How to Identify a Rash Caused by Lamictal?
A rash caused by lamotrigine (LTG) is one of the most severe side effects of LTG. It may cause seizures or even death. However, it does not mean that you are going to die from this rash. There are many other possible causes of rash such as allergic reactions, liver problems, and so on. If you have any questions about your symptoms, consult with your doctor immediately!
The rash itself usually appears within 24 hours of taking LTG. Some people experience a rash for up to two weeks.
Sometimes, the rash disappears without any treatment while other times it persists for months or even years. The severity of the rash varies greatly depending on where you live and what part of the world you are located in.
In general, the rash starts out red and then turns into a bluish color. It is generally not painful at all but it might cause you to feel dizzy or nauseous.
You may get some itching around your mouth and throat which can lead to difficulty swallowing. Other than these minor side effects, there are no known serious complications associated with this rash. If you are experiencing any sort of breathing difficulties, please seek emergency medical attention immediately.
There is no specific treatment for this rash. Most patients are given steroids to suppress the reaction but these drugs have many side effects so they are not used unless the patient’s condition worsens.
It is important to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration. You should also avoid taking any other drugs or supplements until you talk with your doctor first.
LTG rash is not a common side effect of the drug. Only 1%-2% of patients experience this condition per year.
Before you start taking any new medicine, you should always read about potential side effects first. If you are experiencing any major reactions such as a rash, stop taking that medication immediately and contact your doctor immediately. Do not take any other drugs or supplements without your doctor’s permission first!
The rash can start as a small red bump or patch on the skin that itches, burns, swells, and becomes large and blotchy. This is followed by the skin peeling in concentric circles.
The rash may also appear after a few days of taking the medicine. However, some people do not develop the rash until months or even years after stopping treatment. There is no way to prevent this rash.
Even if you do not develop a rash, this does not mean that you are free from side effects completely. Other common symptoms of an allergic reaction are facial swelling, wheezing, itchy throat, and difficulty breathing.
If these symptoms worsen after taking the drug, seek emergency medical attention immediately!
Lamotrigine is a common epilepsy drug that is also used to prevent and treat seizures in patients with bipolar disorder and depression. It is used as a mood stabilizer to help control the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
It works by stabilizing the levels of dopamine, GABA, and serotonin in the brain.
Of the 3,800 people who used this drug, 32% reported side effects while 10% experienced serious side effects. The most common side effects experienced were nausea, dizziness, fatigue, increased dreams, and weight gain.
These effects are all mild and tend to disappear on their own after your body gets used to the medication.
A small number of patients also suffer from allergic reactions (2%) or a serious skin rash (less than 1%). The most severe side effect is the onset of potentially fatal seizures.
Patients who experience this reaction must stop taking the drug immediately and seek emergency medical attention.
Seizures occur due to a temporary disruption in the normal electrical signaling within the brain. There are many causes for this disruption, such as alcohol withdrawal, head trauma, taking various drugs, and a variety of medical conditions.
In your case, the cause is suspected to be Lamotrigine.
A seizure can present itself in many different forms. The most common is a epileptic fit which causes the patient to fall to the ground and shake violently.
Some less common forms include a sudden loss of consciousness and a strange sensation of tingling in the fingers. If you experience any of these symptoms seek emergency medical attention immediately.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:
A sudden loss of consciousness
Loss of muscle control in an arm or leg
Confusion and disorientation
Speaking incoherently or rolling your eyes back in your head
Uncontrollable shaking
Muscle twitches or tingling in the fingers
Some patients also suffer from a serious allergic reaction. This is a rare event that can cause breathing difficulties, swelling, and rashes.
If you notice any of these symptoms after taking the drug, seek medical attention immediately.
Serious allergic reactions are rare, but they can be life-threatening. If you notice any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Wheezing
Hoarseness
Facial swelling
Reddening of the skin
Hives
If you experience any of the following, seek medical attention immediately:
A rash over your body
Swelling of the face or throat, or any other part of the body
Hoarseness
Wheezing or shortness of breath
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Sources & references used in this article:
Lamotrigine‐associated rash: risk/benefit considerations in adults and children by AH Guberman, FMC Besag, MJ Brodie, JM Dooley… – …, 1999 – Wiley Online Library
Factors influencing the incidence of lamotrigine-related skin rash by ICK Wong, GE Mawer… – Annals of …, 1999 – journals.sagepub.com
Drug eruptions: 6 dangerous rashes by DM Labiner – The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 2002 – Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.
Identifying the incidence of rash, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in patients taking lamotrigine: a systematic review of 122 … by JJ Skonicki, JK Warnock – Current Psychiatry, 2008 – mdedge-files-live.s3.us-east-2 …
Lamotrigine for acute and chronic pain by R Bloom, KT Amber – Anais brasileiros de dermatologia, 2017 – SciELO Brasil
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, prophylaxis study of lamotrigine in rapid-cycling bipolar disorder by PJ Wiffen, S Derry, RA Moore – Cochrane Database of …, 2011 – cochranelibrary.com
The tolerability of lamotrigine in elderly patients with epilepsy by JR Calabrese, T Suppes, CL Bowden… – Journal of Clinical …, 2000 – academia.edu
