Bad side effect

My swollen lymph node is a hypersensitivity reaction to Lamictal, according to my p-doc. She said had I ignored it I could have either landed in the hospital or in a coffin.

I am freaked.

BNLsmom..Did she give you an alternative to that medicine? Don't give up on that. I'm sorry you are going through so much with your meds, your health and your husband.

((((BNLsmom)))) Hang in there!!!!!

Then you obviously had very good reason for concern over your medication. Thank God you are alright.

Wow I didn't even know that was a possible side effect. I would totally be freaked as well, and actually I *am* a bit freaked and shall immediately go check myself for swollen lymph nodes. I hope you can find an alternative that will work as well for you.

I'm sorry about your side effects. I've taken Lamictal since 2000 and never had anything like that happen. PTL you're OK!

We will be trying Lithium next. I see her next Monday.

I am partially covered by Trileptal, but it isn't doing a good enough job.

I still have to monitor the lymph nodes because it could be an infection, but she wanted me off Lamictal just in case. It comes under the rare side effect category.
I have also been having dreams where I crouch down to do something and can't get back up because my quads give out and hurt too much and I have been having pain in my quads as if I have been doing squats all day. Muscle pain, also listed under the rare side effect category.

I tried Topamax over the summer and had a rare mood reaction which landed me in the hospital.

Apparently, I am extremely sensitive to meds.

I guess I have good instincts. I thought I was taking poison and apparently Lamictal is poison for me.

I have heard such good things about it. I was hoping it would work.

You know your body and your response to meds better than anyone else. Trust that...If it makes you feel worse then it's not working and you should try something else. I'm so glad that your doc has given you and alternative med!!!

Here is the black box warning from Lamictal:

"Hypersensitivity reactions: Hypersensitivity reactions, some fatal or life-threatening, have also occurred. Some of these reactions have included clinical features of multiorgan dysfunction such as hepatic [liver] abnormalities and evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation [formation of small blood clots throughout the body]. It is important to note that early manifestations of hypersensitivity (e.g., fever, lymphadenopathy [swelling of lymph nodes]) may be present even though a rash is not evident. If such signs or symptoms are present, the patient should be evaluated immediately. LAMICTAL® should be discontinued if an alternative etiology [cause] for the signs or symptoms cannot be established."

OMG!! I am so glad that you caught that!! That is very, very scary!! I hope the new med works for you sweetie!! I also hope that you find the support from your mate that you need and deserve. He is probably as scared as you are. Give him a hug and tell him what you need from him.

You are in my thoughts and prayers!

We talked and we are feeling better. I told him what kind of support I need from him and he is willing to be more gentle with me in the future.

so sorry to hear about your side effect, thats serious!! did your dr. warn it could possibly happen? i have been intending to ask to try that instead of the lithium, hate it, and havent heard that your side effect was possible. its great you recieved care in time, hope you continue to do well, leah0306

So glad you caught the bad side effect quick enough. Wouldn't want to lose you. I hope lithium works for you.

Oh, my....! Wow, I am SOOOOO GLAD you caught that, BNLsmom. Oh, that is scary. How are you doing now? Will they have to biopsy it? I have been on lithium almost from the start and on the whole it's been good for me. Pleas take very good care of yourseslf (and glad that you and hubby talked)!!!!!! Huggs, just not around the neck

I think it's upposed to go away on its own, but if it doesn't I will have to see my general doctor.

It is still enlarged and sore today and I spent much of the afternoon sleeping while the kids played.

I was a big dummy when my lymph nodes swelled on Lamictal, and I got the hypersensitivity rash, it was UGLY!!!!!!!

I'm glad you stopped the med before anything truly awful happened.



Lithium sounded scary to me at first, but it really isn't all that bad. You have to make sure you don't get dehydrated, and most folks have to take it with food to avoid feeling sick. It has kept me from getting extreme moods very well.

Lithium isn't as scary as it sounds. The main thing I noticed is the constant thirst (and subsequent bathroom breaks). Oh, and I had pretty strong hand tremors that were pretty annoying. Just and annoyance though. I could deal with it. Hopefully it will work well for you. It's such a pain to have to try so many different meds to find the right one.

Wow, BNLsMOM, sure glad you caught that one! Scary. It's so true that people really do react very differently to one another with any given med (Lamictal's been like a godsend to me...and no side effects) Wishing you the very best with the lithium. When we get something working for us, it can make such a _huge_ difference...