Exfoliative Dermatitis Due to Carbamazepine

Sir, A 57 years, male patients, frequently treated with antipsychotics in past for manic episodes, was kept on carbamazepine maintenance therapy 600 mg per day since three months. Relatives called for emergency home visit with complaints of restlessness. Not sleeping since three days, itching all over body and breathlessness. On examination there was pilling of skin all over body, multiple bruises and scratches, oedema feet-pitting on pressure, legs like elephants, patient was grasping for air and shouting for distress, enable to seat for a few minutes, had multiple ronchi and rales on respiratory auscultation. Patient was immediately hospitalized, physician and dermatologist were called. Other systemic examinations and investigations were inconclusive include Hb, TLC, DLC, Platelet count, Blood Urea, USG Abdomen, X-Ray Chest, fundus.