How to Identify a Rash Caused by Lamictal

It’s important to recognize the differences between a mild rash and one that requires emergency treatment. The symptoms of a mild rash caused by Lamictal are:

• hives
• itching
• swelling

While a rash with these symptoms is likely not dangerous, still tell your doctor so they can monitor you for any other side effects.

The risk of getting a serious rash from Lamictal is low. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, clinical trials showed that the risk is 10%. It’s still important to know the symptoms because a serious rash from Lamictal can be fatal.

These more severe symptoms can include:

• fever
• joint pain
• muscle pain
• general discomfort
• swelling of the lymph nodes around the neck
• high count of eosinophils (a type of immune cell) in the blood

In very rare cases, you may develop Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis while taking Lamictal. The symptoms of these conditions are:

• peeling
• blisters
• sepsis
• multiple organ failure

If you develop any kind of rash while taking Lamictal, contact your doctor immediately. If you have symptoms of a more serious rash, get emergency treatment as soon as possible.

The Lamictal rash is caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to the drug Lamictal. A hypersensitivity reaction happens when your immune system overreacts to a compound or drug. These reactions can show up shortly after taking a drug or several hours or days later.

Several factors may increase your risk of developing a rash while taking Lamictal:

• Age: Children are more likely to have a reaction to Lamictal.
• Co-medication: People taking valproate, a medication used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and migraine headaches, in any of its forms along with Lamictal are more likely to have a reaction.
• Starting dose: People starting Lamictal at a high dose are more likely to have a reaction.
• Rapid dose escalation: A reaction is more likely to develop when you quickly increase your dose of Lamictal.
• Prior reactions: If you’ve had a severe reaction to another anti-epilepsy drug, you’re more likely to have a reaction to Lamictal.
• Genetic factors: A 2017 study identified specific immune system markers that could raise your risk of having a response to Lamictal.

Unless you’re sure the rash isn’t related to it, you should contact your doctor immediately and stop taking Lamictal. Abruptly stopping Lamictal may be dangerous, so a doctor’s supervision is crucial for any sudden change in treatment.

There’s no way to tell if a mild rash will turn into something more serious. Depending on your reaction, your doctor may lower your dose or take you off of the medication entirely.

Your doctor may also give you oral corticosteroids or antihistamines to help control the reaction and perform tests to see if any of your organs are affected.

It’s very important that you tell your doctor about any other medications you’re taking before you start taking Lamictal.

If you’re taking valproate, you’ll need to be started on a lower dose of Lamictal. If you’ve had any reactions to other anti-epilepsy medications, make sure you tell your doctor.

Since quickly increasing your dose is a risk factor for having a reaction to Lamictal, you should follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor very carefully.

Don’t start taking a higher dose of Lamictal without talking to your doctor first. When you start taking Lamictal, make sure you understand exactly how much to take and when to take it.

While most rashes that happen while taking Lamictal are harmless, it’s important to monitor your symptoms to make sure they don’t become dangerous. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the risk factors for having a reaction to Lamictal.

Severe reactions to Lamictal can be fatal, so it’s important to get treatment as soon as you start having symptoms.