Question about rashes related to e meds?

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I am not real sure about what a rash will look like or where it will be if it is being causing by one of my E meds.
right now I have a pretty bad rash on my right leg it is red and bumpy (hard to describe) it is like in clusters all around a little above my ankle, a little more above my leg there is just some small patches of it. I do have it on my left leg also just not as bad, and I have it on the top of my hands, and some patches of it on my right arm and chest and lower back.
It can be itchy but not on a constant basis and just seems to be getting worse, not better.
I have tryed by best to figure out if I have used anything such as soap, shampoo and other that may be causing it and I have not used anything that I haven't used before.
I know that after being on tegratol for a long time you can start getting a rash and have to be taken off of it, I have been on it and the generic now for it, for about maybe 7 years. I am taking Lamitical too, I have been on it for a little over a year now and is a rash caused by it usually started when you first start taking it?
I am just not sure if it may be one of my seizure meds causing it, plus I am on several other meds for my health problems.
Any suggestions or answers to what it may be,
greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Tammy
 
I know 100% that Lamictal causes a rash and I am 95% certain Tegretol does too. But Lamictal's rash is very, very serious! I don't know how serious Tegretol's rash is, but if you think you have a rash because of one of your E medications you need to go see your doctor right away!!!!!!
 
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I have a major rash on my right leg now. It started right after I started taking Keppra.
 
Tammy,
they both are very serious
Tegretol's risk factor was just raised by the FDA , and that is one reason that we went off of trileptal. Rash and a sore throat were starting to be a problem for Rebecca.

However, I have read that the rash should happen within the first few months of taking it. We know that everyone reacts different to meds though. So I would call the doctor immediately, and not wait for the New Year.

There are pictures on the web I think of what the rash might look like on some people, but again, I am sure it hits in different ways. This is very serious because what is does is cause first degree burns if it goes too far.

Get your nutritional levels at their optimum, just in case you have to make a change in your meds. I will see if I can find some of the info that I used in my decision.

Keep us posted
 
Here are a few:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f22/fda-revises-few-warning-labels-2050/
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/2406.htm
http://www.healthline.com/adamimage?contentId=1-000819&id=2406
http://www.medications.com/se/tegretol/rash

There are potentially dangerous side effects associated with the use of Tegretol. If you experience symptoms such as fever, sore throat, rash, ulcers in the mouth, easy bruising, or reddish or purplish spots on the skin, you should notify your doctor immediately. These symptoms could be signs of a blood disorder brought on by the drug.
 
My two cents......

I wish I had pictures for this....then again, I don't!

I was on Keppra and Trileptal...and the combination of the two of them caused a NASTY rash to breakout. It was SO bad I was hospitalized for two days. But that's not the WORST part...

...if you're a grown man and you go into the emergency room with a rash....don't expect them to believe a single word that is uttered from your lips----you are in for STD testing. Kids would stay celibate if they knew...OMG!
Also, the attending decided the correct thing to do would be to just drop all my seizure meds COLD TURKEY...like a bad habit!...and send me home!
I mean, really, where can I get one of those degrees?...Cracker Jack box?

Dropping Keppra alone (by waning off gradually!) did the trick eventually.

To sum up, be careful...very careful!...and remember you are in charge!
:twocents:
 
Thank you to all, Unfortunetly, I know I need to get to the doc ASAP, however the only place I could go to over the weekend, yesterday and today, was the Grafton City Hospital, which things such as a rash this hospital, would have no idea at all if the rash was associated with my E meds. I swear they would more than likely just tell me it is dry skin, which I have dry skin in the winter time and I know for darn sure that that is not what this rash is.
I can't even get in to see my neuro right away, I do have a appt. tommorrow with my gyn, for my presurgical appt. I am having a hysterectomy in FEB. so hopefully he will have some idea what it may be. and the regular doc office will be open tommorow. So I will definetly have it checked out tommorrow. It doesn't seem to be getting any worse just not any better either. Please hope that the weather, they are calling for a pretty nast snow storm here and we have to take a taxi to the appt. and where we live a taxi will not come down through here if the roads are too bad and we have no other way to get there. I am getting ready to check out the websites you sent Robin, thank you, I have always found out much more right here on websites than I ever have from my docs.
Tammy
 
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When my son had a rash, the doctor brought out a book that was about 2 in. thick, and it was filled with pictures and descriptions of rashes. He had contracted something from a hot tub. It sure looked like chickenpox.
 
Robin,
I did check out the websites you posted and I looked at the pics, and I found one that is related to Tegretol that looks alot like the one I have, Mine at this point is nowhere near as bad as the one in the pic but the areas on the legs on the pics that are not totally red does look like mine, I showed to pic to my hubby, sis and daughter and they agreed that it looks a lot like the one on me.
I am still trying to get to the doc ASAP, of course with my luck we have 3 inches of snow already and they are calling for more through the day, so it doesn't look to positive that I will be able to get out of here today.
 
I just typed a reply and I don't know what I hit but it dissapeared, so here we go again,
I tell ya, Me and my memory just don't get along very well at all these days.
My appt. with the gyn isn't until tommorow, I honestly for the last two weeks thought that my appt was on the Wed of this week, I also thought that I would be getting my SSD check today. Oh Jeez, and I had managed to find a ride today, my bro in law was going to take off work early to take me, he has a 4 wheel drive. Now I have to worry about how I am going to get there tommorrow, my hubby even took off work today to go with me. I am to paranoic to take a cab by myself.
I did an appt. for today to see my reg. Doc about the rash, and my sis will take me in the 4 wheel drive since it isn't till 4:15 and bro in law will be home by then.
I will let you know what I find out, I probably won't be able to get online again until tommorow morning, hubby has to unhook internet cable to hook up game system to play games through cable. Really frustrates me at times, however I have to look at it like it is his computer time.
Fill ya in when can
Tammy
 
Some more information about the warning...

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a warning about the use of carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, Tegretol XR and generic formulations) in patients who have a very specific type of an HLA gene. Patients with HLA-B*1502 (an inherited variant of the HLA-B gene) are at substantially increased risk of developing serious, potentially life threatening skin reactions called toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome, characterized by multiple skin lesions, blisters, fever, itching and other symptoms, compared to people without this gene.
About the gene: This gene is found almost exclusively in patients with Asian ancestry. While it appears that patients with ancestry from many parts of Asia, including South Asian Indians may have an increased chance of having this gene, the exact frequency for various specific ethnic groups is still somewhat unclear. It is believed that as many as 10-15% of patients from China, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia may test positive for this gene. Japanese and Korean patients may have a lower frequency, less than 1 percent, of carrying this gene.
Prior testing: Until more is known, the FDA is advising that patients of Asian descent, including those of mixed ancestry, undergo a blood test prior to starting carbamazepine treatment. Testing for HLA-B*1502 is a commonly performed blood test in patients prior to having organ transplants, in order to determine tissue compatibility. It is important to recognize that testing positive for this gene is not abnormal, and there are no other known medical risks associated with having it other than an increased risk of serious rash from carbamazepine.
Should you avoid the drug? Those patients who test positive for the specific type of HLA gene should discuss with their doctor whether the possible benefits outweigh the risks and whether there are any other options besides carbamazepine. In addition, although it is not clear what (if any) additional risks there might be, FDA is suggesting that physicians may want to avoid starting treatment with any antiepileptic drugs that have been associated with Stevens Johnson Syndrome as well.
About the syndrome: It is also important for patients to know that the vast majority of patients who do develop a serious skin rash, will do so within the first few months of treatment. So patients (including those testing positive for HLA-B*1502), who have been taking carbamazepine for more than several months are at very low risk of developing these serious rashes.
The full FDA article is available at:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/HCP/carbamazepineHCP.htm
Dr. Gidal, a member of the epilepsy.com board is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy and Department of Neurology, and Dr. Hayney is an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin, School of Pharmacy.
Edited by Steven C. Schachter, MD
Click to expand...
 
Well, I made it to my reg doc Wed. and she said the rash looked and could possibly be impetigo. Well, when I got home I looked impetigo, and my rash really doesn't relate to it much, I do not blister like bumps that burst and release a yellowish discharge.
However, my doc did say she wasn't positive that is what it is, and told me if the cream she gave me didn't help at all within 2 to 3 days, that I needed to go to my neuro to make sure it wasn't a rash being caused by one of my seizure meds.
Well, I printed off a picture of the rash caused by Tegratol, which I am on the generic form now, and everybody, family and friends that I showed the picture and my leg where the worst part is they said it does look alot like that. I went to see my gyn the next day for my presurgery appt. and he even said he was sure it isn't the impetigo and he even said it did look alot like the picture I have.
Now, he says I have to see my neuro or a dermatologist before the hysterectomy, which is Feb. 7th.
Well for one thing, I have never been to a dermatologist before, so I know there is no way I could get an appt. before the surgery.
I called my neuro office yesterday, and the first thing the woman said was, Well, he doesn't have any openings until March. Darn, He has even told me if such happens that he wants to see me right away. So then I had to explain all to her, she took down my Gyn, number, and my reg doc's number and said she would do something about talking to my neuro and wouldn't be able to be able to get back to me Monday and I know from experience that they may say Monday and then you don't hear from them for anywhere from 5 to 7 days after that.
So because of this darn rash it looks like my hystectomy will more than likely have to being reschedule again.
 
Do you have an Urgent Care? I would start there if you aren't haveing luck seeing your personal doctor.If you look on the pharmaceutical list of possible side effects, it says to see your doctor Immediately for this rash. My doctor talks to me over the phone. I bet you could even take a photo of the rash and send it to him over email. Many doctors are set up to work this way. That way they would know whether or not to make a quick appt. It would be a 5 min appt if all he has to do is look at your skin. That is simply not acceptable in my book.
This particular rash is a life or death situation. It basically burns the patient from the inside out. If you have any other symptoms such as fever or sore throat, I would also let them know that.

Good luck
 
What is Urgent Care? I don't know for sure if I have it or not. Or with me I could know and just can't remember.
I don't even have an email address for him.
When I was first started on both of the possible rash causing e-meds he told me that if any rash starts to get in to see him ASAP, so hopefully when they get with and tell him why I need in there ASAP. I have asked before to talk to him and they will tell me he can't take calls right now, and take a message and it is always someone else that calls me back. Yeah and how long does it take for him to look at my skin? Also no excuse in my book. Maybe I will just go over there one day go up to the office and tell them whether you care or not about this rash I definetly do, since this particular rash is a life or death situation and I want to life whether you care or not.
I have also been getting a sore throat, however it is not constant, and I sometimes get a sore throat from my sinuses draining. So I'm not sure if it that or my sinues draining. I know I had to take something earlier for the pain and it is now returning.
Thanks for the advice, I will keep you posted.
 
It isn't the Emergency Room, but it is a place that you can go when the doctor is unable to see you. You have to be proactive with them though, as they are not specialists. You would need to take some information on the side effects to AED's. Or as others have suggested, what about going to the pharmacist.
Yes my daughter had the sore thoat and she also had a fever on an off. Of course you can pass the sore throat off on the time of the year, and everyone is getting sick. You can pass the skin rash off as winter dry skin... but not when you are taking these meds.
If this doctor can't see you ask if he knows someone that can.

You are suppose to come off of this med when this rash occurs. I didn't send you the really graphic pictures. You can do a search for those if you want.
 
I received an injection through an IV in the ER of Cerebyx (family of Dilantin) and almost instantly started a rash on my lower back, buttocks, & chest. They then shot me up with Benadryl and I was in happy land for awhile!
 
Hi
I have chronic dry skin, like major chronic dry skin. I moved to Minnesota to the astonishment of a previous dermatologist (in Missouri where I am from). But since starting Lamictal & Keppra and then Dilantin, my skin has "gone off the charts." I am trying to get off the Dilantin right now. but my skin is trying to get off of my body right now. and when I went to my current dermatologist on thursday, he said "there are many rashes that are not allergies and not serious....."
Really? Well I would be more than happy to loan you some of mine! I am going to be shopping for a new dermatologist. some of the meds he has either given me samples of or prescribed have been, um, not completely safe or helpful.
 
As far as I know we have nowhere to go like that, and the ER here in Grafton wouldn't know what it is. I had thought about going to the ER in Morgantown, which happens to right beside the Physicians Office Center where I see my neuro. I know they have neuro's on call from when I had to go a couple weeks after my surgery because the headaches were so bad again I felt like my brain was going to explode. However, he can't change my meds, I don't think so anyway.
I woke up this morning with sneezing and runny nose, now headache and earache, which I am at least 80% positive that the sore throat is because of my allergies, I didn't take my allery med for two nights, because I don't have to take it all the time. But I have had to for several weeks now.
I also have had major problems with dry skin, however, since I don't work anymore and am not out in the cold nowhere near as much it isn't as bad, and I know what it looks like and what's on me now isn't that. I also you be shopping for a new dermatologist.
I just got my ibuphrohen filled yesterday and just noticed on the yellow pages they put in with it, that it can also cause a very threatening, dangerous rash, so jeez, like you said, Robin, you can't just pass off these rashes as dry skin, but it seems like alot of those docs, probably think you are just paranoid and are worring about nothing. Yeah right let them go through what we do and see what they have to say!!!!
 
At first I thought Rebecca's sore throat was due to allergies, or at least a seasonal cold. But it happened twice both times related to skin rash issues.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a potentially deadly skin disease that usually results from a drug reaction. Another form of the disease is called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, and again this usually results from a drug-related reaction. Drugs that have been linked to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome include NSAIDS (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs), Allopurinol, Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, barbiturates, anticonvulsants, and sulfa antibiotics. In some cases, the condition is caused by a bacterial infection, and in many cases there is no known cause for the onset of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

These skin diseases can cause massive pain, suffering and anxiety. People that have taken or are taking medications such as the ones mentioned above are urged to familiarise themselves with the symptoms of SJS (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). This will enable you to seek immediate medical attention should the need arise, and early initiation of treatment can make a big difference to the seriousness of the disease as this can stop any secondary infections.
Click to expand...

http://www.skinassn.org/
 
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