which they believe triggered toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). This is a rare, life-threatening skin condition characterised by widespread blistering, necrosis, and detachment of the skin.
Gradual Onset and Severe Symptoms
The patient's symptoms began three weeks prior to hospital admission, gradually worsening until she required intensive care unit treatment. Her face was the most severely affected area, with the reaction starting as red blisters across her facial skin.
Intensive Hospital Treatment and Recovery
Upon admission to Hospital Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo in São Paulo, Brazil, she was immediately started on a course of several antibiotics. Doctors also applied an antibacterial biomaterial to her facial wounds to promote tissue regeneration.
Four days into treatment, she showed promising signs of healing, with medical evaluations conducted every other day to monitor progress. The patient remained hospitalised for 66 days as her skin slowly healed under careful medical supervision.
Remarkable Recovery Documented
Photographs taken throughout her hospital stay and during a follow-up appointment six months after discharge demonstrate her incredible recovery. The images show visibly less scarred skin, with doctors describing the affected areas as having undergone "excellent" restoration at the follow-up appointment.
Known Risks of Lamotrigine
While such reactions are uncommon, medical professionals noted that adverse responses to lamotrigine have been reported previously. The drug is widely prescribed in the United Kingdom for depression, bipolar disorder, and epilepsy management.
This case highlights the importance of monitoring for potential severe side effects when using this medication, despite its therapeutic benefits for mental health conditions.
