Lamictal rash - no itching, burning a little, red spots

[Ouroboros]

Hello,

Today I am taking Lamictal my 7th day, 25 mg. I used to take it few years ago (100 mg two times a day). At Thursday, after talking to my neuro who told me I can up to 50 mg right away, I took another 25 mg in the evening. Next day I developed a kind of a rash at my chest area. It's just red spots, they don't itch but wearing a T-shirt gives me a horrible burning feeling. It's more like a sunburn (except it's November, which means zero sun, grey skies and wearing coats).

I called to a hospital, where they told me to return back to 25 mg a day (considering I already had the med before) and call my neuro at monday. The rash doesn't seem to spread and is much less red when not wearing clothes. I am also applying aloe vera oil multiple times a day.

I am planning to call to a dermatologist tomorrow, but I don't have a big faith in my neuro when it comes to medicating. Few months ago she wanted to put me up to lamictal and told me to start taking 100 mg right away and only after my protest she agreed that I should start slowly titrating it up. I imagine if I call her now, she will just tell me to quit taking it and start taking Keppra (which considering Lamictal used to work great for me, I have depressions and I've read really bad things about Keppra), I don't want to do.

Do you think it could be just benign rash or some kind of heat rash caused by lamictal making my skin more sensitive? Basically I either can continue taking 25 mg, until it doesn't dissapear, try quiting and rechallenging more slowly or the worst case, try a completely new drug.

PS: I know all about the SJS thing, read pages about it and all...

 

[seagull]

I take 250 twice a day,my skin not great but I not to bad,I know if under 12 and get skin problems it can be problem and needs medical attention immediatly

 

[Fedup]

You say you are only a week on it I think, I would be inclined to give it another day or two but with a rash appearing like that and considering you took it before, I would be calling the doctor.

I am not a fan of keppra and it did not suit me at all, there are others who feel the same as me but there are people who take keppra because it works for them so do not say you do not want to take keppra because of what you have read, it might just suit you. What you read is meant to make you aware of the problems you can have with it so you can look out for them and stop it before things go to far.

 

[seagull]

I feel bit like that with keppra I read so many things how effects people not sure I want take it.

 

[Fedup]

Each of us are different, that is said so often but only because its very true and because we are different we do not know how each medication will effect us, we try to warn of the downfalls by what we write, but these are warning's of the pit falls not telling you not to take it. I do understand the concern though. I take Lamictal as well.

 

[seagull]

Do it work for you do you get side effects.

 

[Fedup]

I think it works, I am on a mixture of medications and do not have full control of my seizures. I did have some side effects at first but overall its ok, I did put on a little bit of weight (I wish it was a little).

 

[seagull]

The weight yes that can be problem but I such sweet tooth..what I am doing is feeling hungry during the night get up pig out that I have read can be side effect nocturnal eating

 

[Fedup]

For me it was a glass of milk and a packet of biscuits or sandwiches. But you have to learn how to not do that, I never liked sweets only cooking chocolate.

 

[valeriedl]

You haven't started using different soaps, lotions, laundry detergents or things like that have you? I have skin problems, not caused by meds, and I have to be careful what I use because I can get rashes or other things from them.

I've been on several different combos of meds and I on one of them, I don't know if lamictal was in it at the time, but I put on a TON of weight. I think if I was awake I was putting food in my mouth. I'd eat a half gallon of ice cream a night before I went to bed, no joke! I talked with my neuro and he changed things around and I stopped eating like a pig.

I do take lamictal now in the med combo that I'm on. I eat a pretty normal diet and I'm at a good weight. I just have to make sure I don't have all those little snacks through the day because there are times I want to. If I do it's usually fruit or something like that, not a candy bar.

 

[seagull]

25mg is small dose...I use clobzam aswell but afraid I tend to abuse it

 

[Nakamova]

With Lamictal there's the potential for "the Rash" -- Steven's-Johnson syndrome, extremely dangerous, potentially fatal -- or "a rash" -- a garden variety allergic reaction. They can be hard to distinguish, so get in touch with a doctor right away, and let your neuro know right away as well.

An ordinary allergic reaction can sometimes be avoided by slowing down the ramp-up. In fact, "low and slow" -- very small increments, with long time at each increment -- is one of the best ways to minimize side effects, because it allows the brain and body to adjust to the med. When I ramped up on Lamictal, my neuro had me cut my 25mg pills in half to 12mg, and do the whole ramp up process over several months. It sounds like your neuro should play it safe, and not encourage the quick increase to 50mg.

 

[valeriedl]

Do you know if 'the rash' always show up when you begin taking it early on, or can it also take a long time to?

I've been taking Lamictal for years and haven't had any problems with it. I just wanted to make sure in case something were to show up.

 

[Ruth]

With Lamictal there's the potential for "the Rash" -- Steven's-Johnson syndrome, extremely dangerous, potentially fatal -- or "a rash" -- a garden variety allergic reaction. They can be hard to distinguish, so get in touch with a doctor right away, and let your neuro know right away as well.

Steven-Johnson's syndrome is the first one that came to my mind.

I had it with Dilantin. It was a rash that would not go away. If it is that, you have to drop the medicine all at once. It takes your skin off slowly. Go straight to your neurologist. Ask if this is a posibility.

My Mother rushed me to Children's Hospital in San Francisco. My mother was told that I was going to die. I lost a lot of my skin. You could see my veins. The doctor's gave me a treatment once a day. I think it was penicillin. They wrapped up my whole body each day.

Welcome to CWE. :hugs:

 

[Ouroboros]

Well, my dermatologist told me she doesn't think it's caused by the med and that it's just some sweat caused inflamation but she did not seem to know the med (lamictal). The burning feeling also subsided a lot. My neuro is absolutely useless so I didn't even try to consult it with her.

Bad news is I added 25 mg in the evening again and while I feel like a person again (dunno if it's the med working already on 50 mg a day or just a wishful thinking) the tiny red pimples seem to spread downwards on my belly. No itching though.

I am not sure what to do, I have got appointment at a specialized epilepsy department in one of the good hospitals here but it's in January. Doubt I can get to see some other neurologist soon. Best course would be to discontinue the med but I am pretty sure it will make me a crying, anxious, depersonalized wreck again...

I am just like "why can't it be easy for once..."

 

[Nakamova]

Sounds like the dermatologist isn't that helpful if she isn't willing to familiarize herself with the medication and its potential side effects. Just to be on the safe side, check out this link http://bipolar.about.com/od/lamictal/a/Stevens-Johnson-Syndrome-Symptoms.htm, which has a picture and also a video about how to recognize the symptoms of Stevens-Johnson. If you have any reason to suspect that you are getting the Stevens-Johnson rash (as opposed to something more harmless) go to the ER.

If it is a harmless contact rash, it should go away in a few days. If it's a minor reaction to the Lamictal, there's also a good chance that it will dissipate after your brain and body adjust to the med. As mentioned above, you may want to slow down the ramp-up -- i.e., wait a bit before going to the next increment -- in order to minimize the risk of side effects.

It's great that you are feeling better already. Even though you aren't necessarily up to a full working dose, it's entirely possible that you are getting some of the benefits already. BTW, there's no "official" therapeutic dose for lamictal, only a suggested range. You may find yourself on either side of the range or smack in the middle. Go slowly and keep track of how you feel.

 

[Ruth]

I am not sure what to do, I have got appointment at a specialized epilepsy department in one of the good hospitals here but it's in January. Best course would be to discontinue the med but I am pretty sure it will make me a crying, anxious, depersonalized wreck again...

Since you have an appointment at a good hospital, give them a call and tell them what is going on. You could probably go to their ER department.

Nakamova, that is an excellent article. I read the whole article and the video. Ouroboros, that article tells you what to do. Keep us updated.