Lamictal and Rash: What Users Say (Page 2)

• up...
• July 23, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I was given Lamictal after a long period of trial and error with other medicines. Lamictal was wonderful, but much to my dismay, I did experience severe side effects. When I went up to 200 mgs a day, I began to break out with hives from head to toe, eventually, hands, feet, and face began to swell. I was finally taken off of it in the ER. I truly wish this hadn't happened. With Lamictal, the horrible outbursts of anger ceased to occur, and I finally felt 'normal.' I hope my doctor can put me on something that works as well as Lamictal. I am afraid to end up like I was."

• Mel...
• June 9, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "In 3 days of use, I had an itchy scalp. Within 2 weeks, I had to be taken off due to an itchy rash on my neck and face as it was getting worse. It has been 2 weeks on new medication, and I am still having the breakout."

• Mik...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 7, 2023

For Seizure Prevention "I am not sure if my depression, abnormal thoughts, blurred vision, rash, and memory issues are related to this drug or not. They are listed as side effects and seem to be getting worse the longer I'm on them. However, Lamictal has helped keep my seizures mostly under control. I have tried other medications in the past, but my stomach couldn't take them."

• val...
• February 12, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I took Lamictal for 6 months to treat bipolar and anxiety. As far as I can tell, it did nothing for me. Took forever to titrate up, due to the risk of rash, and am now weaning myself off. Trying Seroquel now, which is showing far more promise."

• Sas...
• December 28, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I felt a change in my moods from Lamictal almost immediately. I haven't felt that great in years, but I developed a rash in 1-2 weeks of taking it. It started as itchy hands and feet, and then I itched everywhere. I did not have a severe or life-threatening Stevens-Johnson syndrome. I did drink alcohol on this medicine, and it made me get drunk really fast, and I would have very bad hangovers. I had to discontinue after 1 1/2 months because of the rash. Two of my friends take this and never had rashes, and they also agree it is the best medicine they have taken for bipolar."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2021

"I’m a 25-year-old female with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). After reading so many positive reviews, I really wanted this to work. I was on this medication for 3 weeks, and I went to my local ER twice because I had a severe headache that lasted over 9 days. I went to the ER and was told it was a migraine. I then noticed that I had swollen lymph nodes and a skin rash that started appearing on my face and chest. I then became concerned that all these things were side effects from Lamictal, and when I went to the ER for the 3rd time, I was told to stop taking this immediately as it could lead to a life-threatening rash. I’m sad I experienced these side effects because of all the positive reviews. Just beware of all these side effects that could appear because they could be very dangerous."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I wanted to add to my review. Besides developing a very bad rash and chest pains, sometimes Lamictal would give me heartburn and indigestion too. It would last for hours, and I would be very nauseated. I never had heartburn or indigestion before, so I know it was the medicine that caused it. I'm so glad I don't take it anymore."

• bip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Was on Lamictal for a few days. Was unable to cry or express extreme emotion despite feeling it, constantly had disturbing images pop into my thoughts that I never could have imagined my brain ever producing, and ended up in the ER with a rash on the third morning. This drug was not for me."

• Anonymous
• October 25, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I was just prescribed this but am freaking out about the chance of getting Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Has anyone experienced this and did it go away after you stopped taking it? Will I have to worry about this the entire time I’m on the medication?"

• Kil...
• September 29, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "This medicine did its job. Took about a week for me to feel the actual effects. But I had to discontinue use because I developed a really bad rash around my mouth. I had to stop because of the rash and other side effects. I wish those side effects never happened, or else it would have been something that I would have wanted to be a part of my medication regimen. I also have schizoaffective disorder, it really helped me manage those unusual thoughts and behavior. Otherwise, this would have been my medication of choice."

• Eri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Started off on Lamictal about 3 months ago. I was having severe mood swings and was diagnosed with Bipolar II. Lamictal has been by far the best medicine I’ve tried. No weight gain, not severely tired. I would take it around 5 pm after work and be totally fine. What I did notice was that it is associated with Stevens-Johnson syndrome. My doctor at the time bumped me up to 200 mg within 2 weeks (big mistake), and my body started reacting to it. I now have cystic acne on my face. The withdrawal from coming off the medication (because my side effects got bad... night terrors, cystic acne) was extremely irritably, lethargic, headaches. I’m talking to my doctor about lowering the dosage because we all know that finding medication to fit is hard. I also wanted this medication in case I became pregnant."

• Anonymous
• May 26, 2010

"This drug has been a lifesaver for me. It has worked where other mood stabilizers either didn't work or had intolerable side effects. I've used it for 8 years now, at doses ranging from 150-425 mg. Currently, I'm on 250 mg. When I started Lamictal, I had a bipolar diagnosis and took it as an add-on to lithium. My diagnosis has since been changed to recurrent major depression and a personality disorder, but Lamictal still works, along with an antidepressant. I do get (non-dangerous) skin rashes from this unless I take antihistamines daily, but it's been worth it."

• lee...
• December 13, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I too got the rash, but I stopped it, and it went away. Then I started it again, but started with a very small dose and worked my way up slowly and never had a problem."

• Yuc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2022

For Epilepsy "Hives, dry mouth, dry eyes, vision change, and dry patches of skin under my eyes. 150 mg for a few weeks. All these symptoms have been with me even a week after stopping this med."

• Pos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Caused a rash, so discontinued use."

• dnb...
• November 15, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "Broke out in a rash after 2 weeks."

• liq...
• March 31, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "Worked great when added to lithium for a mixed manic episode. No side effects, but I got a rash and had to quit taking it. The rash gradually disappeared, luckily."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Got a rash from this medication on only 20 mg a day. It wasn't the SJS rash, but lasted around 2 months on numerous areas of my body. It is not as rare as they state."

• Anonymous
• January 30, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I thought it worked really well at first, but I started getting a rash, so I stopped. Now withdrawal is hard."