TAKING LAMICTOL-READ ABOUT DRUG REACTION

THIS IS LONG, BUT IF YOU OR YOUR CHILD ARE TAKING LAMICTOL PLEASE READ!! I DO NOT WANT TO SCARE ANY TAKING LAMICTOL B/C IT CAN A WONDERFUL DRUG....BUT THIS IS REGARDING A SKIN REACTION TO LAMICTOL, POSSIBLY DUE TO DEPAKOT INTTERACTION---WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR YOUR RESPONSES Hi, I am new to this site and wanted to hear some thoughts on Lamictol. I've had a seizure disorder since I was 15-- 1 grand mal at 15, 1 grand mal at 16 when my docs thought it might be OK to stop meds, then I decided to go off meds during my pregnancy b/c had not had any grand mals in 10 years---went off depakote in Oct 2004, became pregnant in Jan. 2005--went through the entire pregnancy on no meds and ended up with a healthy beautiful baby girl, what a miracle! my doc decided to keep my off meds after the pregnancy even though I had a slightly abnormal EEG---she said my chances of having another seizure were 10-15% --went with her advice and 3 weeks later had another GM seizure, kind of scary b/c I was holding my baby 5 minutes before. anyway, the ER docs told me to take depakote until I saw my neuro---went to the neuro and she suggested I immediately stop the depakote and start Lamictol. I was a bit skeptical about her advice b/c of the seizure and worried about the rash with the depakote still in my blood system. So decided to keep taking the depakote and look for a new doc. found this awesome doc at the University of PA, he suggested I gradually ween off the depakote while and gradually begin the Lamictol, there was a 1%, according to the medical data on the packet and the doc, that I could break out in a severe rash due to the Lamictol or the Depakote/Lamictol combo---I was nervous about it, I have sensitive skin reactions to a lot things--bug bites, bee stings, flu shots, you name it, but decided to risk it anyway. . . well six weeks into the doc's plan I was on 1000 mg of depakote a day and 75 mg of Lamictol, the plan was to decrease the Depakote to 0 by sixteen weeks and be taking 300 mg of Lamictol by week 16... never got there, in the end of week five my glands were swollen(a listed side effect---but ignored it because I thought I could have been fighting a cold or have been tired from long night hours with my baby), then in the beginning of week 6 I saw the color of my cheeks change to a rosey color(not a listed side effect, the beginning of the rash), then I got a low grade fever one night, the next night another higher fever, (101), called my doc b/c this was another side effect who was out of town and spoke with a resident to told me reduce the Lamictoal from 75 to 25 mg and keep taking the depakote full dose, had and fever the next 2 days and nights and redness on my cheeks and chest---the fever was bad and night and controlled during the day by advil and tylenol and I felt fine....my doc was aware of the situation.... day 4 into week six, I woke up shaking with no fever but I had a rash on my face, chest, and arms, doc told me to immediately stop the Depakote too, and start taking Keppra and get some blook work done...the condition worsened within an hour and the rash had spread from my head to my knees....I was coverd! Fever was back ...the doc asked me come to the Univ of PA ER for blood and whole shabang... by the time i got there my fever was almost 103, I was having auras, my skin was cover in a rash, face and glands were swollen...i was seen be 3 dermoaologists, my neuro, and 2 ER docs, here is what the diagnosed: drug reaction to Lamictol start Keppra, take predisone for 10 days stop Depakote and Lamictol well the rash is gradually decreasing but I having soars in my mouth and my eyes are getting red from it, the docs said I do not need to come back unless the rash turns purple or blister or becomes painful . . . glad I got this under control somewhat painfree my follow is bloodwork to check my liver, see my dermo in a week, and neuro in a month or sooner anyway the point to this short novel is that BEWARE OF THE SIDE EFFECTS OF SEIZURE MEDS... the side effects can be serious, so if you are having any call your doc IMMEDIATELY and insist on speaking to someone same day, if the side effects worsen...get in their office! the severity of my rash could have been avoided somewhat so I really want to help others if you experienced a similiar side effect to Lamictol please write to me about this...my doc has seen two cases this in one year and the resident dermo saw 2 different cases in the past year...i am having a hard time believing it happens to only 1% of people . . . hope to hear someone soon