Lamotrigine and Rash: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Chi...
• September 2, 2010

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I am 58 years old and diagnosed last year with mild bipolar disorder, agoraphobia, and anxiety. I felt very happy most of my life, although having behavioral problems, and didn't start having real problems until I was 50. I tried Wellbutrin, and it gave me hives. Celexa made me so wired that I couldn't sleep and felt like I was going crazy. Effexor worked, but I was tired all day. Lamictal was miraculous. I have taken it for a year. It gives me energy, I feel happy and motivated. I don't feel angry anymore. I LOVE it. I gave it a 9 because it gives me memory problems, which I do not like. But I feel that it is really a lack of concentration. So I try harder to concentrate, and it helps when I do more mental things, like read."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 30, 2018

Lamotrigine for Epilepsy "I’m 46 y/o female and started Lamictal after sudden onset of seizures. Unknown cause. I have Crohn’s disease and have had my entire large intestine removed along with most of my small intestines. I’ve noticed my mood has improved, which is a welcome effect! Rather than being a human slug, I’m able to complete some housework and...wait for it.....DO LAUNDRY!!! The only issue I’ve had is cystic acne that got pretty bad when I was taking over 100 mg a day. I now take just 100 mg and no more acne or rash. No seizures except a few when coming out of anesthesia after some procedures or surgery. This has been remedied by getting premeds and IV seizure meds when having surgery. I’m happy again and look forward to the future!!"

• Bri...
• August 15, 2016

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "Did everything right: titrated up gradually as per manufacturer's instructions. Only side effect was a slight front forehead ache in the mornings. Then... WHAM! About 6 weeks into taking lamotrigine, woke up with a migraine killer headache and aching joints like getting the 'flu. Then the next morning, had a rash all over my body, which became raised bumps. Then bloodshot eyes. I was in bed the best part of 2 weeks. Instantly, I stopped the lamotrigine. Even though my psychiatrist just told me to reduce the dose! Duh! If not for the SJS reaction, I would definitely still be on this drug."

• Eri...
• October 26, 2009

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal has been a lifesaving mood stabilizer for me. The only serious downside is that it causes what I call 'old lady skin' - thin, fragile, and poor healing, as well as mucous membrane fragility. I initially did very well on 200 mg and suddenly developed a severe rash eight months in (rare for it to take that long). I successfully (and slowly) rechallenged, and 200 mg is where the skin issues kick in. I'm back down to 150 mg and my slow-healing bug bites from the summer are finally fading away! HOWEVER, even if I had skin like the Crypt Keeper for the rest of my days, I can't praise Lamictal enough. It gave me my life back. What's a little skin in exchange?"

• sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 18, 2016

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with OCD 20 years ago, went on Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, and Celexa, none of them worked in the long run. So I stopped taking meds, but at times, I would get depressed for no reason for weeks. I have constant thoughts running in my mind, mostly, I am sad, and small things can make me angry, sensitive to sound (phone ringing, doorbell, people talking). Now I was diagnosed as bipolar and was put on Lamictal 25 mg, and after 2 weeks, I increased to 50 mg and then 75 mg. The thought process was gone, and I was feeling happy. Anger and sensitivity to sound were still there. But 6 weeks on Lamictal, I had a sore throat and then a runny nose, sneezing, flu-type symptoms, and then I noticed a rash on my chest, so I stopped Lamictal. Anyone with similar experiences?"

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2019

Lamotrigine "I started this drug on 25 mg 2x a day, then increased to 50 mg 2x a day after the first week. After about 4 days, I woke up with a severe rash covering my entire body from head to toe. I was rushed to the ER, and they told me it could be SJS, but they didn't know, and all they could do is monitor me. I went to a dermo who took a biopsy, and the condition was an adverse reaction to the Lamictal called erythema multiforme. I am still covered in rashes, and it's the second day. I am on prednisone 60 mg for 3 days and will taper off. This drug should be illegal. I have never been more uncomfortable and in pain my entire life. I couldn't even look at myself, it was so scary. Please do not take this drug, even if you think it is going to help you. I thought it was, and I made one of the worst decisions of my life. There are other ones out there."

• mak...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "For years, I have been struggling with constant pressure headaches and sinus/ear problems. The closest way to describe it is to imagine having a head cold 24/7. The constant pain has taken its toll on me and my mood. After years of trying all sorts of meds, my doctor finally prescribed Lamictal. It didn't work at first, but once the dose was increased, I felt amazing. I was back to my old self: no more headache, earaches, brain fog, or fatigue. We finally found the right medication! Unfortunately, the medication caused a painful rash all over the front of my upper torso, and I had to stop it. If you get a rash, look up D.R.E.S.S., many doctors don't make the connection. It woke up the HHV6 rash from childhood and took 7 months to clear up even after stopping the medication."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2018

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I requested to be put on this medication due to problems with BPD that the Seroquel/Effexor combo wasn't helping. I wanted, so badly, to help with the agitation and obsessive thoughts I was experiencing, but my psychiatrist warned me to stop the medication if I noticed a rash. Unfortunately, I was on it for 2-3 weeks, and a rash broke out on my face. I immediately stopped the medication as directed."

• Gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I was told there was a very rare possibility I could get a life-threatening, as in fatal, rash from this medication. Warning! It happened to me. Do NOT ignore any new rashes, no matter how small it starts out. Mine started out with just a little patch on my stomach. Then, in the shower while drying off, I noticed a rash which was running up my leg. By the time I had dried off and looked in the mirror, I saw a rash on my neck. I laughed at first, thinking this couldn't possibly be 'the' rash. It turned out not to be a laughing matter. Stop taking this drug immediately if you notice any symptoms and seek medical help! Doing so SAVED my life. Good luck."

• hop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2014

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "Started this medicine slowly, 25 mg a day for two weeks, then went up to 50 mg for 2 weeks. Still did not feel much better, went up to 100 mg a day for 4 days, feeling lethargic. The fifth day on it, started feeling a little better. But, I started getting itchy all over and developed a very small rash on my side near my butt. My doc told me to stop it, cut the dose in half last night, and then stop. He put me on Tegretol today, taking my first dose at dinner."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 15, 2017

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I started at 25 mg of Lamictal. After 2 weeks, my doctor increased it to 50 mg. Two weeks after increasing my med, I noticed a minor skin rash on my chest one night. I overlooked it and continued taking the Lamictal. When my doctor increased it to 100 mg, that is when I started having a bad reaction. That night, I broke out in a bad rash on my chest, stomach, and left arm (not my right arm). I also started having bad chest pains. I called my doctor's office the next day, and the nurse told me to stop taking the Lamictal and go to the hospital. I'm stubborn, so I refused to go. My chest pains had gone away, and the rash was clearing up, so I wasn't as worried about it as I was the night before. I decided to go to the EmergiCare instead, and I turned out to be okay."

• Pip...
• April 21, 2016

For Epilepsy "I have been taking lamotrigine for 12 years now, having had seizures for 35 years. At first, I did have flu-like symptoms and a slight rash, but they soon went. They stopped my seizures, which is fantastic, but I do find that when writing, I can't think of the word I want to say or how to spell it!! I have always been good at spelling and certainly not had any trouble with words, lol, but I will put up with it knowing I don't have the seizures anymore. Does anyone get dizzy or have double vision when maybe taking a tablet on an empty stomach?"

• Jor...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 27, 2017

For Depression "I've been on 100 mg Lamotrigine for 9 years now. I started it after a major depressive episode. No side effects that I can tell, which is a huge boon compared to SSRIs (weight gain, feeling hungry all the time, and no libido), and Wellbutrin made me feel like I was on speed. It is a mood stabilizer, not so much an AD. I went from having anxious and depressed episodes every few weeks to having them rarely. After a few years, I tried upping my dosage to 200 mg, but I felt too 'flat' emotionally and went back to 100. I still feel some depression, but the cycling is greatly reduced. Really a miracle drug for me. I recommend titrating up (and down) very slowly, to avoid getting the rash. It takes a while, but it was so worth it for me."

• Dai...
• September 12, 2009

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "Tried it for over 4 weeks. I didn't feel any different and seemed to get sicker the longer I was on it. Never got the rash but had pain all over my body (bones, arms, legs, stomach, etc.). It was so bad I couldn't get out of bed without crying and being in severe pain. Wound up in the hospital, and after being off of it for just over 2 days, I was back to normal!"

• Rmp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2022

For Depression "This drug is the worst. Long story short… back in December, I developed anxiety and panic attacks that were situational. I was put on Lexapro and had adverse effects. Put on Zoloft, adverse effects. Put on lamotrigine, and I was seriously suicidal. I have never been suicidal or had depression or anxiety in the past, like I said, my situation was acute. This medication had the absolute worst side effects: suicidal ideations, excessive crying, severe anxiety, panic attacks, depression (that I really didn’t have to begin with), hair loss, itching, labile mood, a rash that did go away, abnormal thinking. And I was only on this for five weeks. I am tapering off this as we speak. I know for some it helps, but honestly, this is poison to me. I want others to know if you experience these side effects and you’re on this medication, it’s not you!!! I have three weeks left until I’m off of this stuff, and I cannot wait. I’d give it a zero if I could…"

• Roo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2021

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "A psychiatrist prescribed Lamictal off-label for my depression. I felt the effects within 30 minutes of taking the first pill. I'm now one week into the 50 mg titration. Depression has already GONE. I sleep better, longer. I'm calm. I can relax easily. I can almost nap on command. I take pleasure in things I had almost forgotten about. My emotions are coming back, I'm not 'numb' anymore. Let's hope it lasts. Only side effect: a rash on days 1 and 2, which went away on its own. I also feel just a little bit lazy, which is a welcome change in my case. No weird side effects like those of antidepressants. I had prayed God to guide the doctor towards the right molecule, and He did."

• up...
• July 23, 2009

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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."

• Bpd...
• January 22, 2021

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I am a super sensitive person. I was very afraid of developing a rash, so I wanted to add to this thread and say there is a 2 mg tablet available. I see people starting on 25 mg and going to 50 mg, then giving a bad review. I started Lamotrigine on 2.5 mg. My symptoms before medicating are mood swings, anger, suicidal thoughts, anxious panic, and depression. I have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). I have previously tried Pristiq, Lexapro, Prozac (do NOT take Prozac if you are BPD and have anger symptoms, as it makes it 100 times worse), Tegretol, Valium, Sodium Valproate, Quetiapine, and probably others, but I think that's it. Tegretol was the best thing that worked for me, but I got the itchy blood side effect after 3 months on it. So I am trying this other mood stabilizer, Lamotrigine, from my own research. The point I am making is you can start very low."

• Ren...
• May 24, 2017

For Depression "The medicine seemed to work okay. However, after two weeks of 25 mg, I increased to 50 mg, and after 6 days of 50 mg, I was admitted to the hospital with aseptic meningitis. I didn't know at the time it was from medication. I came home, restarted medication, and then started with a rash, so I stopped medication. When I called my psych to tell him about the rash and about the recent hospital stay, he told me Lamictal causes meningitis. I was told to stop medication immediately."

• val...
• February 12, 2015

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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."

• foo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I have struggled with depression, anxiety, ADD, and insomnia for many years. I finally got the depression under control with 50 mg of Pristiq, however, I still had rage and an inability to manage my outbursts. I could be totally fine one minute, and the next, I'm screaming at my husband or son. I needed help! My psychiatrist put me on lamotrigine, which I was on for 2 weeks when I noticed, as well as my family, a huge change for the better in me. I was more calm and could handle difficult situations without freaking out. Unfortunately, I was one that ended up with the rash they talk about - I thought I was in the clear because I had been on it for 7 weeks. It really was a godsend, but the rash was too much to take. I am now on carbamazepine and have seen 50/50 reviews on it. Hopefully, it works as well as lamotrigine."

• Bra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Started to use it 3 weeks ago. Started on 25 mg, a little afraid about rash. Otherwise, it started to help me since day 2. Felt better and more energized to reach my goals, which came back after 2 years on depression and rapid cycling hypomania. I am on 50 mg/day now. It has helped my sleep, my motivation to work and study, and take me out from social isolation. Still have suicidal ideation, but quite less than before. I'm recovering the control of my life and hope it continues improving, with the help of cognitive-behavioral therapy."