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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SalArmy4me on June 14, 2001, at 12:21:34
Lamictal (lamotrigine) is an anticonvulsant now being used to combat bipolar disorder and major depression. But the fear of a rash has caused many to avoid the drug, and they now suffer with a drug that has more side-effects.
The fears over Lamictal (lamotrigine) rashes are unfounded. The chance of having a mild to moderate rash are 3%--according to clinical trials. But clinical trials done years ago do not necessarily predict the incidence of side-effects now. Besides, most of these rashes were due to taking a combination of Valproate and Lamictal, and they resolve without hospital stays. I believe that the chance of a seizure from Wellbutrin is much higher, and the chance of a hypertensive crisis with phenelzine is a little higher.
The chance of having a severe rash leading to hospitalization is reported as 0.3%. With those odds, it is easier to get hit by lightning than it is to have a Lamictal rash. Point in case: You never hear in the paper about someone severely harmed
by Lamictal.
I have taken Lamictal for one year with a moderate benefit and absolutely no side-effects. I believe that Lamictal will replace Lithium as the drug of choice in bipolar disorder in 10 years, due to its prominent antidepressant effect and benign side-effect profile.
Posted by Ron Hill on June 14, 2001, at 14:51:15
In reply to The truth about Lamictal and Rashes, posted by SalArmy4me on June 14, 2001, at 12:21:34
Sal,
Like you, I too am BP II. I'm happy to hear that Lamictal is doing well for you. I tried it and was pleased with it's effect in my brain. However, in spite of the fact that I started at a very low dose (12.5 mg/day), ramped up VERY slowly, and did not take depakote prior to or in conjunction with the Lamictal, I experienced a severe rash. It was not Stevens-Johnson syndrome, but instead was a psoriasis kind of thing that progressed rather quickly to cover a significant portion of my body.
After several months off Lamictal, I tried Depakote and it also caused a similar kind of rash, but not as severe.
Bottom line: Lamictal and the other AE's are great for a lot of folks, yourself included. However, these meds don't work for everyone. My mileage definitely varied.
Lithobid is my MS and it works well for me, and no rash.
--Ron
-------------------------------------------> Lamictal (lamotrigine) is an anticonvulsant now being used to combat bipolar disorder and major depression. But the fear of a rash has caused many to avoid the drug, and they now suffer with a drug that has more side-effects.
>
> The fears over Lamictal (lamotrigine) rashes are unfounded. The chance of having a mild to moderate rash are 3%--according to clinical trials. But clinical trials done years ago do not necessarily predict the incidence of side-effects now. Besides, most of these rashes were due to taking a combination of Valproate and Lamictal, and they resolve without hospital stays. I believe that the chance of a seizure from Wellbutrin is much higher, and the chance of a hypertensive crisis with phenelzine is a little higher.
>
> The chance of having a severe rash leading to hospitalization is reported as 0.3%. With those odds, it is easier to get hit by lightning than it is to have a Lamictal rash. Point in case: You never hear in the paper about someone severely harmed
> by Lamictal.
>
> I have taken Lamictal for one year with a moderate benefit and absolutely no side-effects. I believe that Lamictal will replace Lithium as the drug of choice in bipolar disorder in 10 years, due to its prominent antidepressant effect and benign side-effect profile.
Posted by Elizabeth on June 14, 2001, at 15:27:19
In reply to Re: The truth about Lamictal and Rashes » SalArmy4me, posted by Ron Hill on June 14, 2001, at 14:51:15
> However, in spite of the fact that I started at a very low dose (12.5 mg/day), ramped up VERY slowly, and did not take depakote prior to or in conjunction with the Lamictal, I experienced a severe rash. It was not Stevens-Johnson syndrome, but instead was a psoriasis kind of thing that progressed rather quickly to cover a significant portion of my body.
Hi. I got a rash on Lamictal too, but it turned out to be a flare-up of eczema, not a drug reaction. That had me scared for a couple days, though!
> Bottom line: Lamictal and the other AE's are great for a lot of folks, yourself included. However, these meds don't work for everyone. My mileage definitely varied.
People should be aware of the possible serious side effects of the drugs they take. But they also shouldn't be scared away from taking medicine that could be helpful, based on very uncommon side effects.
I assume that the rash reversed once you stopped taking the Lamictal? Reversability is an important consideration in evaluating the risk associated with adverse drug reactions. For example, the heart valve damage and primary pulmonary hypertension caused by fenfluramine are not reversible, and are very serious; as such, I don't think the use of these drugs is ever a risk worth taking.
> Lithobid is my MS and it works well for me, and no rash.
Lots of people complain of bad side effects on lithium. I found it very tolerable too, though. (I should note that I was taking it as an antidepressant augmentor, so I was taking less of it than I would have if I'd been using it as a mood stabiliser/antimanic.)
-elizabeth
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