Posted by Hattree on July 20, 2001, at 9:59:42
In reply to Lamictal-Did I REALLY get the rash? or Chiggers?, posted by Roo on July 20, 2001, at 7:50:57
> Ok, I'm a little confused here. I started Lamictal and
> pretty shortly thereafter (after a week or so), when I
> bumped to just above 25 mg's, I _thought_ I got the rash.
> I was a little confused at the time b/c it really looked
> like I just had a bunch of bug bites. It wasn't really
> a "rash", per say, because the bites were single and
> distinct. They were just like chiggers, or flea bites,
> and really, REALLY itchy, and lots of them, like 30, on
> one leg--but they weren't close together like a bumpy
> rash. Anyway, especially as they start to heal, they
> are looking even more like bug bites. I can't recall
> a situation that happened where I would've gotten bites...
> I did go hiking, but it wasn't a real woodsy hike at all.
> And I woke up with the bites, which was strange. ARgh.
> I'm so confused. I'm almost tempted to go to a dermatologist
> and say "could this be a drug induced rash or is it just
> chiggers?" just b/c otherwise I had such a good experience
> with the drug and felt it helped my mood. Has anyone
> else out there ever got the lamictal rash and if so,
> what did it look like?I got a rash after about 2 weeks (a week on 12.5 and then 25mg). It looked like poison ivy, so much so that I didn't even think of the Lamictal at first, even though I didn't know where the poison ivy would have come from. I kept taking the lamictal for another week or so, then my doc told me to stop and restart when the rash went away, only even more slowly. It was either the Lamictal or the worst case of poison ivy ever (though just a large patch on my lower leg), I guess I'll never know. Anyway it did go away, I did restart the Lamictal, and so far so good after a month or so.
Sounds to me like many people get a rash or just an itch, and they don't seem to always look the same. The dreaded Stevens Johnson syndrome is much less common.
I didn't want to give up on something that seemed to help. It may be worth another try for you.
poster:Hattree
thread:71041
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010720/msgs/71054.html