Posted by Robert B on July 21, 2004, at 18:09:37
In reply to Re: Lamictal rash??, posted by starlight on July 19, 2004, at 15:15:26
I've been on lithium for years but hate the weight gain, cognitive effects and that it makes me sleepy.
I've started on Lamictal three times. I notice positive effects at about 75mg but my Dr's target is 200mg. The first two times I tried it, I increased the dosage too quickly (i.e., I didn't follow my Drs. instructions because, as my wife points out constantly, I thing I'm smarter than everbody else). I know that's stupid but I have never had any reaction to any medication, ever. Most of the time I require more than the average dosage (who knows why).
In any event, the first time, a rash began just above my belt line and on my abdomen under my right arm. At first I thought I had a flea or mosquito bite but it began to spread across my stomach laterally. I immediately stopped lamictal and made an appt. with my dermatologist. Within days the rash went away so I didn't even see her. We restarted lamictal at one-half the dose (50mg) increasing at 25mg per week. At 100mg the rash returned.
I saw my dermatologist., told her I was on lamictal and that SJS was an issue. She told me there was no way my rash was SJS, that it didn't appear to be the kind of rash that would be helped by an antihistamine and that notwithstanding the coincidental timing, it had ever appearance of a contact dermatitis. She gave me some steroid cream, the rash went away and I restarted lamictal at 12.5mg, increasing by a similar amount ever two weeks.
I'm now at 125mg., still increasing but now at 25mg. ever two weeks, and have no rash (although I keep the steroid cream handy just in case).
The only thing that bothers me now is that ever time I increase, I get gas and diarrhea for a week.
Lamictal's effectiveness for me is great notwithstanding that it is a pain in the but.
poster:Robert B
thread:366982
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040719/msgs/368734.html