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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by hattree on May 13, 2001, at 12:21:44
About that rash...what does it look like, benign or otherwise? I'm sweating every mosquito bite. Is the common, non-life threatening rash a milder version of the one that occasionally kills people, or is it something different?
I felt that Lamictal was beginning to help me at only 50 mg, but I got the itchies (some very insignificant-seeming reddish spots on my torso) so my doc had me stop and restart even more slowly. Any advice?
Posted by JahL on May 13, 2001, at 16:24:13
In reply to Lamictal, posted by hattree on May 13, 2001, at 12:21:44
I messed up my dosing once & developed a rash within hrs. Looked like mild sunburn & covered my stomach. Cleared up w/in 24hrs. More severe cases have been compared to poison ivy rash.
> > About that rash...what does it look like, benign or otherwise? I'm sweating every mosquito bite. Is the common, non-life threatening rash a milder version of the one that occasionally kills people, or is it something different?
Not an expert, but if a pre-existing (mild) rash is aggravated, say by continuing to take Lamictal, or by adding Valproate to yr regimen, it *could* develop into something more serious (ie Stevens-Johnson rash).
> > I felt that Lamictal was beginning to help me at only 50 mg, but I got the itchies (some very insignificant-seeming reddish spots on my torso) so my doc had me stop and restart even more slowly.
I've had the 'itchies' coincide with dose increases. I guess they are the pre-cursor to a rash. Now I'm on 325mg I don't get any skin problems whatsoever.
> >Any advice?
Keep taking it slow! The first 2 months comprise the 'danger zone'. After that the dose can be increased more rapidly.
J.
Posted by SalArmy4me on May 13, 2001, at 17:07:22
In reply to Lamictal, posted by hattree on May 13, 2001, at 12:21:44
Lamictal (lamotrigine) is an anticonvulsant now being used to combat bipolar disorder and major depression. But the fear of a rash has caused many to avoid the drug, and they now suffer with a drug that has more side-effects.
The fears over Lamictal (lamotrigine) rashes are unfounded. The chance of having a mild to moderate rash are 3%--according to clinical trials. But clinical trials done years ago do not necessarily predict the incidence of side-effects now. Besides, most of these rashes were due to taking a combination of Valproate and Lamictal, and they resolve without hospital stays. I believe that the chance of a seizure from Wellbutrin is much higher, and the chance of a hypertensive crisis with phenelzine is a little higher.
The chance of having a severe rash leading to hospitalization is reported as 0.3%. With those odds, it is easier to get hit by
lightening than it is to have a serious Lamictal rash. Point in case: You never hear in the paper about someone severely harmed
by Lamictal.
I have taken Lamictal for one year with a moderate benefit and no side-effects. I believe that Lamictal will replace Lithium as the drug of choice in bipolar disorder in 10 years, due to its prominent antidepressant effect and benign side-effect profile.
Posted by hattree on May 14, 2001, at 17:54:27
In reply to Re: Lamictal » hattree, posted by JahL on May 13, 2001, at 16:24:13
Wow! I did have the rash and I thought it WAS poison ivy...a big nasty patch on my ankle, just where I would have brushed up against a plant (and there's plenty in my back yard). Its taking forever to go away completely, though, even though I stopped the Lamictal, and I was only on 25 mg.
Drag! It actually seemed to help for a change.
This is the end of the thread.
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