Rash is a relatively common drug-related reaction, and antiepileptic drug treatment has been associated with rash, including potentially life-threatening skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). How can neurologists tell if a rash is serious?
At AES 2018, Dr Jeanne Young, a dermatologist at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, USA, provided an overview of skin reactions to common antiepileptic drugs and how to manage them.
The most common type of drug-related rash is morbilliform drug eruption, which is characterized by erythematous macules or papules, or desquamation. The rash may be itchy, but is usually not accompanied by systemic symptoms.