Has anyone had Swollen Glands while taking Lamictal?

[momof3boys]

Im on day 16 of Lamictal and the past couple of days, since increasing my dose to 75mgs twice a day, I have noticed my glands around my neck area, behind my ears, and on my throat area are swollen. Today I noticed a small bump area on my right side of my neck area.

I can see on this site it says:

Important information about Lamictal
Lamictal may cause severe or life-threatening skin rash, especially in children and in people who are allergic to other seizure medications. Serious skin rash may also be more likely to occur if you are taking Lamictal together with valproic acid (Depakene) or divalproex (Depakote). Seek emergency medical attention if you have a fever, sore throat, swollen glands, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.

Now, Ive left a voicemail with the drs nurse and I dont know if I will hear back from them today. But I wondered if anyone here has experienced this?

 

[hootie]

I don't have any experience with Lamictal.

If you do not hear from the nurse or doc it might be a good idea to call the pharmacy to tell them your situation or go to a convenient care place to have this checked out.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[momof3boys]

I just got off the phone with the pharmacist and they said they recommend I call my dr and tell him about it. Which I said I did. I had to leave a voice mail, so Im sure I wont hear back today.

But they said more than likely its one of two things....

1) Im allergic to the medication

or

2) I have an infection going on

I know since starting Lamictal Ive been stuffy. Ive been having to take some nose spray at night in order to breath. During the day Im ok. I just started to notice the swollen glands the past few days. Today it has gotten worse. I wish my primary care dr was still open, I would go to them. I guess I can try to get in tomorrow morning after I drop the kids off at school. It sucks cause I cant take suidifed with my medications, because it can cause seizures. The nurse said I could take Benadryl.. but that was when I was trying the Vimpat. She hasnt said anything since Ive started the Lamictal.

 

[Loopy Lou]

I did have swollen glands and colds quite a lot whilst i was on Lamictal. Well, i'm quite prone to colds and stuff anyway, so i don't know whether it actually was that or not.

 

[momof3boys]

I did have swollen glands and colds quite a lot whilst i was on Lamictal. Well, i'm quite prone to colds and stuff anyway, so i don't know whether it actually was that or not.

I tried to get ahold of the dr, but left a voice mail. Over the past few days its just got worse. My left side is swollen, but my right side is the worst. Then I noticed after getting out of the shower and drying off, under my arms were swollen too, and tender to touch. So.... Im waiting on a call back from another pharmacy to talk directly to the pharmacist themselve. The last thing I want is for this to get worse and if its from the Lamictal to take another dose tonight.

 

[Loopy Lou]

Yeah, under the arms are the same kind of glands that are in the throat. Like i said, it probably wasn't the Lamictal with me, but you're definitely better to get it checked out.

Hopefully the doc will get back to you pretty quickly.

 

[momof3boys]

Yeah, under the arms are the same kind of glands that are in the throat. Like i said, it probably wasn't the Lamictal with me, but you're definitely better to get it checked out.

Hopefully the doc will get back to you pretty quickly.

Well, after speaking with the pharmacist, she said when she looked it up, thats something that should be addressed to my dr immediately. She said to call the on-call number and get ahold of someone. She said not to wait it out til tomorrow.

So, I look up the hospital number and get an operator who I gave my name and number to. They paged the Dr himself and he called me back. I explained how the tenderness and swelling started a few days ago, and yesterday I went up to 75mgs twice a day, and now my neck and under arms are completely swollen and very tender. I told him what the pharmacist told me and he thinks if it was an allergic reaction I would have a rash with it. But since I dont have a rash, he said more than likely its an infection and to call my primary care dr tomorrow to set up an appointment. He said if they say its not an infection, which I dont see how they will know or not... every other time Ive had swollen glands, they just touched the area and felt they were swollen and prescribed me an antibiotic to see if it helped. But he wants me to get back him tomorrow to let him know what they say. So, I got a feeling I will probably get a antibiotic and try that for a week or so. If it doesnt help, then I contact him.

This sucks!

 

[Loopy Lou]

*big hugs*

You put up with a lot of crap lately, eh? Well, wishing you luck with antibiotics >.<

 

[momof3boys]

*big hugs*

You put up with a lot of crap lately, eh? Well, wishing you luck with antibiotics >.<

Yeah thats exacly what I told my husband after getting off the phone with the dr. His tone of voice was like he didnt want to think it had to do with the Lamictal, Or like he wasnt wanting to think that.... I just wish he was in my shoes to feel how awful this feels. I too am hoping its not to do with the Lamictal and its just an infection. The only thing that worries me is if it is the medication and I continue to take it, I pray to god my throat doesnt swell up and I cant breath!

 

[Loopy Lou]

Ask your husband to keep an eye on you through the night if you're really worried, that way if there's anything wrong he could call someone for you. Did it come up quite suddenly or had you been feeling unwell/run down beforehand?

I know when my glands were swollen i'd been feeling run down for about a week, then everything went pufty (neck, under arms) and then i just ended up with a cold. Always better to keep your eye on it though.

 

[momof3boys]

Ask your husband to keep an eye on you through the night if you're really worried, that way if there's anything wrong he could call someone for you. Did it come up quite suddenly or had you been feeling unwell/run down beforehand?

I know when my glands were swollen i'd been feeling run down for about a week, then everything went pufty (neck, under arms) and then i just ended up with a cold. Always better to keep your eye on it though.

I started to get stuffy about five days or so after starting the lamictal. I saw that was one of the side effects, so Ive been taking nose spray each night to help me sleep better. It wasnt til day 11 or so... that I noticed my neck was sore, it started in the back, behind my ears, then spread to the ear area, and below my ear area on my neck. Now its affecting my underarms too. The past few days its just got worse. I watched my nieces today for a couple of hours and as I was holding my little niece, just bending down to pick up a toy was putting pressure on my glands in my neck area. It was just throbing so bad. Thats when I had to call my mom and ask her about it. She said to give the pharmacist a call, and I went from there.

I told my husband to try to keep an eye on me. He just laughed and said he would try. He has sleep apnea, so when he sleeps, he sleeps! :roflmao: There were some nights the past couple of weeks I totally wished I was in his shoes. Not being able to get to sleep til early morning hours, and he can just lay his head down on his pillow and he's out cold! I took two benadryls earlier, so Im hoping it helps with me getting some sleep tonight. Im going to call in the morning to see if I can get in tomorrow to be seen.