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Does Lamictal Cause Severe Body Rashes?

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Posted on Sat, 9 Jul 2016
Question: My doctor has prescribed lamictal sr 50 for two weeks to be increased to 200 over a month. Have read that lamictal can cause a serious rash that can be life threatening
How true is that? Along with serious rash, it can cause non serious rash, is it correct?
Can it cause insomnia along with weird dreams
Can it cause stomach issues
I have not started taking it as am scared. According to you, what should I do?
Am on the following medicines:
Quitiapine 200 sr, though doc has advised 300, am scared to increase to 300, what woukd you advise
Sulpitac 300, amitryn 25, sizopin 1/2 of 25, kemadrin 25( thrice a day)
Pls advise...
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (12 hours later)
Brief Answer:
The drug should be tried

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking again

Lamotrigine is known to cause serious rash and might cause rare Stevens XXXXXXX syndrome. But if doses are given cautiously then the risk is very low. If doses are increased gradually and starting dose is low then rashes are not seen. Your dosing schedule is fine and you can go with this drug. Just keep a watch for any itching or rash. Overall the drug is safe to use. No need to worry.

Lamotrigine is found to have positive effects on sleep in a number of studies. The drug doesn't alter the sleep architecture so can become a good alternative when other drugs are not working. It doesn't alter REM sleep so risk of weird dreams will not be there.

It's effects on stomach too are not significant. The drug can cause epigastric distress, nausea, constipation, diarrhea etc side effects but if doses are escalated properly these are not observed commonly.

So you can start with this drug, no need to worry as other drugs are not working.

Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)
The scare of getting rash is worrying me. You think any other medicine I can try instead of lamictal.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (13 hours later)
Brief Answer:
The drug is safe

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

No need to worry from rash. There is risk but it's not very common. If proper dose escalation is done the risk reduces further. The drug is over all safer apart from risk of rashes.

Thanks
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 5192 Questions

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Does Lamictal Cause Severe Body Rashes?

Brief Answer: The drug should be tried Detailed Answer: Hello thanks for asking again Lamotrigine is known to cause serious rash and might cause rare Stevens XXXXXXX syndrome. But if doses are given cautiously then the risk is very low. If doses are increased gradually and starting dose is low then rashes are not seen. Your dosing schedule is fine and you can go with this drug. Just keep a watch for any itching or rash. Overall the drug is safe to use. No need to worry. Lamotrigine is found to have positive effects on sleep in a number of studies. The drug doesn't alter the sleep architecture so can become a good alternative when other drugs are not working. It doesn't alter REM sleep so risk of weird dreams will not be there. It's effects on stomach too are not significant. The drug can cause epigastric distress, nausea, constipation, diarrhea etc side effects but if doses are escalated properly these are not observed commonly. So you can start with this drug, no need to worry as other drugs are not working. Thanks