Allergic reaction to anti-convulsants/anti-seizure meds?

Hi.

I need opinions of people who may have experienced something a like?

I was on lamictal 200mg (for bipolar before but got taken off because of an allergic reaction. I am now on 400mg of epilim (sodium volrpate) But as far as I know if you're allergic to one, you're allergic to all anti-convulsants? I brought this up with my pdoc but he didn't seem overly concerned and said that I am on the lowest dosage of epilim and that I shouldn't be worried. He mainly dismissed it because he said "you need to be on a mood stabiliser" as if being allergic to it just wasn't an option for me.

I got involuntary eye movement with Lamictal and swollen lymph nodes. Both very bad symptoms to have and the pdoc just said "I've never heard of this before". WHICH WORRIES ME. The involuntary eye movement became less when i went off of lamictal but the lymph nodes haven't gone down and I guess they won't as I kept poking at them. But now the involuntary eye movement is progressively becoming worse again. Is this also some form of an allergic reaction? Because if it is my pdoc made it sound like I am ###$ considering that anti-seizures are the best mood stabilisers out there for BP. I am realy worried and concerned and think I should get a second opinion because it doesn't really seem as if my pdoc is concerned much for my well being, or educated enough in the anti-convulsant department if he has never heard of the SWOLLEN LYMPH NODES before. In fact, he just said that it's probably because I have mild acne that I am getting the lymph nodes. That just sounded like a DISMISSAL to me.

My question is basically just: has anyone ever experienced this? IS it an allergic reaction? SHOULD i be worried? SHOULD I get a second opinion?

Thanks you for anyone who replies.

An allergic reaction to medicine would be like one to a food or bee sting. Your throat would swell or you would have a rash or hives. The problems you described sound like side effects. Medications have so many side effects, it's hard to know what all of them are, especially if they are not common. Your pharmacist should have given you some papers with directions of how to take the medicine, normal side effects, and side effects that should cause alarm. You can also find these online by typing in lamictal side effects. I've never taken it, so I'm unfamiliar with it.

I'm not a doctor and this is not a medical opinion. I don't think rapid eye movement does not seem like a major red flag and is not an allergic reaction. I would definitely leave your lymph nodes alone and see if they go down. Always talk to your pdoc if side effects make you feel uncomfortable or cause problems.

Things that should raise a red flag with medications - seizures, vomiting, swollen throat, rash or hives, worsening mood or thoughts of suicide.

Two meds in the same category may not cause the same side effects in a person.

Anti convulsion meds are not the only (or in my opinion the best) for mood stabilizing. I have bipolar II and I take lithium. Lots of people dislike it, though my dose is small. I think it works very well. Some anti-psycotics worked well for me, but I had trouble with a couple side effects.