[sanityseeker]

I posted this in the psych med forum this morning but it hasn't generated any replies so I thought maybe if I posted it here some of you might be willing to help me figure this out.

I have what I think is eczema inside my elbow joint. It is about 3 inches in diameter. If I bend my arm at right angles the skin inside the bend is the area of the rash. If that makes any sense.

I have just been moved up a couple of weeks ago to 200mg from 100mgs which I had been taking for at least a month, probably longer. Since moving to the higher dose, which I understand is still a relatively low does, the rash has been more active. It usually flares up more when my anxiety is up so it still sounds like eczema to me. It will get increasingly reder. It is very itchy, tender and it stings. Across the centre crease in my arm it gets very red with even some welted. Not quiet blisters. I wonder if lamictal can increase the sevarity of eczema or if could be an early sign of Johnston Syndrome.

Another recent occurance, totally unrealated to JS, that I have noticed since starting the higher doze is that my typing is messed up. I am usually a fast typer with very few mistakes... unless they are spelling, which has always been a problem for me. But even there I will sit and ponder how to spell even the most basic words. Now I can barely type three letters without having to go back and fix the mistyped letter and even then it may take 3 or 4 tries to get it right. I am constantly back spacing to just get one word right or I may need to stop to think what letter is next. I will write a word that sounds the same but is spelled differently depending on the usage. EG... I had to correct the use of write when I meant right. I have been doing that throughout all of this post. I don't know if it is related but this has never happened before. Is it related to the lamictal?

I suppose I should go to my GP about this but I am loosing confidence in him. When I saw him last week I mentioned that I was still struggling with anxiety, hyperventilating, feeling panicked. His response.... he sends me to get a lung test. Huh? I don't think he really gets it. I wouldn't doubt if he hasn't even heard of Johnston Syndrome let alone be able recognize it. I don't really know where else to turn or if I should cut back on the Limictal to see if it makes a difference. Just not sure.

Anyone got any ideas? I sure would appreciate hearing them. Thanks.

[BlackPup]

200mg is an ok dose, its what I'm on, I think some people go up to 300mg.... maybe higher for epilepsy
How fast did you increase your meds?
Are there any blisters, is it round?
Are your eyes and mouth ok?
Look at some of the pictures on the net and see if it looks the same.... dermatology is all about pictures!!!!
I think you should see your doctor if it gets worse or you are worried

I think you're really going to have to ask your doctor about this one. I've never heard of lamictal making eczema worse, but that doesn't mean it doesn't.

As far as the typing issue goes, I have heard people complain of feeling cognitively slower on lamictal. Having a hard time finding words, etc. I never had that problem even on 375mg, but again, everyone responds to these meds differently.

[sanityseeker]

Thanks BlackPup for taking the time to reply. Man, this typing thing is annoying and frustrating.

Anyways... I have read that it is not unusaul for people to take up to 600mgs to treat BP so there seems to be a lot of wiggle room left. I increased the meds very slowly. Maybe as much as a month between. I was nervous to go up and would put it off until I felt better about it. Do you thing I went from 100 to 200 too fast? Should there have been a more modest increase between them?

Not quiet blisters. More like welts. Usually 2 or 3 of them ranging from as small as a quarter of an inche around to ones as big as an inch long and a little more then a quater of an inche wide.

Not sure what you mean by my eyes. They get blurry sometimes but that is not so unusual. I am thirsty all the time and my mouth feels dry alot. This is new. Does all that mean something?

Thanks again for your time. I appreciate your help.

Generally lamictal is always increased only 25mg at a time, so if your doc had you basically double your dose from 100 to 200mg, that would seem like a really fast titration for lamictal.

The thirst is just a side effect. A nuisance, but nothing to worry about.

[sanityseeker]

Thanks Farmergirl. It kind of makes me angry because I questioned the doctor about it and he said it would be fine. No wonder I have so much trouble trusting doctors. Can I drop back to 100mg for a few days or so until I can get an appointment with the doc. I am surprise the pharmacist didn't catch it. He is usually more on top of things like that. He knows my fear of meds and he is a big part of me making the step.

[sugahorse1]

I was on 100 mg, and then my pdoc moved me to 100mg AM and PM-no titration that time round. Then I went to 150 in the PM and also just upped it overnight. I know it doesn't sound right, but I seem to be ok.
Thirst is becoming a think for me, and my eyes are getting very dry. I do wear contacts, but this is much worse than normal.
My concentration span is diabolical. I tend to get quite dyslectic, which is a problem. My typing has always been fast, but with lots of backspacing, so I can relate.
But in the end, the pro's out-weigh the side-effectS, so I'm staying on iy.

I'd get a doctor to take a look at the excema / rash, just for peace of mind

[blueoctober]

I'm on 300mg/day, but I increased very slowly at 25mg increases. I would suggest speaking to your GP about it. I would also suggest you ask for a referral to a pdoc. I hope it's nothing serious.

[mgran]

Talk to the doctor. When I went on it I thought I had a lamactil rash, turned out to be shingles. But it's better for you to find out now, rather than later, whether you're having an allergic reaction. It will put your mind at rest.

[Larfu]

I have personally developed the Lamictal reaction rash by upping my dose of Lamictal from 250mg to 300mg. After this happened, my doctor removed me from the medication immediately (which turned out to be the wrong move [tapering down would have been nice]).

If you believe you are getting the rash because of an increased dose of Lamictal, I recommend you call your doctor. But don't let them hose you like they hosed me.

[ladyjrnlist]

Lamictal rash can be very dangerous. Definitely get this checked to make sure what is causing it. It may just be coincidence.

[unico]

I got a rash from Lamictal, but not the really dangerous one. Apparently it can cause other kinds of rashes, too.

[sanityseeker]

Thank you all so much for your replies. I will call the GP for an appointment. I do have an appointment at the end of the month with a new pdoc. I had requesting it when the pdoc I saw at the beginning of February changed my dx and wanted me to take lithium instead of the Lamital. He was of the opinion that I was taking too low a dose for it to be effective. The records from the BP sadi I was on 200mgs but I told him while I had a scrpt for the 200's I hadn't hadn't taken the jump from 100mg. He didn't say anything about the size of the jump. I guess I should have asked him if it was okay to jump so far ahead at one time. I think I was still in shock about his dx and the suggestion of lithium.

Its all very infuriating to me right now. Unlike you suga, though I wish I were able be so rational about it. I am not sure I can live with the with these side effects. Not so much the rash as the cognitive effects and this clamminess that seems to be another side effect. I am showing constantly and still within a few minutes I feel all clammy again. I suppose my that all is pretty silly of me.

It is really playing a number on me. My parinoia is being triggered in a major way. I can't get out of my mind what I read on a few of the psych med websites that said "since Lamictal is fairly new to the market there is no research to indicate the long term effects." That haunts me and and scare the bejebbers out me which of course shoots the anxiety up several notches.

I am beginning to feel trapped, the walls are closing it and when I feel this way I tend to run the other way. I am not sure now what I am going to do. I will talk to the GP but my inclination is to wheen off this stuff and walk away. Even though it appears to be working for me it is not enough of a reason for me right now to push aside my fears. I feel now like I am willingly poisoning myself. My mind is warped I know. It took me 15 years to get here and now it is feeding into all my reasons resist for all those years.

I am sorry for putting my meltdown up here but I really am upset about this. I hope you can forgive my self-indulgence. Perhaps the shock will wear off soon and I will come around to thinking more rational but right now the desire to flee from this is way too strong.

Before I sign off and focus on bringing the anxiety back down I wanted to respond the mgran's experience of the rash actually being shingles. Years ago while still in denial, pushing past the symptoms, though not very well, my stress level got so high that shingles developed all over my face. Or at least that was what the GP said it was, but hey who knows. My eye was shut from it creeping up around it. Of course this just shot the anxiety higher because I had read that if it got too close to the eye it could cause blindness. It didn't but it was very painful for a few weeks. There is some similarity to this rash so I guess I will have to see what my proving to be incompetent GP has to say.

geessh... I am really starting to set myself up with amunition to run. Here we go again. I really appreciate you guys sharing with me. It will help me find my centre again so I can get beyond my fears. Seeing you guys get past any worry about side effects and appreciating the beneifts.... maybe that will get me through this parinoia moment. Just seeing this post might wake me up so that I can see that I am not really in control of my thinking right now. I hate it when my fears cause me to defy reality.

Sorry for the long senseless ramble. I am tired now from the strain of correcting my typing. This took me more the an hour to get it right. That of course didn't help with the anxiety. This is ust not going to work for me. Okay... stop already! I will make that appointment now before I chicken out.

Thanks again. Wishing you all well.

[Larfu]

Rants are what your mind needs to do to cope with feeling all chemically imbalanced. At least, I find this is true for me, and seems to be for you. I wish you courage in making that call, and getting an appt. GJ! Be an advocate!

[ladyjrnlist]

I've been on Lamictal for a year now and have had no serious side effects, if that helps you feel better about the drug.

[Kymaro]

here is a link for SJS reaction

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ste...ndrome/DS00940

it mayo clinic so it is safe. Refering to the mouth, the rash starts around the mouth. Lamictal can lower your immune system with results in an incease in your ecxema. I havent been able to find anything about cognitive issues with lamictal. But there is a stong coralation (sp) with the use of Benzo's that are commonly used with lamictal. NOt sure if your taking any of those. The dose jump is a "so-so" concern some people are more sensitive to the increase. Are you taking it in a divided dose or once a day? Most times an incrase is tolerated better with a divided dose.

Also its always better to have pdoc manage any psych medications. GP just arent up to date on the latest education when it comes to psych issues. It's such a complexe condition (any of them) that a specialist is ALWAYS the right choice.

Good luck and keep us updated.

[greylove]

Just to share.......I went from Lamictal to Lithium and back to Lamictal again. Abilify was added in early but I have developed irreversible tardive dyskenisia......rare but serious........known to be caused by the early antisychotics. I'm not thrilled that I was put on Abilify first.......it was obvious that I was at risk for TD......(age, gender.) I'm not even remotely thrilled with my pdoc, but he's it for choices in this area. My therapist, who is very good, referred me because she said he was good with medicines. I couldn't stay with Lithium. The side effects were way beyond tolerable for me.

Haven''t had to deal with a rash, although I do get patches of dry skin.......(psoraisis sp?) due to stress. Sanityseeker......my primary comments are related to you using the keyboard.......typing slowly, making mistakes, backtracting, being blank. Everything you wrote, every single thing, is where I'm at. I'm just hoping against all hope that I can continue to be active on PC. It's the only thing keeping me going.......giving me a reason to get up in the morning.

This may not have been a very helpful post med-wise......I agree, pin your doctor right down on this or try to find another).......but I did want to share the rest. I am SO, SO, SO where you're at.......(a PM would be welcomed BTW). Thinking of you.........hugs.......grey

[blueoctober]

Sanityseeker.

[sanityseeker]

Wow! You guys are something else. Thank you all for letting me vent. I appreciate the well wishes Larfu. They found their way to me. I am so sorry to hear greylove that you have experiences som of the same side effects. I too hope you can continue to be active on PC. I think that is an underlying fear for me too. And like you it is very important me. I am so grateful for all the support and sharing.

I waited until it was 9am and the doc's office was open. I have an appointment on Friday. Then I focused on getting my head straight. I just finished doing a ceremony and smudge. It has helped to settle me down and let go of my fears.

Your idea Kymaro to divide the dose sounds very logical. I will suggest it to the GP. He has no idea so no doubt he will go along with it. He is so.... whatever. I won't let myself get started up again on him! His reaction to my telling him I was still having anxiety attacks was to send me for a lung test. No clue that guy and no option for a switch unless he moves on. Of course that is always a good possiblity since he is the 3rd or 4th replacement in less than 3 years. It is what it is. Thanks also for the link to the mayo clinic Kymaro. I will check it out for sure.

I am not sure I can let a pdoc manage the meds as much as that makes total sense. They are so booked up it would be months between visits. Not very good in the early stages I would imagine.

I don't take any other meds except to treat my hypo-thyroidism. I thought it wiser to wait to see how I responded to the Lamictal so I wouldn't get any side effects confused. Not that I have been offered anything.

Big huges to everyone who has taken the time to help me with this. I couldn't do it without you. Blessing to each and everyone of you.

Hey Sanityseeker - i just saw this and wanted to respond - i didn't get the rash but i take 150 2x a day of Lamictal and it does make me extremely Thirsty. I know it's the lamictal over my other meds because when i don't take it, i'm not as thirsty....

do you think you're rash could also be exacerbated by stress? it sounds like you've been anxious....sometimes i get itchy and even hives from anxiety...maybe those 2 things could be related?

I'm glad you got an appointment for Friday. It helps me to make a list of everything I need to say to bring in with me because I tend to forget...that might help you prepare and feel better when you go there and speak to the dr.

Good luck

[sanityseeker]

Thanks jade. Yes, very thirsty. I should just move into the bathroom. lol. I have never drank so much water.

I think you are probably right that it may not have anything to do with the meds. I am back to thinking it is some exzema being aggrevated. It does coinside with some extra stress from pushing myself to hard and feeling pressed by some deadlines. So it looks to be related. I knew to take breaks but I didn't listen to myself. I hope it is just the exzema.

Good idea about the list. Even more so since my memory is near non existant.

Thanks again for your support. I will keep you all posted. I am feeling much better as the day goes on. Doing my best to not project my fears into the future. I am making this a self-care day and staying away from anything that might stir up any anxiety.

phew... I am breathing again. I am heading out for a walk to spend some time taking in the beauty all around me.

Wishing only Welness.

[Can't Stop Crying]

Lamictal made me very spacey and out of it so my doc backed down the dose...doing much better now...I'm very sensitive to all meds so the lower the better for me

[BlackPup]

lithium makes you really thirsty... are you on lithium too????
I think you increased slowly enough.... good luck with the doctors....

[Martina]

I'm actually on Lamictal AND Lithium. It doesn't have to be one or the other, apparently. Then again, I understand your frustrations with your doc because I'm quite frustrated with mine. I think I'm overmedicated yet any time I ask about reducing a dose, she points out some stupid thing I did that *might* be manic. Maybe I just had too much caffeine! Or maybe I was just an idiot! Not EVERYTHING is a manic episode! And am I not allowed to have some amount of energy, and feel happy? I feel like any time I get close to being energetic and happy, she thinks I'm going manic so she brings me back down. It sucks.

[PT52]

Hi sanityseeker, just saw this; I haven't been on much in a while.
Your description of the rash on the inside of your elbows is really familiar. Just the last couple of months, I'll get the same thing, roundish but it's probably 3-4 inches across. It goes away pretty quickly with steroids, but the weird thing is that it always shows up on both arms at the same time. It kind of looks like hives. I'm on 200 mg Lamictal and I asked my GP the last time I saw him, but he felt confident it was eczema since I also have an autoimmune disorder.
Then when I read Kymaro's comment about the mouth, wow..I've had problems with that for months, still thinking it's eczema, but I think I need to ask my GP more questions.