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katiem6
Lamictal side affects? Rash...please help!!!!!!!!!
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I am new to this forum and really hope someone can help me. I started Lamictal 3 weeks ago. I was taking Depakote and my neurologist recommended Lamictal due to weight gain and liver damage. Here is what I did, per doctor's orders:
Week 1 - 500 mg Depakote and 25 mg Lamictal AM, 250 mg Depakote PM
Week 2 - 500 mg Depakote and 25 mg Lamictal AM, 250 mg Depakote and 25 mg Lamictal PM
Week 3 - 500 mg Depakote and 50 mg Lamictal AM, 250 mg Depakote and 50 mg Lamictal PM
Week 4 - DROP Depakote, 100 mg Lamictal AM, 100 mg Lamictal PM
To make things more interesting, I just moved to Paris from Washington DC 2 weeks ago. Since I arrived in Paris, I have been itching. These really look like bug bites. My boyfriend is having the same probably (not quite as severe - maybe the bug's like me more>)I am wondering if it is something in my bedding and took all the sheets etc. to the laundry today. I am renting an apartment and I realized that I probably should have purchased my own bedding! Just today, I noticed a sunburn-type spot under my chin/above my neck. It is about an inch or so in diameter. It is not sensitive or anything. Just red. I have done TONS of research on the web. It sounds like my med plan was too aggressive (esp. considering that I was taking Depakote)! I also noticed that I had milder side affects when I increased after the 2nd week of treatment.
Anyone have experience here? I am thinking that as my Depakote level reduces things may clear up?
I thank all in advance for a quick response. I am making myself worry!!!!
-katie
Recent Comments on this Discussion
Hi Katie,
I was on lamictal for only 11 days and I started getting a rash, mostly on my hands, wrists, feet and knees and it looked like little red bug bites. And they were worse in the morning when I first got out of bed or when I got out of the hot shower my body was covered with them but as I cooled down after the shower the ones on my body went away, so I think heat might bring them on. I initally thought they were spider bites, but there were too many red bumps to be spider bites so I called my neurologist and he took me off the Lamictal that day. I would call my neurologist just to be on the safe side. Good luck!
Peace ~ Jodi
Thanks, Jodi. After one day of the rash under my chin, everything seems to be fine. No rash, no "bites". I usually had two to three "bites" at a time and the were fairly big - like an average size mosquito bite. Since my boyfriend was having the same issue, I really think it was our bedding - I dragged everything to the laundromat and washed in hot water - no more bites. The only thing left is slight nausea after I take my morning dose, which is listed all over the patient documentation as "normal". I am taking a stab and assuming that the first day of dropping the Depakote and dramatically increasing the Lamictal was what brought on the side affects. I am keeping a close watch. Any other signs of something off, I will call my Neuro. back home or find a doctor in Paris.
Thanks so much for the information!! Take care,
-katie
I have an 11 year old daughter who seems to have "bug"bites around her face/neck area in the morning...then disappears later in the day. She is on lamictal - starting at a super low dose. Our neurologist said a serious rash to look for will appear all over the body. So I'm recording the date, what kind of rash/bumps/red spot and where it appears. Someone also told me to take a picture to show the doctor for the next follow-up visit. I am also worried and new to absence seizures, lamictal, and uncertainty of the future for our daughter. But we keep holding onto faith, knowing there is a God who is in control and has a purpose in all our lives. My prayers go out to you. Good luck and hope you find answers soon.
Thanks momwithfaith! I am thinking I will stick this out for the weekend and see hows things go, although I have to admit that I am not looking forward to taking the 100 mg tab tonight. The "bites" I have itch and I have been applying a mild 1% clotrimazole cream (just to relieve the itching) and it helps. The red/sunburn spot does not itch at all and appears to be fading slightly and is smaller. Boy, this is annoying! Probably not helping that I am staring at myself in the mirror every 5 minutes. I did not have any side affects like this with the Depakote alone. I guess I just need to be thankful that this is occuring now...in a few months I leave Europe for India to do volunteer work. I would not want to deal with this there! Good luck with your daughter. What a great idea to take photos for the next doctor visit. Thanks again for your quick response. This seems like a great forum.
Hello. I thought maybe your rash could be Erythema multiforme it is a type of hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction that occurs in response to medications, infections, or illness. Here's a website that you could look at. It has pictures. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000851.html
I'm also on Lamictal. I take 75mg in the morning and 150 at night. I've never had a rash with it. I wish you good luck, I sorta know how you feel. My hair has been falling out since I increased my Lamictal. I'm just hoping it stops soon before i'm bald. My doctors say that its a good medication. Well, I hope this helps :)
Kelligreat,
Thanks for the information. My rash has disappeared and no more "bites". I am keeping a close watch on everything but really think that the first day of increasing the Lamictal and dropping the Depakote caused my symptoms. In addition to the fact that my regimen was way to aggressive, considering that I was taking Depakote (Depakote dramatically increases that amount of Lamictal in the blood). Any more signs of a rash or bites, no more Lamictal, which is a bummer - My doctor agreed that it was more appropriate for my type of epilepsy - I was diagnosed with JME, but I don't have any "jerks". I have had two Grand Mal seizures and have been completely seizure free for over 10 years, however, my EEGs are always abnormal. My neuro. was concerned that the Depakote was too strong, liver damage and weight gain.
Again, thanks for your response. Good luck!
-katie