Help! I'm itchy and scratchy and have hives--is this the end of Lamictal?

[CeruleanBlue]

Hi all....I need some of everyone's sage advice here.

About seven weeks ago, I started taking Lamictal. I started at 25 mg/day, then titrated up just like the directions said to 50 mg, then 75 mg, which is what I've been taking for about a week.

Now, my husband and mother have both noticed a very positive change in my mood already, as have I. However, about a week after I started taking Lamictal, I stopped in at a health food store and sampled some mango body cream (why, I don't know!) Anyway, I developed an intense itching about 5 minutes later on top of my hand, followed by some small (i.e 1/8 inch) welts and redness. I didn't connect this with Lamictal until later that night. Eventually the welts subsided.

Then, a few days ago my husband came down with a horrible case of athlete's foot. My feet started itching intensely too, although they don't have welts on them. I figured I'd caught it from him. So we went out and stocked up on anti-fungals, which have helped my itching (his too.)

Anyway, in the midst of the athlete's foot, I noticed that the welts on my hand were back. Then, I noticed some tiny bumps/redness on my upper arms. The welts on my hand are more numerous than they were, although still not covering more than 1/6th of the back of my hand, I would say. I also have asthma, and felt the need to use my inhaler last night and today, though I couldn't say I was wheezing. Still, I felt the need to use it, and I rarely do. Also, I felt a bit of a sore throat.

I call my pdoc's nurse today, and she said stop taking Lamictal right away, cold turkey. Of course, the pdoc is out of town, and his only backup is booked tomorrow (she's going to try to work me in...) My other options she said were to see my primary care dr. or go to the ER. She thinks it is an allergic reaction.

What do you all think of this? I'm so bummed about her saying I need to stop Lamictal. I REALLY think it was helping. Do any of you think I could continue it with antihistamines or wait out the rash, hoping it would go away? Or should I run to the ER tonight? Arggh! I hate this. Also, what about stopping cold turkey--is THAT the best idea?

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks, everyone--I appreciate all of you!

Best, CeruleanBlue

[lilie]

Cold turkey sucks largetime but if the doc(or nurse) tells you to then it's best you do. I had to go off because of rash but mine was intense and started day one so I'm not sure. Just make that appointment and til then maybe ask for something else to put in lamictals place.

Lilie

[vunja]

there's some serious red lights flashing in my head now. something about Lamictals and rashes just aren't good.

this is the most I could find about it:

http://www.lamictal.com/bipolar/patients/s...nformation.html - Lamictal's official website. the fifth paragraph down has some stuff about rashes and other icky things like that.

http://www.whatmeds.com/meds/lamotrigine.html - a miscellaneous site that brushes over the rash a bit. something about the possibility of developing Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. note also: "Rash is the most significant side effect of Lamictal because in rare instances, it has caused serious harm or, very rarely, death." that's not so comforting.

and, on the more empathetic side... god I hate when meds do that to me. I can sympathize so well. our mental illnesses just have it in for us... but you'll find something else. there's got to be something else.

in any case, I would listen to the nurse and stop because that whole "death" thing would kinda make me nervous. (especially death by an antidepressant -- how's that for ironic?) don't freak out yet, though. it's not so publicized that it's freakout-worthy, but do be cautious. watch out for other not-quite-right things.

and good luck finding the "perfect medicine."

and remember -- I'm not a medical professional! I'm in high school, don't make any decisions based on me. just... yeah. don't be stupid.

[AirMarshall]

Its a bit delicate trying to answer your questions...ultimately the decision is up to you, with your doctors advice, since we don't really have any expertise or knowledge of you...

- If you feel its an emergency, go to the ER

- If you have trouble breathing, go to the ER

- Go camp out in the pdocs waiting room tomorrow at 8 a.m. and stay till you are seen., whether you continue or stop Lamictal, regardless.

- The pdocs nurse said stop the Lamictal. Should you take any more? Your choice.

Most pdocs are extremely conservative and will have patients discontinue, rather than take any chance of Stevens Johnson Syndrome. Sometimes they will have patients lower the dose and see if the skin conditions go away.

Lamictal is know to exacerbate skin conditions, sometimes people are able to hold them down by taking antihistamines like allergy meds or OTC stuff like Benadryl

- If you do skip tonights dose, its only a day till you see the pdoc for a continue/discontinue decision

- If you continue tonight, the condition could stay the same or worsen.

- Anytime you stop Lamictal cold turkey there is a small chance of seizures.

- The good thing is you are on a fairly low dose at 75mg.

- Is your throat still sore today? Any open sores in your mouth or throat? That would add to my concerns about this being significant.. If you have any sores develop, that is worth an ER run.

I think it is critical that you get a Pdocs opinion and agreement immediately, given the odd outbreak of skin problems. SJS can be deadly if allowed to develop, so it's not something to take lightly. Go see the Pdoc regardless of whether you continue or discontinue.

Hope you feel better soon,

a.m.

[Greenyflower]

Here is a page on SJS with good descriptions of symptoms and onset. Good luck.

[CeruleanBlue]

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughtful responses. You've given lots of good advice which I am going to take! I am definitely going to get myself to a doctor of some sort tomorrow....maybe if I camp out in the office with my nasty rash showing (okay, it isn't that nasty, but still...) and start showing it to other patient, it will force them to see me. My gosh, my pdoc's office is right next to a psych hospital....there must be a psychiatrist in there somewhere who could look at me!

Of course, these things only happen when your regular pdoc is out of town. :-(.

See, the below quote is the type that give me hope.....

About one in ten people taking lamotrigine develops a mild rash and about 1 in a thousand develop a severe rash requiring treatment. Many people with a mild rash can continue to take lamotrigine, sometimes together with an antihistamine.

However, I definitely need to be evaluated because I don't know if my rash is "severe" or not. My husband says it looks like a mild case of poison ivy. As for the sore throat, I had it, it took a couple of days off and now is back. It's not severe, and I don't see any sores in my mouth (not that I could necessarily see all the way back there) but it is sore, which can be another sign of allergic reaction.

I told my husband that if I swell up, he needs to race me over to the hospital. Fortunately, I live about 10 minutes from a major academic medical center, so emergency help is nearby.

In the meantime, definitely no more Lamictal for me. Something is going on in my body, and it scares me. Darn....I thought I had found my holy grail med. Oh well....

Thanks again, everyone...I'll keep you posted.

Cerulean Blue

[revlow]

I agree with everyone -- camp out on the doc's doorstep. But you may not need to panic.

Check out what's said here about Stevens Johnson Syndrome: http://www.crazymeds.us/lamictal.html -- scroll down a bit till you see "Lamictal's Typical Side Effects". (Yeah, I know...the *ahem* other site, but it's useful information and very detailed about this issue.)

Are you running a fever? From what I've read, it's the fever and the itching rash that is the most emergent.

I don't know if this will help, but since starting Lamictal I had two big skin issues:

1. Contact Dermatitis: Since starting Lamictal, my already sensitive skin reacted to all the products I used previously. I've had to change everything.
   
   Had large horrible, red, stinging raised patches (mainly on face and neck). My skin became extremely reactive. At one point, I was convinced I had rosacea. Finally went to dermatologist. He said it just looked like a very bad contact dermatitis, and that it didn't matter what I'd always been using, stop using it. (I already had, but...) Since then I've been using only Cetaphil to wash my face. Derm gave me several samples of face lotions; so far, I've been doing best with Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Lotion. I still can use the Dove Soap for Sensitive Skin on my body I had before, just not wash my face with it.
   
   I mention all of this to you because of the possible mango body cream connection.
   
   
   
2. Reaction to Fish Oil: Like so many people here, I've been taking Omega 3 Fish Oil. The 1st brand I used caused outrageous rashes. Switched brands, so far so good.
   
   Are you taking anything new, supplements or anything else, that might be causing the problem?
   

Lastly, across the country we are supposed to be getting one of the worst allergy seasons in years. Maybe you are catching some of it early on?

Hope you feel better soon.

Best,

revlow

[CeruleanBlue]

Well, I didn't camp out on my Pdoc's doorstep this AM..I was bad. I'm just temping right now, and my supervisor was freaking out about getting a project done. Since I'm feeling less allergic today, I put off the Dr. visit. Tomorrow I'm not working (which brings a host of OTHER concerns with it, but that's for another board!) so hopefully I'll make it to pdoc then.

In any event, I appreciate the hopeful advice on restarting, perhaps at a reduced dose. Event at 50 mg I felt better. Maybe I'll get clearance to continue Lamictal when they see the rash.

The fact that the rash looks less severe after 24 hours without Lamictal tends to confirm the idea that I did indeed have an allergic reaction. Whether I might become desensitized to the drug eventually, and or/whether it is too risky to continue Lamictal to find out for sure remains to be seen. I'd LIKE to get some advice from a pdoc on this, if only they would return my call.

(Off-topic note: why do medical professionals get upset about us "amateurs" chatting on boards like this one when we might not do so if ONLY they would return our calls/be more available to us! But I digress...)

Are you taking anything new, supplements or anything else, that might be causing the problem?

Lastly, across the country we are supposed to be getting one of the worst allergy seasons in years. Maybe you are catching some of it early on?

Good questions, Revlow...unfortunately, no new supplements or creams to blame this time (except for that one tiny sampling of mango cream--and I've eaten mangoes before and never been allergic.) As for allergies, I do have some hayfever type allergies, but they've never made me get the kind of bumps I've gotten recently. Of course, Lamictal could be making me hyper-reactive to existing allergens, I suppose....again, if I could get actual MEDICAL ADVICE it would really help!

So, I'll continue my quest. In the meantime, no more Lamictal for me.:-(. We'll have to let my other three meds hopefully keep me going, which wouldn't be awful...just not quite as good as with Lamictal (albeit less itchy and scratchy!)

Thanks ,

CeruleanBlue

[ncc1701]

Heya CeruleanBlue,

At *this* point it sounds okay.

I hope you see psych soon.

And with the rash, if possible, or else take pictures of it.

That matters.

Also, what everyone else said about when to go to emerg. It's important.

Also, in my experience, we (Dr Ncc et al) are okay with pts talking on the internet about meds etc, but it just sucks when people bring in the whole freaking internet printed out, or when they have one story from a stranger (even from their sister or whatever) about some drug. *That's* what's irritating. If someone's being silly b/c you've been comparing experiences with your IRL or internet friends, that's ... well, silly.

--ncc--

[CeruleanBlue]

Heya CeruleanBlue,

At *this* point it sounds okay.

I hope you see psych soon.

And with the rash, if possible, or else take pictures of it.

That matters

Actually, I just got a cute new cell phone with a camera in it (what will they think of next!) and I was thinking about taking a photo. Think I will.

Also, in my experience, we (Dr Ncc et al) are okay with pts talking on the internet about meds etc, but it just sucks when people bring in the whole freaking internet printed out, or when they have one story from a stranger (even from their sister or whatever) about some drug. *That's* what's irritating. If someone's being silly b/c you've been comparing experiences with your IRL or internet friends, that's ... well, silly.

Is my face red! :embarassed: I didn't think pdocs, etc. were on the board...I shouldn't have shot my mouth off. Truthfully, my pdoc is quite openminded and I'm pleased in general...however, he does accept HMO patients, which is good, but probably A.) a giant pain and B.) not all that lucrative, which is not good because I think he's a bit overworked and understaffed. Unfortunately, he happened to be on vacation at my worst moment. Such is life.

Anyway, good advice. I promise I've never printed out a whole Internet thing or asked to try any new treatment without researching Medline, etc. as well as posts here. I'm sure the former would be irritating.

Thanks! Sorry to paint with a bit too broad of a brush. Oops.

Best, CB

[wifezilla]

" I didn't think pdocs, etc. were on the board"

Some of the posters are doctors. Not necessarily pdocs, just MI people who have chosen the medical profession. I am sure there are some pdoc types who read the boards though.

[revlow]

Glad to hear it's calmed down some. It may not be Lamictal related, in which case if you get the go ahead from pdoc...yippee, you get to take it.

Of course, Lamictal could be making me hyper-reactive to existing allergens, I suppose....

This has been my experience on Lamictal. For me not worse re: hayfever type allergies, but definitely worse with any skin sensitivity, allergic reactions. This is with all products I'd previously used (creams, lotions, sunscreens, make-up) as well as with new products. I've learned to be extremely cautious. Only samples I've tried have been those provided by dermatologist.

One other aspect, though probably not related to what you experienced: samples, whether at health food stores, drug stores or cosmetic counters, are usually chock full of bacteria.

Take care,

revlow

[CeruleanBlue]

Quick update here....after reading through everyone's posts, links, links out of the links, etc., I finally decided last night to take a whopping 1/4th of a 25 mg Lamictal tab. So far, so good...sort of. The original rash still hasn't gone away...it's slightly better and holding. Still kind of itchy. Still limited to some reddish raised bumps on the hands (not target-like in appearance, more like mild poison ivy) and a reddish type rash on my upper outer arms that looks like a mild sunburn. I did actually take some photos of the rash with my cell phone camera while stuck in traffic yesterday--people must have wondered what I was doing! Unfortunately, I don't have a data cable yet for the cell phone so I can't download them yet.

I know this is a tad risky since I haven't been able to get to my pdoc (can't get an appointment) but the gdoc who looked at it on Thursday didn't seem too concerned....he referred me to a dermatologist, with whom I have an appointment 1.5 weeks from now (soonest they had!) Pdoc is back in town tomorrow, so I'll try again for an appointment there. Unfortunately, I am scheduled to work a huge conference 11 hrs/day for the next ten days, so it will be difficult to get to an appointment till that's over. The GOOD news is that it's an oncology conference. I figure that if I swell up like a balloon, I'll head for the closest melanoma symposium and flag down a dermatologist there! (Being slightly flippant here--sorry.)

Anyway, I'm not advising anyone else to do what I'm doing...but I felt it was a calculated risk worth taking after reading reams of Medline abstracts, etc. over the weekend (thanks to everyone for sending links/info) It's such a small amount that I'm taking. Plus, I live very close to a major medical center and I'm staying around poeple and/or keeping my cell phone with me at all times in case anything goes wrong.

I'm very conservative and careful with my meds...but Lamictal was making SUCH a difference for me that I just don't want to give up on it just yet. Plus, the alternatives to Lamictal seem to have even more potential side effects--I'd rather not go there if I don't have to.

My sense is that the pdoc's nurse was being very very cautious in telling me to stop Lamictal cold turkey (which was also making me feel destabilized, by the way.) I don't want to throw out the cure with the risk avoidance! We shall see how it goes.

I'll keep everyone posted...thanks again for everyone's advice!

CB

[vunja]

I finally decided last night to take a whopping 1/4th of a 25 mg Lamictal tab. So far, so good...sort of. The original rash still hasn't gone away...it's slightly better and holding. Still kind of itchy. Still limited to some reddish raised bumps on the hands (not target-like in appearance, more like mild poison ivy) and a reddish type rash on my upper outer arms that looks like a mild sunburn.

I don't think that's a huge problem. the impression I've gotten is that you don't just drop dead suddenly, there are a lot more side effects than just a rash. so, just keep an eye out, and if anything really weird happens, go to the ER. (and trust your gdoc... if he wasn't worried, don't be worried.) just be cautious.

plus, I don't blame you for wanting to take it if you have a big conference coming up. not sure if you're sociophobic like me, but... I'd want all the meds they'd give me for that one. best of luck with that.

keep us updated, and just remember to watch out for anything super unusual. take care of yourself!

[Velvet Elvis]

You're not itchy and scratchy. This is itchy and scratchy:

Sorry. I've had to fight the urge to do this every time I've seen this topic. I could only hold out so long.

[CeruleanBlue]

You're not itchy and scratchy. This is itchy and scratchy:

Sorry. I've had to fight the urge to do this every time I've seen this topic. I could only hold out so long.

I understand.

[revlow]

Hey, CB...

Any update on how you're doing?

Best,

revlow

[CeruleanBlue]

Hey, CB...

Any update on how you're doing?

Best,

revlow

Thanks for checking up on me...I've just finished my 9 day straight, 11 hr./day temp assignment, so I'm still recovering and catching up.

Short answer is...I had to stop taking Lamictal again after restarting because I woke up with a sort throat and a wierd red non-raised rash on my legs a couple days after my last post. That's been about a week ago and the rash is pretty much gone. Unfortunately, I am just getting in to see the pdoc today--hopefully--now I have a job interview to go to at 3 PM, so I'm trying to rejuggle the dr. appt.

I've done more research, though, and I want to try again with Lamictal at a really really slow titration. I think I got overly confident going right back to 25 mg/day.

I'll let you know ASAP after the appt. what pdoc says. Sadly, my mood is definitely less stable off the Lamictal...I can really tell. If there is any way for me to take this drug I want to do it...the alternatives seem to be fairly lacking.

More to follow soon......

Best,

CB

[Loon-A-TiK]

That mango stuff makes me suspicious...i had a similar reaction to some organic skin stuff.

since The Rash is rarely fatal, I'd just get in to a pdoc or GP aSAP and have it looked at. maybe you are allergic to something else? maybe it was the mango stuff?

i hope you don't have to give up lamictal. it has done wonders for me

loo n

[CeruleanBlue]

That mango stuff makes me suspicious...i had a similar reaction to some organic skin stuff.

since The Rash is rarely fatal, I'd just get in to a pdoc or GP aSAP and have it looked at. maybe you are allergic to something else? maybe it was the mango stuff?

I know....why do they call them health food stores? Or, maybe the cream had bacteria in it from other people sampling it.

Anyway, overall, here's a hopeful update! I finally got to the pdoc yesterday. Long story short, he felt that the rashes I had, while requiring monitoring, were not enough to try me again on Lamictal--esp. because I told him what a wonderful difference it was making in my moods. I was relieved he was so willing to let me try again--I thought I might have to really argue the point.

Here's the deal We're going to try a retrial at the ultra-slow titration rate of 5 mg/day for two weeks, then 10 mg/day for two weeks, etc. etc. and see what happens. We're going back to the beginning, only starting off at 1/5th of the manufacturer's recommended starting dosage.

A study done in Denmark detailed at

http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/LamRash.htm

notes that the vast majority of rashy people are eventually able to take Lamictal without rash if they restart the titration process going much more slowly than recommended officially.

I immediately took my 5mg as I left the pdoc's office, and I could swear I felt better in a couple of hours even with that microdose. I felt better just knowing I could give the drug another shot, anyway, because it seemed to do me so much good moodwise.

Took another 5 mg this AM. Checking skin now....nope, still no rash.

Let's hope it holds....

CB

[CeruleanBlue]

I thought those interested in Lamictal might want to hear the final (more or less) outcome of my second attempt at Lamictal.

Background....after taking Lamictal for a "short time" (can't recall exact time frame) I developed a rash (semi-gory details noted in earlier posts.) I dutifully called the pdoc, who was of course out of town, so his nurse immediately told me to stop taking it. After much consideration, I did stop. The rashes largely went away...but so did the good feelings I had while on Lamictal!

Finally, after visiting pdoc when he returned to town, pdoc heard details of my rash and cleared me to restart Lamictal, starting at the 5 mg./day dose for 2 weeks, than 10 mg./day dose for two weeks, etc. etc.

(Thanks to crazyboards, I was able to cite a study done in Denmark detailed at http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/LamRash.htm. Said study notes that the vast majority of rashy people are eventually able to take Lamictal without rash if they restart the titration process going much more slowly than recommended officially.)

I was truly planning to do the ultra-slow titration, but when I took the 5 mg. for a few days, and experienced no rashes, I lost my resolve and started bumping up the doseage more quickly. Bottom line is that now, after approximately a month, I am back up to 50-75 mg./day with no significant rash. I do still have a small reddish rashy area next to my thumb, which is where the whole rash thing started after I sampled some hand cream from a "tester" in a health food store (!) but that's it. I'm wondering if there might have been some fungus or bacteria in the tester that started the rash????

In any event, I do need to go to a dermatologist one of these days about that. However, it's certainly not going to stop me from continuing to take Lamictal in the meantime.

Perhaps my outcome will give some hope to those who experience improved moods while taking Lamictal but who also develop a rash. Of course, any rash on this drug should be reported to a physician. However, my personal opinion (as a non-medical non-professional) is that the manufacturer's advice to generally stop taking Lamictal for good if any rash develops may be very conservative.

Given today's legal environment and the fact that if one person dies while on this drug GlaxoSmithKline would probably face a big lawsuit, their recommendations are understandable. However, my experience leads me to conclude that sometimes, a personal decision made in concert with a pdoc to "push the envelope" a bit even if side effects develop can be a reasonable course of action.

So, let's hope the good results continue.....and now, I must go to refill my prescription for the first time!

CB.

[mitten]

Hey Blue. I ran into a problem with lamictal over the holiday and stopped it. Like you I had a poison ivy looking rash on my hands and tops of my feet. I really didn't pay much attention and was too optimistic to consider that it really wasn't poison ivy, hadn't been near any.and could be the meds. I had been on 7 weeks and just got up to 75mg. Later that day, i shaved my legs. Same water and shaving cream as always and about 45 minutes later, the rash was all over my leg, only 1 leg. Ok dumbshit, is this a sign? But i still took it that night hoping that it wasn't related to the strangeness on me. About 3 hours later the same lovely rash was in my mouth, on my tongue and in those feminine parts that should NEVER be covered in blisters!!!!! (on a kinda "too much info, can ya guide me note"...looking back about a week after i started the lamictal i thought i had a yest infection and got the cure all. Didn't have any symptoms, just really dry. etc. related?? Sorry to be make anyone uncomfortable, but that side effect drove me nuts!!!).Finally I stopped 2 nights ago. Feeling crappy but the rash is better. Didn't call my doc's office until today. He's on vacation so i am going back on the amitriptylin that i came off of for the lamictal. Time will tell.

[CeruleanBlue]

Hey Blue. I ran into a problem with lamictal over the holiday and stopped it. Like you I had a poison ivy looking rash on my hands and tops of my feet. I really didn't pay much attention and was too optimistic to consider that it really wasn't poison ivy, hadn't been near any.and could be the meds. I had been on 7 weeks and just got up to 75mg. Later that day, i shaved my legs. Same water and shaving cream as always and about 45 minutes later, the rash was all over my leg, only 1 leg. Ok dumbshit, is this a sign? But i still took it that night hoping that it wasn't related to the strangeness on me. About 3 hours later the same lovely rash was in my mouth, on my tongue and in those feminine parts that should NEVER be covered in blisters!!!!! (on a kinda "too much info, can ya guide me note"...looking back about a week after i started the lamictal i thought i had a yest infection and got the cure all. Didn't have any symptoms, just really dry. etc. related?? Sorry to be make anyone uncomfortable, but that side effect drove me nuts!!!).Finally I stopped 2 nights ago. Feeling crappy but the rash is better. Didn't call my doc's office until today. He's on vacation so i am going back on the amitriptylin that i came off of for the lamictal. Time will tell.

Well, definitely your rash sounds more extensive than mine was. Especially since it involves, er, your "moist areas." Mine never extended there, except a couple of mornings I had a sore throat, but no visible swelling.

I definitely think you're doing the right thing by stopping Lamictal till you can see your Dr. (Why do these problems seem to occur when they're on vacation--Murphy's Law, I guess.) However, MAYBE you will be able to get back on Lamictal at some point. Again, that's between you and your Dr.

A bit more info on my rashes...

1.) My husband showed me yesterday that we actually HAVE poison ivy in our yard! So now, I'm wondering if I really did have poison ivy. Don't get me wrong...I got wierd flushing and welts that were something else, be it a Lamictal-induced drug rash or just an allergic reaction to something, but I'm thinking now that the portion of my rash that looked like poison ivy was probably actually---poison ivy! Duh. Hubby still hasn't killed it, but that's another story....)

2.) Re: the initial rash I had on my hand when this whole thing started--just for the heck of it, I have been putting some anti-fungal cream on it--I believe it's clotrimazine. It has made the rash go almost completely away.

Clotrimazole is also the same thing they prescribe for Athlete's Foot. My husband had a case of Athlete's Foot around the time I got my hand rash. So maybe the rash on the hand was actually related to the fungus that causes Athlete's Foot, and not Lamictal at all.

3. I'm guessing that my rashes were actually a combination of three things--slight Lamictal drug rash, fungal rash and poison ivy. In any event, I am now back up to 75 mg/day, with no reaction.

I think the main thing is that if you restart Lamictal, you need to restart very slowly (again, read above referenced Danish study on Lamictal rechallenge in patients who had a rash the first time.) I started a 5mg/day for like a week, then 10 mg/day for a week, and so forth. Microdoses to start. Perhaps this allows your body to develop a desensitization to the drug so that eventually, it doesn't react to it. I'm not sure.

All I know is that I'm taking it again, feeling better again (while still not up to the full therapeutic dose!) and having no reactions so far.

Maybe my experience as well as others noted in this thread will be helpful in making the safest, most beneficial decision for you as you evaluate whether to restart Lamictal or not.

Good luck,

CB.

[AirMarshall]

Hey Blue. I ran into a problem with lamictal over the holiday and stopped it. Like you I had a poison ivy looking rash on my hands and tops of my feet. I really didn't pay much attention and was too optimistic to consider that it really wasn't poison ivy, hadn't been near any.and could be the meds. I had been on 7 weeks and just got up to 75mg. Later that day, i shaved my legs. Same water and shaving cream as always and about 45 minutes later, the rash was all over my leg, only 1 leg. Ok dumbshit, is this a sign? But i still took it that night hoping that it wasn't related to the strangeness on me. About 3 hours later the same lovely rash was in my mouth, on my tongue and in those feminine parts that should NEVER be covered in blisters!!!!! (on a kinda "too much info, can ya guide me note"...looking back about a week after i started the lamictal i thought i had a yest infection and got the cure all. Didn't have any symptoms, just really dry. etc. related?? Sorry to be make anyone uncomfortable, but that side effect drove me nuts!!!).Finally I stopped 2 nights ago. Feeling crappy but the rash is better. Didn't call my doc's office until today. He's on vacation so i am going back on the amitriptylin that i came off of for the lamictal. Time will tell.

Rash going to blisters on mucous membranes is an absolute danger sign. Glad it's receded, but see your Pdoc as soon as humanly possible. If the blisters get any worse go to the ER immediately.

While fully developed SJS among lamictal users is really rare, SJS is unpredictable, there is no guaranteed remedy, and it can be fatal. Keep a close eye on things.

best, a.m.

[mitten]

Thanks! The blisters are flat now and drying up, my hands are peeling a little but I'm putting olive oil on them, can't get purer than that! My head feels like it weighs a ton, but definatly on the upswing! Thanks for the advice and concern. Find a reason to smile...always.

[CeruleanBlue]

Thanks! The blisters are flat now and drying up, my hands are peeling a little but I'm putting olive oil on them, can't get purer than that! My head feels like it weighs a ton, but definatly on the upswing! Thanks for the advice and concern. Find a reason to smile...always.

I'm glad you're feeling better, and I do hope things continue. However, Air Marshall is right...you really need to get to the pdoc ASAP/ER right away.

It is absolutely true that if mucous membranes are involved in your rash, it is a serious thing and you need to see a doc pronto. AirMarshall's advice made that much more clear than my post.

Even in my case, I made a trip to my primary care physician, and I didn't have the mucous membrane stuff going on. So you definitely need to be seen.

It might not be SJS...but then again, it might. Better safe than sorry.

Thanks, AirMarshall for striking a more appropriate tone than I did!

Good luck,

CB