A 23-year-old woman from New Zealand, Charlotte Gilmour, recently shared her harrowing experience with a rare and severe reaction to medication prescribed for depression. Gilmour developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), a condition characterized by painful blisters on the skin, mouth, and oesophagus.
According to reports, Gilmour had been battling a chest infection for several weeks before waking up with a painful rash, leading her to seek medical care. She had been on Lamotrigine for two months when her body reacted negatively to certain components of the medication, causing a rare but serious condition called Stevens-Johnson syndrome, according to the doctors.
Gilmour described her experience as "terrifying," stating that the medication "burned me from inside out." The reaction not only affected her skin and mouth but also caused painful blisters throughout her digestive system, making it impossible for her to eat normally. Consequently, doctors had to insert a feeding tube to provide her with essential nutrients.
Despite receiving steroid treatment, Gilmour's condition did not improve, and she eventually experienced vision loss, leading to a month-long hospitalization. Although she has made significant progress since then, some after-effects persist, including blisters that continue to appear in her eyes and flare-ups of the rash.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome is known to be triggered by various medications, including antiepileptic drugs like Lamotrigine, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory painkillers. The condition typically begins with flu-like symptoms and progresses to a blistering rash, which can be life-threatening in severe cases.
In a similar incident, a woman from Brazil, Jacqueline Gmack, also experienced a life-threatening reaction to over-the-counter medication, leading to a 17-day coma. Gmack was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which caused her body to attack its own skin, resulting in blisters and peeling.
Gmack survived the incident, but her eyes were severely damaged and she was left with scars. In order to maintain her vision, she needed numerous operations and continuing care. She stresses the value of continuing medical care and early action for people with unusual illnesses like SJS.
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
