Lamotrigine and Rash: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2024

For Epilepsy "I’m in my 40s, male, started having seizures about a year and a half ago. Was told I have temporal lobe epilepsy. I’ve had 6 seizures altogether, some in my sleep and some during the morning/day. I was put on lamotrigine starting at a low dose and it is going to take 8 weeks to get to full dose. I just started a few days ago with the medication. I really hope it works so I can get back to driving and working FT. I am extremely worried about side effects though, especially the rashes and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. (Not sure if I spelled that right.) I know a small percentage of people die from this drug and it’s completely freaking me out. My neurologist said this was the best option for me, I hope she’s right and I hope I don’t get any rashes. So far, so good, it’s only day 3 but I have no side effects yet."

• Sar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 17, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "My experience with this drug is rather odd. I got good relief from 25 mg, felt even better at 50, 75 also good. Then BAM, when I increased to 100 mg, I began feeling super depressed and very, very anxious. Went back down to 75 mg. It's too bad, really - because I know it's working - I just can't reach a therapeutic dosage. Also, I've had lots of side effects - most of which have all disappeared: no appetite but always hungry (lost 4 kg), itching, a small rash which went away, hypomania right after an increase, uncontrolled eye rolling, numbness in my face, constant throat clearing, and constant blinking of my eyes, acid reflux. When I switched from the generic to the brand name Lamictal, a lot of these side effects went away."

• Kil...
• September 29, 2011

Lamotrigine 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."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "After being on many meds for bipolar and depression over the 20 years, I was put on lamotrigine 25 mg to start off, then after 2 weeks, was titrated up to 50 mg. The first day of taking the 50 mg dose, I noticed a difference in my mood, I felt I finally found a med that worked! The next day, I took it again and broke out in a rash head to toe. I went to the ER right away, and they said to stop taking the lamotrigine as it was an allergic reaction and gave me Benadryl and prednisone to take for 5 days for the allergic reaction. I must also add I am on 10 mg of Celexa and also have fatty liver disease. I go back tomorrow to the doctor that prescribed this as I'm petrified to take the prednisone because of my liver. I am very distraught over this...."

• ZZZ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2022

For Seizure Prevention "I suffer from nocturnal seizures and was only having 1-2 a year prior to meds. Since I've been on Lamictal, I haven't had seizures (taking it 2x/day), but man... I'm struggling with the myriad of side effects. I'm only 30, and ever since I introduced prescription meds into my life, I have SO many 'health' problems. Other than my seizures, I had zero physical problems prior to being on meds. Now I have insomnia, my vision is blurry, muscle spasms/vertigo in the mornings, my coordination sucks, I'm always lethargic, and I get tongue-tied and slur all the time. I also got a severe rash on my face and neck the first week I was on Lamictal. But the worst part? I can't remember ANYTHING, can't concentrate, and I'm zoned out all the time. The cognitive impact is negatively impacting me at work and is causing frustration within my relationships. It feels like I just can't win with anticonvulsants. Is all of this really worth it? I don't know anymore..."

• Jar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 3, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I am still titrating up, but so far, so good. No rash, but a little itchiness. No hair loss, but it seemed to give me huge, beautiful curls instead. Overall, it does seem to keep me out of the depressive end of the spectrum. I do start to go a little hyper when upping my dose, but I am trying to find a good damper for that (quetiapine was a great combo 'til I had to quit for GI reasons). My moods have been a little swingy from time to time, and now that I think about it, I just crashed from a hypermanic period, but it wasn’t a mixed episode, and I’m not in a depressive spiral...at least not yet. So kudos, I think."

• ali...
• May 22, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "Before taking this medicine, you must know this: Does anyone in your immediate family have an autoimmune disease? It is imperative you have blood work done before taking this medicine. If you have an abnormal ANA, do not take this medicine. I would not want anyone to react as I did. I took the minimum dose for maybe a week, I developed a full-body rash, photophobia, headache, etc."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I was taking it (100-200 mg) for about two years, in 2011 up until 2015, in conjunction with quetiapine. I managed to drop my dose and come off it entirely. After that, I felt pretty good for two years. I slipped into depression again, low self-esteem, so I was put back on Lamictal (200 mg), and I immediately felt really good. But it didn't last long; depression, anxiety, losing hair, gaining weight, acne, and today I began developing a rash on my hands and a sore neck. I'm worried, but I'm afraid of taking something else."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 27, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on this drug for about a year and a half, and it seems to be the only drug that controls my mood swings. I have bipolar type 2, and I take 450 mg of lamotrigine, 5 mg of Saphris, and 36 mg of Concerta. The only drawback was having to slowly increase the dosage at the beginning due to the rash you can get. Well worth the wait, though."

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

Lamotrigine 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."

• Jak...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I switched between 25 mg oral suspension Lamictal to a generic Kroger brand of lamotrigine after starting the Lamictal in drug and alcohol treatment/recovery. The initial 25 mg brand name Lamictal worked wonders and balanced my depressive and manic episodes. However, once I ran out and changed doctors a few weeks later and got the generic, the generic lamotrigine began to cause migraines for me with such a heavy aura that I was nearly blind and could not focus on any objects (nearly every day I took it). I was put on 80 mg propranolol to help with the migraines as a preventative, but it did not help prevent them until I got off the lamotrigine. After missing just one dose while I was still taking generic lamotrigine, I developed a crazily itchy rash in both of my armpits, at which point I discontinued use. Would only recommend others the name brand Lamictal due to the fact that the inactive ingredients are different between generic and name brand/main supplier and can worsen conditions."

• Von...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2021

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Started with 50 mg and have gone up to 75 mg at night and in the morning. I got a rash, they put me back down to 50 mg, said it was probably bug bites due to my homeless situation, but it’s clearly not, because on the 50 mg at night and in the morning was fine, no rash. And now they are putting up my meds yet again. It’s starting to feel like they’re purposely trying to give me Steven Johnson’s syndrome. And boy oh boy, if I do get it and I’ve got it for life, I’m going after my prescriber. Apart from that, I feel the meds are doing their job, but only at 50 mg at night and 50 mg in the morning."

• pyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 20, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I have just been diagnosed with bipolar II. I have been on antidepressants for 23 years and as I got older, the drugs didn't work as well. I suffer from depression, panic attacks, severe anxiety, phobias, and erratic mood swings changing daily, even hourly. So now I am on 300 mg Effexor, Valium, and have just started in increments of 25 mg of lamotrigine. Before this, I took Epilim, which was great, but within 2 weeks, I had a rash everywhere. Now I am up to 75 mg of lamotrigine and I have headaches, tiredness, sleeping up to 15 hours plus diarrhea, sick, depression, aggression, anxiety, the list goes on. It's been 6 weeks and I am losing it... my mental health team is useless. Will this get better???"

• Anonymous
• May 26, 2010

Lamotrigine "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."

• Mit...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 5, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking Lamotrigine for 8 years. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder years ago. I have been on many different medications with disastrous results. I found a doctor to give me a DNA test to see what would work. Lamotrigine was #1. I had erratic behavior, stressed, horrible manic episodes to where I made dangerous decisions. I was self-conscious all the time. I had no quality of life and would lie on the couch for weeks. Of course, after the poor choices, mania wore off and depression set in. I started taking it (I don't remember what dosage he started me on), and it absolutely changed my life. I am never depressed, and my manic episodes are few and far between. I feel close to normal. I am on 200 mg once daily. I have experienced weight gain, and over the last year, I have developed a horrible rash that looks blistered and itches (not sure of the cause), but I will mention it to my doctor. People say I have turned cold, but I am happy. I wouldn't change a thing."

• Kun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on this medication for about four months now. It certainly helps with depression, but I feel as though my anxiety has gotten progressively worse. I started to develop a mild rash on my face and a more concerning one on my backside after about two months. Knowing it wasn’t SJS, I dealt with it. Now the rash is getting worse and is so out of control I’m afraid I’m going to discontinue the medication. Numerous acquaintances who were on Lamictal claimed they had to stop due to a rash. It seems as though a rash is way too common, and I believe the junk should be taken off the market."

• aly...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Lamotrigine gave me headaches, and I was fine with it until the rash started to set in. I developed a rash under my eyes, around my mouth and chin, and on my hands. Not every medication works for everyone, and the side effects need to be more talked about."

• E23...
• August 19, 2017

For Depression "I started on medication in the middle of my divorce, and I started to take Abilify. Then, I stopped since it was not covered by my insurance anymore. I took Risperdal, which messed up my hormones, and I had my prolactin levels super high, they found a pituitary tumor in my brain (adenoma). Well, I had to go for another type of treatment for that. Then, I took quetiapine for sleeping. I was not able to sleep for a very long time. Quetiapine helped me to sleep but made me gain weight, hallucinations, and bad effects for my eyes. I started on lamotrigine, since I started to take this, everything was fine, but after a while, passing a year, I noticed some changes like a red rash on my skin, they were over my butt and my arms. I gained some weight and was losing my hair."

• Bob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 26, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I used it for a while, and I can honestly say it mixed badly with one of my regular meds. Now, though, I am off it. The brand name is better for me for antidepressant effects. I can't say I really liked this med, but at a higher dose, perhaps it's better. I would say you have to be on 200 to really give it a go. I got the rash, though, and now I'm on to try other things. Maybe even lithium. I can honestly say I got insomnia from this one, though, too. I kept waking up every couple of hours. Other than that, there was not a lot of positive I can say. I lost a lot of hair. You have to take a high dose to really see, but I did lose a lot of hair, and it was making me feel not good with my other med, so I guess that wasn't great. Again, since the rash spread all over, I decided I wanted to take a med with not such a high risk of SJS."

• din...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 11, 2025

For Borderline Personality Disorder "Took a long time to get up to the dose my doctor wanted it to be. I was having more anxiety because of the rash she warned me about when she first prescribed it. Often just feel flat and not very myself on it. Yeah, I'm tame, but ew."

• Swe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 16, 2018

For Depression "I voiced opposition to Lamictal when I was first going to be put on it as a teenager out of fear of the skin rash, but my fears were not considered valid and my father and doctor conspired to force me to take it. While my fears of the rash were not warranted, instead something far worse happened. I developed a prolactinoma as a result of Lamictal, and I am working to prove this. I urge you not to use this drug."

• lee...
• December 13, 2017

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "Caused a rash, so discontinued use."

• dnb...
• November 15, 2011

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