Lamictal Rash

Jan 07, 2014 at 10:41 AM

Has anyone developed a rash or hives from being on lamictal? If so, how long did it take for it to go away?

I started developing hives on Friday and it's getting worse. I've been on lamictal since July. Waiting to hear back from my dermatologist whether he thinks it could be from lamictal. I really don't want to start over on another mood stabilizer but guess I will if I have to.

Mine are on my neck, left shoulder and upper arm, and chest. He prescribed some sort of cream for it and told me to take an antihistamine.

vans1974 · Jan 07, 2014 at 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newgal2

Has anyone developed a rash or hives from being on lamictal? If so, how long did it take for it to go away?

I started developing hives on Friday and it's getting worse. I've been on lamictal since July. Waiting to hear back from my dermatologist whether he thinks it could be from lamictal. I really don't want to start over on another mood stabilizer but guess I will if I have to.

Mine are on my neck, left shoulder and upper arm, and chest. He prescribed some sort of cream for it and told me to take an antihistamine.

I think SJS and TEN are typically treatable by antibiotics. if you think you might have either one, I'd definetly get seen asap...best of luck and keep us posted please!

Jan 07, 2014 at 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vans1974

I think SJS and TEN are typically treatable by antibiotics. if you think you might have either one, I'd definetly get seen asap...best of luck and keep us posted please!

Thanks Vans. I saw a dermatologist yesterday and all he said is it looked like hives. I should have mentioned to him that I'm on lamictal but didn't. I figured he knew what he was doing and if it looked like lamictal-caused hives he'd have said something. To be on the safe side, I called his office back this morning and inquired whether he thought it could be from lamictal. Waiting to hear back.

vans1974 · Jan 07, 2014 at 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newgal2

Thanks Vans. I saw a dermatologist yesterday and all he said is it looked like hives. I should have mentioned to him that I'm on lamictal but didn't. I figured he knew what he was doing and if it looked like lamictal-caused hives he'd have said something. To be on the safe side, I called his office back this morning and inquired whether he thought it could be from lamictal. Waiting to hear back.

K good...I'm sure it's not TEN or SJS, and I'm glad you're on top of it!!

Jan 07, 2014 at 11:45 AM

Well, the dermatologist said he's not sure if it's from lamictal so I should ask my pdoc if he wants me to stop taking it. I really don't want to start up on another mood stabilizer. I did start Prozac 2 weeks ago. I wonder if hives are ever caused by Prozac. Just left a message for my pdoc. Another Google search . . .

Jan 07, 2014 at 12:00 PM

I'm confused. In one post you said you didn't tell the dermatologist you are on lamictal, but in your last post it sounds like you did.

You definitely MUST tell the dermatologist AND your pdoc about this rash. Lamictal rashes, if they end up being SJS, can be life threatening. Most of the time they aren't and all if fine, but you really shouldn't take that chance. Knew a man who started lamictal and ended up in the burn unit because of the severity of the SJS. It is rare, but it isn't something to play around with.

Jan 07, 2014 at 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

I'm confused. In one post you said you didn't tell the dermatologist you are on lamictal, but in your last post it sounds like you did.

You definitely MUST tell the dermatologist AND your pdoc about this rash. Lamictal rashes, if they end up being SJS, can be life threatening. Most of the time they aren't and all if fine, but you really shouldn't take that chance. Knew a man who started lamictal and ended up in the burn unit because of the severity of the SJS. It is rare, but it isn't something to play around with.

Chris, I wrote in my second post in this thread that while I originally didn't mention the lamictal to the dermatologist, I called his office back today to tell him. He has deferred to the pdoc on what to do about it. I just talked to the pdoc's nurse about it. She will check with the pdoc and get back to me. Thanks for the reminder about the potential severity of these hives.

Jan 07, 2014 at 12:50 PM

Got it. Hope it is just a simple allergy or something.

manymiles · Jan 07, 2014 at 01:38 PM

[QUOTE=newgal2;3509385]Well, the dermatologist said he's not sure if it's from lamictal QUOTE]

I hope your Pdoc tells you if it is the rash or not. If pdoc is not certain but wants to take you off of it out of "an abundance of caution", could you discuss with them their thoughts on you meeting with another dermatologist that is more familiar with "The Rash" and give you a definitive answer?

Of course stop the med if your pdoc suggests it. Because you really like the med you could really push to confirm it is the rash for sure. HTH

I am curious what your pdoc says.

Jan 07, 2014 at 03:40 PM

Well, the pdoc said to give it "some time" and see if it improves. The dermatologist did a biopsy, which I THINK can tell you if the problem is autoimmune or from medication or from something I came into contact with. I don't know . . . I guess if the pdoc isn't too concerned at this point, I'll try to relax and hope it improves with the antihistamine and some time.

archipelago · Jan 09, 2014 at 07:06 AM

Lamictal can cause a range of rashes not all are the worrisome kind. I got hives the last time I tried Lamictal. I decided to discontinue it. It wasn't that crucial anyway.

Kristiemarie · Jan 09, 2014 at 06:28 PM

My doc didn't even see me but took me off immediately. Mine was more of a sunburn looking rash. Not necessary the deadly rash but a rash none the less and he didn't want it to worsen. Took me nearly 6 months (yes you read that right) before I broke out. I also had an itchy head. It took about 2-3 months before the rash went away and the itching stopped immediately. I do have an autoimmune disorder and break out all the time. However, I've not broke out like that with Tegretol so I'd say that something in the Lamictal was causing it.

Personally, I'd stop the meds only because you don't know what's causing it. Seems suspicious that it started after you got on lamictal. You might not have the deadly rash but if you are allergic or sensitive to the lamictal it's still no good.

From someone who gets hives all the time, they don't necessary always look like you'd expect the to. Sometimes I get ONE hive. And it looks like a pimple but itches like mad.

Good luck with this!!!

Jan 10, 2014 at 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristiemarie

My doc didn't even see me but took me off immediately. Mine was more of a sunburn looking rash. Not necessary the deadly rash but a rash none the less and he didn't want it to worsen. Took me nearly 6 months (yes you read that right) before I broke out. I also had an itchy head. It took about 2-3 months before the rash went away and the itching stopped immediately. I do have an autoimmune disorder and break out all the time. However, I've not broke out like that with Tegretol so I'd say that something in the Lamictal was causing it.

Personally, I'd stop the meds only because you don't know what's causing it. Seems suspicious that it started after you got on lamictal. You might not have the deadly rash but if you are allergic or sensitive to the lamictal it's still no good.

From someone who gets hives all the time, they don't necessary always look like you'd expect the to. Sometimes I get ONE hive. And it looks like a pimple but itches like mad.

Good luck with this!!!

My head starting getting really itchy a couple of days before I broke out. I'm taking an antihistamine and using a topical corticosteroid cream and it seems to be helping somewhat. We'll see how much longer this drags on before I can't take the itchiness anymore, and maybe I'll ask my pdoc if I can take a different mood stabilizer if he still doesn't suggest going off it.

Jan 10, 2014 at 10:41 AM

At least it doesn't seem to be progressing. That's a good sign. I think I've heard people talk about itchiness with lamictal, so that itchy scalp may be completely normal for the med. Keep us informed. Sometimes people start having problems with hives out of the blue. My mother started having that problem in her 50's and she realizes now that usually it is a stress response rather than an allergic reaction. It can be so many things.

Jan 10, 2014 at 01:57 PM

This sounds really gross . . . the dermatologist's office called back and said I have "herpetic dermatitis!" This is apparently not contagious and is from the HSV-1 virus and not HSV-2 (as in genital herpes for the latter). I am to take Valtrex for it.

So it looks like I'm staying on the lamictal . . .

Jan 10, 2014 at 02:21 PM

That's great news. There are actually a whole bunch of herpes viruses, and most of them are not venereal diseases. Don't let that bother you. Glad they found the cause and there is a treatment for it, AND you get to stay on lamictal.

Kristiemarie · Jan 10, 2014 at 02:22 PM

Wow! Maybe that's what caused mine and I got off lamictal for no reason! I'm going to head to my doctor. Seriously. The Tegretol I'm on doesn't do nearly as much as the lamictal and so maybe I can switch back!

THANK YOU!!!

Jan 10, 2014 at 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristiemarie

Wow! Maybe that's what caused mine and I got off lamictal for no reason! I'm going to head to my doctor. Seriously. The Tegretol I'm on doesn't do nearly as much as the lamictal and so maybe I can switch back!

THANK YOU!!!

That would be great if you could rule out lamictal as the cause. The way the dermatologist found out it was this form of herpes for me is from doing a biopsy.

Rzay4 · Jan 13, 2014 at 10:43 AM

Oh wow I'm glad it wasn't lamitctal. I too have developed a rash but the nurses at the hospital gave me some special cream and it went away.

Jan 14, 2014 at 02:40 AM

I got hives when I was on lamictal too. Mine were treated with antihistamines and I was fine and continued on the drug for a number of months after.

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Anonymous37807 Guest Posts: n/a	Jan 07, 2014 at 11:45 AM #5 Well, the dermatologist said he's not sure if it's from lamictal so I should ask my pdoc if he wants me to stop taking it. I really don't want to start up on another mood stabilizer. I did start Prozac 2 weeks ago. I wonder if hives are ever caused by Prozac. Just left a message for my pdoc. Another Google search . . .
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Anonymous100110 Guest Posts: n/a	Jan 07, 2014 at 12:50 PM #8 Got it. Hope it is just a simple allergy or something.
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Anonymous37807 Guest Posts: n/a	Jan 07, 2014 at 03:40 PM #10 Well, the pdoc said to give it "some time" and see if it improves. The dermatologist did a biopsy, which I THINK can tell you if the problem is autoimmune or from medication or from something I came into contact with. I don't know . . . I guess if the pdoc isn't too concerned at this point, I'll try to relax and hope it improves with the antihistamine and some time.
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archipelago Grand Poohbah Member Since Jan 2013 Posts: 1,773 11 239 hugs given	Jan 09, 2014 at 07:06 AM #11 Lamictal can cause a range of rashes not all are the worrisome kind. I got hives the last time I tried Lamictal. I decided to discontinue it. It wasn't that crucial anyway. __________________ “Our knowledge is a little island in a great ocean of nonknowledge.” – Isaac Bashevis Singer
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Anonymous37807 Guest Posts: n/a	Jan 10, 2014 at 01:57 PM #15 This sounds really gross . . . the dermatologist's office called back and said I have "herpetic dermatitis!" This is apparently not contagious and is from the HSV-1 virus and not HSV-2 (as in genital herpes for the latter). I am to take Valtrex for it. So it looks like I'm staying on the lamictal . . .
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Anonymous100110 Guest Posts: n/a	Jan 10, 2014 at 02:21 PM #16 That's great news. There are actually a whole bunch of herpes viruses, and most of them are not venereal diseases. Don't let that bother you. Glad they found the cause and there is a treatment for it, AND you get to stay on lamictal.
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Kristiemarie Member Member Since Aug 2012 Posts: 212 12 6 hugs given	Jan 10, 2014 at 02:22 PM #17 Wow! Maybe that's what caused mine and I got off lamictal for no reason! I'm going to head to my doctor. Seriously. The Tegretol I'm on doesn't do nearly as much as the lamictal and so maybe I can switch back! THANK YOU!!! __________________ diagnosed 2/12/13 General Anxiety Disorder, Bipolar II 400mg Tegretol 40mg Celexa 125mcg Tirosint 25mg Cytomel
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Anonymous200280 Guest Posts: n/a	Jan 14, 2014 at 02:40 AM #20 I got hives when I was on lamictal too. Mine were treated with antihistamines and I was fine and continued on the drug for a number of months after.
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