Lamictal - Rashes that are not Serious

Hi!

This is my first so I'll give a quick background. I've had life time depression/anxiety. I've been on various low dose SSRIs or SSNRIs for the past 30 years. The times I tried to increase my dosages, I always felt "over medicated" and not right.

Recently I switched pdocs and was put on Lamictal, 25mg. I have never felt more level in my life. My brain has slowed down and normalized. I am starting to be able to actually process things normally and think things through. For the first 2-3 weeks, there was definitely some brain adjustment. But now I am feeling good and I am feeling like I bet 50mg would work even better. However, that is up to my pdoc.

My question is about the "lamictal rash". From the little bit I went online, everything is about the serious life threatening one. My question is, what about the minor, non life threatening ones?

During week 2, I would get a small patch of a red rash that felt tight and a little hot. It appeared on my ankle, then moved to my wrist, moved to my forearm, moved to my leg, etc. It didn't stay very long. I tried not to scratch.

Going into week 3, I'm much more itchy. It sort of feels like I'm getting singular mosquito bites on various places of my body. I feel a "sting like itch". It's on my ankle, chin, forehead, forearm, etc.The location changes. The one on my chin is worst. I am trying not to itch or think about it.

My nose is also itchy and my scalp is a bit itchy too, as if a mosquito bit me on my scalp. The itchiness in my nose is at the starting inner part of my nostrils. My eyes are slightly dry and itchy but nothing horrible--very minor.

I don't seem to have rashes now. It's turned into a dot here and there that looks like a tiny mosquito bite.

I called my pdoc last week asking about the rash, but then called him back and said never mind it was probably a bite. But that was only when I had one on my ankle that disappeared and one on my wrist then forearm that disappeared.

Will this go away? Is this what is considered the minor, not serious, Lamictal rash?

I don't want to stop taking this medication. It's the first one ever that's truly helped me. I am not one to like to be on meds, so that's saying a lot for me.

Please only respond if you have experience with this, or conversations with a pdoc or pharmacist about this, versus something you happened to read on Dr. Google or the internet (unless it was a truly scientific, factual research based web page).

My local pharmacist was sort of confusing when I asked her about the rash. She was uncomfortable and nervous with answering me. She repeated about 5 times, "The rash from Lamictal is not life threatening". I am not sure why she said this, because Lamictal has a black box warning about Steven John's Syndrome.

TIA
Will

When I went off the lamictal on my own, and then tried going back to my normal dose--300mg, I had a rash. I got worried. After a short period of time (don't remember how long) it went away. You know what I would do? Is call your doctor's office and explain something like what you explained now and tell them specifically where the rash is now and how it is affecting you, like the itching and ask them what should you do? I am wondering if the rash is supposed to show up right away or can show up later like you shared??? For me, that one time, it showed up immediately and then went away. No itching, though. Let us know what they say.

Yesterday was worse and today I am barely itchy. Go figure.

I will call my doctor if tomorrow I'm itchy or still see the tiny bug bite type marks and will update.

ok--yes, let us know.

I have a rash currently, I'm on 400mg, and I went to my GP and she totally freaked out and told me to call my psychiatrist. He freaked too without even seeing the rash and made me an emergency dermatologist appt. I got back from that hours ago and its not even a lamictal rash- go figure.

That being said, based on the reaction I got, I think you should treat your rash with similar urgency. I'm glad you called your doctor.

I called him yesterday about something else and forgot to mention it. I have been less itchy and less rashes are coming up. So maybe I'm doing better. It's hard to explain, since the "rash" or whatever it is (redness?) keeps moving locations. It's minor. But I've been taking photos to track it. I also get a tiny white dot with it, too.

I tend to have health anxiety and for whatever reason, this low dose of Lamictal took that away about 95%. So I am not freaking out. If it gets worse, then I will take immediate action.

Yeah, you're probably fine. But I would go to a dermatologist anyway if I were you just based on the length of the time you've had this rash so you could get some cream or something. But if it isn't bothering you... well, that's up to you. Also, you might actually be allergic to Lamictal. You can be allergic without having a life-threatening rash. But if you don't want to go off Lamictal, I can see how you wouldn't want to bring it up with your doctor. In your shoes, I probably wouldn't.

neurosies wrote:Yeah, you're probably fine. But I would go to a dermatologist anyway if I were you just based on the length of the time you've had this rash so you could get some cream or something. But if it isn't bothering you... well, that's up to you. Also, you might actually be allergic to Lamictal. You can be allergic without having a life-threatening rash. But if you don't want to go off Lamictal, I can see how you wouldn't want to bring it up with your doctor. In your shoes, I probably wouldn't.

I didn't mean to imply that I didn't want to bring it up to my doctor. That would be very irresponsible of me. Instead. I'm just sort of watching it and observing it. I know if it at any time got worse, to call him immediately. I spoke at length to the pharmacist. She didn't know too much, but she did tell me what to look out for.

You make a good point that I might be allergic to Lamictal, but without getting a life threatening rash. I am curious if that is what he'll say. However, I will be upfront when I see him about it. I've taken photos so I can show him. The rash is strange in that it keeps moving locations, and only seems to last a minute or two. My itchiness is decreasing a little, so I'm hoping my body is getting used to it. However, the doctor needs to know everything, so he can determine if he wants me to stay at this dosage, or if it's ok to increase. That's more important than my wanting to stay on it.

Update:

I'm fine. I was told the rashes I was getting aren't the ones to be concerned about.
That being said, I recommend anyone who is unsure, to call their doctor.

SelfCareIsNotSelfish wrote:Update:

I'm fine. I was told the rashes I was getting aren't the ones to be concerned about.
That being said, I recommend anyone who is unsure, to call their doctor.

I'm so relieved the rash isn't the one they mention when it's Lamitcal!