10 replies to this topic

[angry_girl]

I've been on Lamictal for 3 weeks now and this week I just went from 25 mgs to 50 and I have this very samll area on my right hand near my thumb that has broken out into tiny, itchy bumps.  They seem to be going away, but I can still see them although they aren't nearly as itchy as they were when they first appeared a few days ago.  It hasn't spread or anything and the discharge nurse at the psych ward said that the rash associated with Lamicatal usually starts in the neck or genital region.  Should I be concerned or call the pdoc or anything???  What do you think?

*Sandy*

[FrogBox]

oddly enough, I noticed a rash today, too. I understand you need only be concerned if you have an itchy rash and flu-like symptoms.

[silhouette]

hi --

i think we're all prepped to be hyper about "the lamictal rash," but probably needn't be.  (in fairness, though, i went out and found a brand new derm who promised to see me on 24 hrs notice before i even *found the pdoc who'd prescirbe lamictal.)

the derm said the serious rash tends to spread all over (but not fast enough that it can't be treated and halted).  she also said:  from the neck up, involving mucous membranes, accompanied by fever and flu-like symptoms is the profile you've really got to watch for.

as per treatment, she'd start with benadryl, move to cortisone depending on severity.  she even said, "try 25-50 mg benadryl at home and see what happens, before you rush to the er."

point is:  you've got time to nail it down, and figure what you want to do.

and remember also:  there are rashes on lamictal which are just rashes, and not "the rash."

lamictal helped me, btw.

p.s.:  as you're making your decisions on this, remember the "i am not a doctor" thing, also.  i just wanted to tell you what i had learned.

ciao --

[IrishDream]

Does an allergic reaction always have a rash?  I have flu-like symptoms and no rash, so I'm thinking it just might be, um, the flu...  Still, it's easy to panic with any out of the ordinary symptoms on a new med.

Edited by IrishDream, 11 June 2005 - 02:51 AM.

[Ophelia]

well, there is a difference between a rash and "THE rash."  you might want to put in a call to your pdoc but, chances are, there is nothing to really worry about.  definately call your pdoc if it starts to spread and get worse... but, again, im sure you are all fine and will not be plagued with the "deadly" rash! lol

Edited by Ophelia, 11 June 2005 - 04:45 PM.

[HazelBLK]

IrishDream, on Jun 11 2005, 02:50 AM, said:

Does an allergic reaction always have a rash?  I have flu-like symptoms and no rash, so I'm thinking it just might be, um, the flu...  Still, it's easy to panic with any out of the ordinary symptoms on a new med.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mouth sores are a less common allergic reaction.  This happened to me and I got a sore behind my front teeth that was so bad it actually pushed my teeth apart.  It went away in two days after discontinuing lamictal but I would have quit it much sooner if I'd known.
Pdoc confirmed that was one of the more rare reactions and that I was not the only one to get the truly wicked mouth sores.
I got the rash from trileptal (sp?) and tegretal....I got it in my mouth and throat and that's when it's really dangerous from what I understand.
I will never ever try another anti-convulsant.

[roxyhead]

angry_girl, on Jun 10 2005, 07:56 AM, said:

I've been on Lamictal for 3 weeks now and this week I just went from 25 mgs to 50 and I have this very samll area on my right hand near my thumb that has broken out into tiny, itchy bumps.  They seem to be going away, but I can still see them although they aren't nearly as itchy as they were when they first appeared a few days ago.  It hasn't spread or anything and the discharge nurse at the psych ward said that the rash associated with Lamicatal usually starts in the neck or genital region.  Should I be concerned or call the pdoc or anything???  What do you think?

*Sandy*

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you get cold sores (or even just the "feeling like you're gonna get a cold sore", even if your immune system nails it before it gets past the slight redness stage and you never get actual blisters) or genital herpes?  (doesn't matter which kind, I don't expect you to specify!)

If so, you *can* get herpes outbreaks on your hands, particularly if you bite your nails.  That could end up as small itchy bumps as you describe, particularly if they've got a bit of fluid in them.

Have you changed your hand lotion/done any gardening/started wearing different jewelry/are from the southern hemisphere and been wearing gloves/mitts lately, or done anything else that could cause an allergic reaction from touching it, in that area?

[Batou]

silhouette, on Jun 10 2005, 02:36 PM, said:

the derm said the serious rash tends to spread all over (but not fast enough that it can't be treated and halted).  she also said:  from the neck up, involving mucous membranes, accompanied by fever and flu-like symptoms is the profile you've really got to watch for.

as per treatment, she'd start with benadryl, move to cortisone depending on severity.  she even said, "try 25-50 mg benadryl at home and see what happens, before you rush to the er."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Was on Lamictal and got a rash. Called the pdoc to be safe but silhoutee has described what the bad rash look like and when to be concerned. I had a rash on my face and neck. Pdoc had me take a bunch of benadryl over a few hours, 175mg, and in the morning I was fine.

Many people may get some kind of rash on Lamictal but it is not usally the bad rash. To be safe always call your pdoc but don't get over worried either. Everyone worries about the Lamictal rash.

Erika

[angry_girl]

roxyhead, on Jun 11 2005, 04:23 PM, said:

Do you get cold sores (or even just the "feeling like you're gonna get a cold sore", even if your immune system nails it before it gets past the slight redness stage and you never get actual blisters) or genital herpes?  (doesn't matter which kind, I don't expect you to specify!)

If so, you *can* get herpes outbreaks on your hands, particularly if you bite your nails.  That could end up as small itchy bumps as you describe, particularly if they've got a bit of fluid in them.

Have you changed your hand lotion/done any gardening/started wearing different jewelry/are from the southern hemisphere and been wearing gloves/mitts lately, or done anything else that could cause an allergic reaction from touching it, in that area?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm really not prone to cold sores and I'm not a nail biter...I think I've come to realize that the "rash" I was mildly freaking out about was from a bug bite.  I've been very careful (per pdoc's orders) not to change anything like lotion, soap or laundry detergent while on the Lamictal just to be safe.  Oh, and no herpes here either.  I'm convinced that it was a spider or ant bite, both of which have been spotten in my apartment lately.  I did do a little gardening, perhaps that was it.  It's going away and I'm glad.

Thanks for all the input guys!  You're great. 

*Sandy*

[crazykatie]

I had the killer rash (Stevens-Johnson) on Lamictal.  What was interesting was that I had it years earlier in a reaction to Sulfa drugs so should have known better.

What they say is what they know.  I can tell you the rash started on my arms, no sun exposure at that time, and just going on Lamictal made me feel flu like.  The rash started when the dose was increased, not at the start of therapy.  It was all up and down my arms, no bumps, just looked like bad sunburn.

The real bad reaction I had to sulfa (same Stevens-Johnson) I didnt really pay attention to at first, I looked sunburnt and was washing in the shower one morning when my skin (I am not kidding) started coming off with the washcloth.  It stopped as soon as I stopped the sulfa and I when I healed it looked like I had a real nice chemical peel done.  During this ass reaction my tongue also turned black and my b/f started to refer to me as the Chow Dog.

Hope this helps.