[ezogyo]

Hey guys, I'm back again with another doubt about Lamictal. I tried to research about it but not helping. So anyway, I've been on Lamictal for 3 weeks, now I'm on 50mg, gonna up my dose to 75mg next week. No rash or any bad side effect so far.

For the past few days, I'm having a "mildly tolarable" soar throat with phlegm and a bit of coughing. It seems to be worse when I wake up, subsides throughout the day.
The problem is, I've read up the sign of Steven Johnson Syndrom stating that "If you have Stevens-Johnson syndrome, several days before the rash develops you may experience: Fever, Sore mouth and throat, Fatigue, Cough, Burning eyes."

I do not have fever(at least for now), eyes burn rarely, but I do feel fatigued due to feeling drowsy sometimes. So is this a cause for a concern? Am I having flu due to Lamictal or is this normal flu? I don't want to get to the ER(as advised by pdoc) whenever I'm in doubt about my symptom.

I'd also like to add that my family and I are susceptible to catching flu seldom. This time, my niece and nephews visited me when they were having flu. So it may have passed down from them. But the main problem is, How do we know Normal flu vs Lamictal flu(steven johnshon)? The side effect stated online is vague about telling us the difference so I thought I'd get some opinion on it beside my other questions.

If you don't have a fever, it's probably not the flu. It sounds like a cold or even just allergies (which can make you really tired). A sore throat is an extremely general symptom. I seriously seriously doubt this is what the beginning of SJS is like - however - as someone who is irrationally paranoid about all things health-related, I would probably visit a doctor just for peace of mind. It can't hurt.

[Rjaye]

If it's the flu, you will feel like you are dying and you won't be able to get up out of bed. It comes on pretty quickly.

Do you have allergies? Allergies have been bad this year. A friend and my sister both developed phlegmy coughs over a period of a week or so, and it was allergies catching up to them. Both had to use inhalers to break up the congestion.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I had bronchitis when I got the rash so I had a reason for a fever if I had one. But, 1)SJS is REALLY rare and much more rare than getting a rash on Lamictal 2) having had it I would guess that it would be very painful as the rash is very painful and that is on skin, not mucus membranes. I had it on my lips and they were so painful I couldn't touch them. If you had it in your throat you'd be in a lot of pain.

It's hard to wiat it out. But keep remembering that it is very unlikely and that if it does happen it won't automatically be severe. I mean yes, I had the rash and it was unpleasant but I wasn't hospitalized. I was given antihistamines and prescription cream and was off work about a week, mainly because it was my face and I looked hideous for a few days after it started to heal. It hurt and itched and was not fun at all but aside from being warned to go to an ER if it affected my eye or mouth more than it was I was pretty much able to take care of it after seeing my doctor (who called my pdoc).

The titration up does end and then you can relax. Hang in there.

[ezogyo]

Thanks for your thoughts on this.
Just to update, I feel like fever is coming up. Last night it was 36.7C(98F). Today it was 37.6C(99.6F), i guess mild fever. But I was able to go to the gym and work out for 90min. Brought some over the counter lozenge and syrup which is helping to sooth the itch and cough.
So I guess I'll just wait it out. Like what some of you have said, it isn't as bad as you guys described. I'm still adamant that I might have gotten the flu from my sister's family. More proof, my mum has it too. She had fever last night.

Since I'm gonna take Lamictal for a long time, I'm bound to get flu or some sort of virus or infection externally right. That's the main reason I wanted to bring this topic up. If I'm having to have keep worrying and obsessing about the side effect, I guess it just defeat the purpose of taking the medication. I'll still watch out only for the rashes when its starts to appear. There were many incidents whereby the docs said the problem isn't serious at all. I don't want to appear as worried freak them no more.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I think if you've been exposed to sickness that's the problem.

I am on an anti-psychotic that can drop your white blood cell count and lead to infections that can kill you. It's a really effective med but only used in people who have failed on everything else because of the risk, which is at least lower than they used to think.

They make you have blood tests every week for 6 months, every 2 weeks for 6 months and monthly for life on it. THey won't fill your script beyond the time until your next blood test to make sure you do it and both your dr. and pharmacist have to sign off on it. So I understand the fear; every time I get sick I think what if my blood counts are off and I'm in danger. But every time my counts have just responded the way they are supposed to and I've been fine. (I'm at 6 months next week).

It's not easy dealing with this kind of thing. But you do get used to it and it will seem less overwhelming. Once you get to 8 (6?) weeks of lamictal your risk decreases which helps. It will be ok.

[Danilove10]

I just stopped taking Lamictal and I never had the flu...but I did start to become "allergic" to things I NEVER knew about. I did develop a little rash but it is going away now...that drug will introduce you to new things if you know what I mean.

[ezogyo]

Update: The flu, soar throat and fever are gone. As expected, it wasn't Lamictal related but it had the similar symptom as what's been said online which got me really worried.
Currently, I have rashes from sweating, on my chest but it's a heat rash since it tiny and didn't spread throughout my body.

If it weren't for the depression, I'd live medication free. But this is working wonders for me so far. My anxiety is miraculously gone too(it's really strangely good), and I'm only at 75mg. So yeah, even though its scary, I believe I'll be fine Thanks guys!