[unicornlady]

I have a rash and am taking lamictal. It's not a very bad rash, but it's not going away. It's almost definitely not Stevens Johnson. I haven't told anyone except my partner because I'm afraid they'll take me off of lamictal and the med has really been helping me. Do I have to tell them?

[Victoria'smom]

I get a rash on my face. It started when I was on lamictal but hasn't gone away since I've been off. Please talk to you pcp and try to get to a dermatologist.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

You need to tell your doctor. For me it started as this little itchy rash on my cheek that I ignored and took the next night's dose. I woke up with rash all over my face, eyelid, lips and down my chin. It was a miserable rash that hurt and burned and itched.

You can't be sure a rash isn't SJS (and it probably isn't but you need to be cautious) without being assessed by a dermatologist (or in my case my family doctor was able to say "that's bad, no more" because it was so bad.

I know you don't want to come off but you also don't want to risk major issues.

[bpcyclist]

Is it on your palms and soles or mucous membranes as well?

I really agree with @BeyondtheRainbow that you need to see a dermatologist ASAP. You don't want to end up in the burn unit, which is where they will put you if it's Stevens Johnson. I stopped Lamictal in 2010 due to Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

[Scooter9]

You should definitely have it checked out.

You never know what else Lamictal could be doing to you. I developed liver damage from it and had to stop it even though it was helping me a lot (I was on it for 4 years).

Better to be safe and protect your physical health since the rash might be a symptom of something else.

unicornlady, I agree that your doctor should be told asap. The questions are:

Could it be SJS? If not, is it another rash caused by Lamictal that might go away even staying on Lamical? Or, does the rash have zero to do with Lamictal?

I have never gotten a rash from Lamictal, but I once got a rash shortly after starting the antipsychotic Thiothixene. My psychiatrist took me off of it right away and switched me to another antipsychotic that started putting weight on me quickly, unlike Thiothixene. I wanted back on the more weight friendly med, so I went to a dermatologist (the rash specialist) who said the rash had zero to do with Thiothixene. He prescribed a cream and it went away. I convinced my psychiatrist to put me back on Thiothixene.

I know there is a difference between Lamictal and Thiothixene in med class and the titration required for Lamictal. Given this, depending on what your doctor says, considering a dermatologist visit might be best made sooner than later.

[Skeezyks]

I had been on Lamictal for about 6 weeks or so as I recall. And I developed a rash on my chest. (My pdoc never mentioned the concern over Lamictal rash. So I didn't know anything about it.) I went in to see my GP. He recognized it as potentially being caused by Lamictal & had me seen by a dermatologist right away. The dermatologist phoned my pdoc & took me off the Lamcital immediately. I know you wrote the rash you have is not Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. However the concern is that Lamcital rash can morph into Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. So it's nothing to mess around with. Please see your doctor.

[unicornlady]

Hi all, I have an appointment with the dermatologist scheduled and I'm keeping a close eye on the rash. It's on my thigh. It's potentially not even related to lamictal, but I'll have the dermatologist take a look at it. The appointment is in 10 days.

[Zeroid]

Originally Posted by unicornlady

Hi all, I have an appointment with the dermatologist scheduled and I'm keeping a close eye on the rash. It's on my thigh. It's potentially not even related to lamictal, but I'll have the dermatologist take a look at it. The appointment is in 10 days.

I got a Lamictal rash and the dermatologist and my pdoc both said to stop the Lamictal immediately, and then go see the derm. It was the rash and I had to stop Lamictal (I was very sad), but it would have killed me. I'm surprised it took so long to see the dermatologist. Did you tell them why you were going? Did they or your pdoc tell you to quit?

[*Beth*]

10 DAYS!!!

[yellow_fleurs]

Hi unicornlady. I hope you are doing okay. Have you told your psychiatrist about the rash? Mine told me to go to the ED if I developed a rash on Lamictal. I am glad you made an appointment with the dermatologist, but it is not that soon. Does the dermatologist know why you are seeing them?

unicornlady, some doctor must look at your rash asap. Meaning before 10 days. Can your psychiatrist fit you in to look at it even for 60 seconds?

[unicornlady]

I will be seeing somebody on Monday morning.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by unicornlady

I will be seeing somebody on Monday morning.

Any rash while on Lamictal, especially when a patient is titrating up, needs to be checked out without delay.

[unicornlady]

Dermatologist said it is not Stevens Johnson, and she is not concerned about it.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by unicornlady

Dermatologist said it is not Stevens Johnson, and she is not concerned about it.

It's great you have been checked out!

[Zeroid]

I'm glad it was checked out, but do keep an eye on it. Stevens-Johnson is a consequence of a Lamictal rash, not the immediate reaction to the medication. If the rash isn't presenting like a Lamictal rash, then that's great, but I would have been more reassured if there had been a biopsy. It's your body, though, so you get to decide how to pursue treatment.

[unicornlady]

Originally Posted by Zeroid

I'm glad it was checked out, but do keep an eye on it. Stevens-Johnson is a consequence of a Lamictal rash, not the immediate reaction to the medication. If the rash isn't presenting like a Lamictal rash, then that's great, but I would have been more reassured if there had been a biopsy. It's your body, though, so you get to decide how to pursue treatment.

Thank you. I will definitely continue to keep an eye on it. The dermatologist had a treatment suggestion which I plan to follow, and will follow up if it doesn't improve. I will also make sure to tell my pdoc and have her check up on it too.