Lamotrigine/Lamictal rash...is it??

So started Med Oct 19 and now on 100mg/day. Just noticed today a very small rash on outer back rim of my armpit. Very small raised bumps. I’m hesitant to seek medical advice as it is so tiny and I guess I don’t want to seem like Im freaking out over something so little.
I’ve read that lots of people can get mild rashes that clear up.
Anyone have any experience to share?
Thank you

I've never had the rash, & am on 400mg per day. I had a few minor rashes, but they're something else. Look up the incidence of the "bad rash"...It's quite a bit below 1%. Sometimes a rash is just a rash. I'm no doctor, though...

You should report any rash you have when starting lamictal.

That sounds like a razor rash, maybe?

I don’t think so as it’s not where I shave. It’s on the outside of that area (towards my back). I just put a little cortisone on it. I’ll see how it looks in the morning and reassess. I hope it’s nothing as this is the longest I’ve ever been on any med and if I have to stop I know I won’t take anything for a while.

SJS shows up in mouth eyes mucus areas .... Arm ? I dont think so I am no Doctor tho so its best to get it checked out.

You should get it checked just in case. And before you take any more call your pdoc and ask.

I had the rash and the first day it was just a little patch of bumps on the side of my face near my mouth. I thought nothing of it because I was out of the high risk period and took my next dose. The next day it was on much of my face, my lips, my eyelid, etc. I immediately was pulled off it and obviously can never try it again. But I have a feeling it wouldn't have gotten nearly so bad if I had just skipped that night dose until I could talk to my pdoc.

Better safe than sorry!

Please be very careful.

None of us are SJS experts and the truth is: we don't know all of the ways/places SJS can manifest.

My aunt is a long-term SJS patient, with all kinds of complications and even the doctors most expert learn a lot from her case. In other words: even the "experts" are still learning. (Her case became advanced because doctors had some ideas about SJS rashes which were not true in her case.)

You tend to handle things in a very logical manner. I have faith you'll handle this carefully/mindfully.


WC

From what you describe, your psychiatrist has ramped up your Lamictal at a slow and cautious rate. Regardless, it is probably better to call him/her and mention it, than not.

I do think getting rashes (SJS or other more innocent types) is a shame for new Lamictal users because it can be such a helpful side effect friendly medication. Stopping for something totally innocent happens a lot, but doctors do want to protect us.

I never got a rash from Lamictal, but I did get some kind of rash (forget the name of it) shortly after I started the 1st generation antipsychotic Navane (Thiothixene). Lots of different meds can cause different types of rashes. My rash quickly started to look kind of ominous by the time I saw my pdoc. I hadn't called him. I waited until my appointment to mention it. It was on my torso and upper chest. I told him about it and kind of pulled down my shirt collar. Actually pretty far down. Then I was about to lift up my shirt a bit and he yelled "NO!" I think I gave my poor old pdoc a near heart attack because he thought I was going to totally strip. LOL! He is an MD. I don't know why it scared him so much. Maybe because I was a bit hypomanic during that period. Any way, he didn't get a good look at it, but he discontinued the Navane anyway and put me on Trilafon (Perphanazine), another 1st generation antipsychotic. The Trilafon actually worked a little better than the Navane after the first week or two, but I packed on 9 lbs in only two weeks, and I got scared by that. I decided to make an appointment with a dermatologist. Luckily with my insurance I don't need referrals. The dermatologist told me it was a fairly innocent rash that had ZERO to do with medications. He gave me a cream to put on it and it went away quickly. I told my pdoc that and even showed him the paperwork the dermatologist gave me, then asked him to put me back on Navane, because that was helpful and seemed to be side effect friendly (at the time). He could not challenge the diagnosis of a dermatologist, the skin expert!

So that's my story of a rash, if it helps at all. Of course you don't know right now what kind of rash you have, so please tell your pdoc about it. SJS can apparently get way out of control very fast, so waiting for weeks to tell your pdoc is not a good idea.

Note: I've known people who did not gain weight from Trilafon. It's a shame I did. It made a huge positive difference in my stability very quickly. Also, I'm sorry, everybody, that I write such long posts all of the time. I love to write and type. It's kind of a compulsion for me. I'm often a very gabby person, too.

I wouldn't touch another dose before talking to your dr.

I definitely would get it checked out -- it can't hurt.
Also, SJS has side effects of fever, aches, flu-like symptoms too beyond just a rash, so if you have any of those then go to the ER right away.
But you're right, it could just be a rash. But better safe than sorry!

It is true that the rash feels quite different than "just a rash"; it burned and I couldn't even stand water on my face while I had it. It's kind of hard to describe. But, that first night, there was nothing to indicate it was anything different than an allergic response to something or even a weird insect bite. That's why checking in with a doctor is important so it doesn't turn into the rash that feels like a burn that is what you do not want.

I was on Lamictal and got a rash around my knee, I called my pdoc to ask what she thought and she said to stop it immediately just in case.

I am sure it's not THE rash, but call your pdoc just in case

I had a similar experience. I contacted my pdoc and he had a look at it. It wasn’t from the lamictal. If you’re concerned, best to contact the prescribing doctor. Better safe than sorry in this situation.

I didn't get a rash from Lamictal, but I did have a staph infection in my armpits and had to get cream to clear it. So even if it isn't "the rash" you might want to have it checked out for other reasons.

Thank you for all the advice. I had put a little cortisone on it yesterday and this morning it was gone. I’m assuming it was nothing significant but will keep a close eye on it. Can THE rash come and go? Just being on this Med creates paranoia. Now every rash like thing I get is going to worry me. That being said I actually don’t want to stop taking it as the past 5-6 days have been my longest stretch of stability in a while so I’m hopeful. Increase to 75mg twice a day next week.

Thanks for the input everyone. I was just prescribed Lamictal. My pdoc warned me about the rash, but I assume it would be a visible rash. Rashes come in many forms.