Rash...

pawn78 · Jun 04, 2014 at 08:43 AM

I woke up this morning with a minor rash, like a small case of hives. I am on 75mg if Lamictal, and just called my doctor.
this sucks.

Jun 04, 2014 at 09:02 AM

It might be a Lamictal rash. It's good that you called your doctor early. For me, Lamictal rashes affected my whole body, but primarily the mucous membranes. The medication was working well for me, so I didn't call my doctor until I was desperate. Hopefully others are more prudent, since it took a while for the rashes to go away.

Victoria'smom · Jun 04, 2014 at 09:16 AM

Schedule an emergency dermatologist appointment if you can.

nbritton · Jun 04, 2014 at 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawn78

I woke up this morning with a minor rash, like a small case of hives. I am on 75mg if Lamictal, and just called my doctor.
this sucks.

It's just a lamictal rash. You can schedule an appointment with a dermatologist if you want, but chances are it's not SJS and you're just going to waste your money. You'll have to back off lamotrigine till the rash clears up and then try it again at a slower titration rate. Google lamotrigine rechallenge. Did you start at 75mg?

Skitz13 · Jun 04, 2014 at 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawn78

I woke up this morning with a minor rash, like a small case of hives. I am on 75mg if Lamictal, and just called my doctor.
this sucks.

good that you called the doctor, i have always been told to watch out for that. Keep me posted

pawn78 · 11:55 AM

good news, I don;t have to stop the Lamictal.

Doc said it sounds like a mild allergic reaction, but nothing serous. He said "the bad rash" has much worse symptoms, so keep monitoring it.

There is hardly any itching. I might just take some antihistamine, as I have had a horrible sinus infection lately too.

I was really getting worried I would have to stop lamictal, as it seems to be one of the only drugs that can help me with my bipolar rapid-cycling.

(I have been on Lamictal once before< and didn't get any rash, so I don't think I am severely allergic, we'll see)

pawn78 · Jun 04, 2014 at 05:08 PM

Rash is almost gone. I'm back on Lamictal dosing schedule. Go up to 100 mg tomorrow.

I have a sinus infection and my immune system is probably just weakened.

Victoria'smom · Jun 04, 2014 at 08:39 PM

Im so glad

nbritton · Jun 04, 2014 at 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawn78

Rash is almost gone. I'm back on Lamictal dosing schedule. Go up to 100 mg tomorrow.

That doesn't sound like a good idea, I would wait until the rash is completely gone before increasing the dosage. How is the rash almost gone, you just created this thread today?

pawn78 · 07:15 AM

I don't know, it showed up yesterday morning, then began to go away.
Doctor said it's no big deal, just monitor it, and keep taking the Lamictal as directed.

The rash has since subsided, just barely any spots left.

pawn78 · Jun 05, 2014 at 05:16 PM

100 mg this morning, no rash.

Jun 05, 2014 at 10:37 PM

That's good to hear, pawn78! Lamictal is a very good med IMO so long as your body tolerates it.

Jun 06, 2014 at 11:49 AM

Pawn, I'm glad to hear that things got sorted out!

You mentioned that you took an antihistamine. On that note, I have a cautionary tale for others who might have a serious Lamictal rash -- it might not be wise to take an antihistamine while you are still on the Lamictal.

I did this without talking to my pdoc (used a OTC antihistamine), and it masked the severity of my rash for a while. So when I went off the antihistamine, my rash broke out with a vengeance.

When my doctor took me off the Lamictal, she put me on prednisone (prescription antihistamine), and this slowly calmed down my rashes.

pawn78 · Jun 06, 2014 at 11:55 AM

Quote:

Pawn, I'm glad to hear that things got sorted out!

You mentioned that you took an antihistamine. On that note, I have a cautionary tale for others who might have a serious Lamictal rash -- it might not be wise to take an antihistamine while you are still on the Lamictal.

I did this without talking to my pdoc (used a OTC antihistamine), and it masked the severity of my rash for a while. So when I went off the antihistamine, my rash broke out with a vengeance.

When my doctor took me off the Lamictal, she put me on prednisone (prescription antihistamine), and this slowly calmed down my rashes. __________________

Yes, very good advice. I did some research and discovered this fact, so I DID NOT take any anti-histamine. The rash just cleared up on its own.

I think I discovered what caused it. The night before the rash, I took a large amount of cold medicine, with a bunch of phenylephrine hydrochloride(congestion drug), dextromorphan hydrobromide(cough drug) and Acetaminophen(Tylenol).

Apparently this was a stupid move, as these drugs can all be enhanced by Lamotrigine, according to the latest published findings. So this is where my small rash came from. Once I stopped taking the cold medicines, I cleared up.

wing · Jun 06, 2014 at 01:11 PM

There are a gazillion reasons for a rash. You're under a doctor's care. So many people have been on lamictal that the fear of SJS may finally get into perspective. Very few people get SJS, and a good doctor is prudent and watchful.

If you're on a generic, you can be allergic to the inactive ingredients, not the lamotrigine itself.

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pawn78 Veteran Member Member Since May 2014 Location: the cosmos Posts: 704 10 60 hugs given	Jun 04, 2014 at 08:43 AM #1 I woke up this morning with a minor rash, like a small case of hives. I am on 75mg if Lamictal, and just called my doctor. this sucks. __________________ Bipolar 1 ~ 300mg Lamictal, 4mg Ativan
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Anonymous37909 Guest Posts: n/a	Jun 04, 2014 at 09:02 AM #2 It might be a Lamictal rash. It's good that you called your doctor early. For me, Lamictal rashes affected my whole body, but primarily the mucous membranes. The medication was working well for me, so I didn't call my doctor until I was desperate. Hopefully others are more prudent, since it took a while for the rashes to go away.
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Victoria'smom Legendary Member Since Apr 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 15,319 (SuperPoster!) 12 5,638 hugs given	Jun 04, 2014 at 09:16 AM #3 Schedule an emergency dermatologist appointment if you can. __________________ Dx: Me- SzA Husband- Bipolar 1 Daughter- mood disorder+ Comfortable broken and happy "So I don't know why I'm tongue tied At the wrong time when I need this."- P!nk My blog
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pawn78 Veteran Member Member Since May 2014 Location: the cosmos Posts: 704 10 60 hugs given	Jun 04, 2014 at 05:08 PM #7 Rash is almost gone. I'm back on Lamictal dosing schedule. Go up to 100 mg tomorrow. I have a sinus infection and my immune system is probably just weakened. __________________ Bipolar 1 ~ 300mg Lamictal, 4mg Ativan
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Victoria'smom Legendary Member Since Apr 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 15,319 (SuperPoster!) 12 5,638 hugs given	Jun 04, 2014 at 08:39 PM #8 Im so glad __________________ Dx: Me- SzA Husband- Bipolar 1 Daughter- mood disorder+ Comfortable broken and happy "So I don't know why I'm tongue tied At the wrong time when I need this."- P!nk My blog
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pawn78 Veteran Member Member Since May 2014 Location: the cosmos Posts: 704 10 60 hugs given	Jun 05, 2014 at 06:30 AM #10 I don't know, it showed up yesterday morning, then began to go away. Doctor said it's no big deal, just monitor it, and keep taking the Lamictal as directed. The rash has since subsided, just barely any spots left. __________________ Bipolar 1 ~ 300mg Lamictal, 4mg Ativan Last edited by pawn78; Jun 05, 2014 at 07:15 AM..
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pawn78 Veteran Member Member Since May 2014 Location: the cosmos Posts: 704 10 60 hugs given	Jun 05, 2014 at 05:16 PM #11 100 mg this morning, no rash. __________________ Bipolar 1 ~ 300mg Lamictal, 4mg Ativan
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Anonymous53806 Guest Posts: n/a	Jun 05, 2014 at 10:37 PM #12 That's good to hear, pawn78! Lamictal is a very good med IMO so long as your body tolerates it.
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wing metamorphosist Member Since Oct 2010 Location: Southern US Posts: 18,546 (SuperPoster!) 14 1,560 hugs given	Jun 06, 2014 at 01:11 PM #15 There are a gazillion reasons for a rash. You're under a doctor's care. So many people have been on lamictal that the fear of SJS may finally get into perspective. Very few people get SJS, and a good doctor is prudent and watchful. If you're on a generic, you can be allergic to the inactive ingredients, not the lamotrigine itself.
	Reply With Quote