Bipolar Disorder Forum - Blister rash w/ Lamictal


Blister rash w/ Lamictal

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CarolDiane

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Blister rash w/ Lamictal Posted: 03-20-08 21:18pm


I was just wondering if there is anyone here that has taken Lamictal and gotton a blister rash from it. Starts out as a small blister and clear fluid leaks out when it breaks. I am doing a research study on this for my own personal reason. It would really help me to know if anyone has gone through this. If you have: What areas did you break out at? Were there many or few blisters? Did it require medical attention? Were you hospitalized? How long did it take to go away with just home treatment and what kind of treatment did you use. This is very important to me personally and any input and replies would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much, Carrie

antigone

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Posted: 03-21-08 00:01am


Carrie, What little I do know about any rashes with Lamictal is that you need to report it to your doctor immediately. If is a reaction to the medication sometimes going slower with increasing the dose is needed. The rash that is so dangerous is called Steven-Johnsons rash and will look like a sunburn. If this is something you see you stop the med and call the doctor. Any rash should be reported right away. Better safe than sorry. No personal experience though.

CarolDiane

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antigone
Posted: 03-21-08 04:29am

antigone wrote:

Carrie,

What little I do know about any rashes with Lamictal is that you need to report it to your doctor immediately. If is a reaction to the medication sometimes going slower with increasing the dose is needed. The rash that is so dangerous is called Steven-Johnsons rash and will look like a sunburn. If this is something you see you stop the med and call the doctor. Any rash should be reported right away. Better safe than sorry. No personal experience though.

antigone, thank-you! That is exacty the answer I was looking for. I knew all about Steven-Johnsons syndrome and already have seen my doctor. She said if I got one more blister to stop the Lamectal right away. I am aware of ALL side effects and started to get a little worried due to the fact this is my first time on it. In 1985 I was on Lithium for a couple of weeks. Long story. Anyways, about two weeks after I started the medication I started getting a couple of blisters just to the lower left side of the right palm of my hand. They itched and they broke open. I got very inflamed and the skin started to peel off around the area untill it looked like a second degree burn. My doctor told me that it did resemble Steven-Johnson syndrome. But when I researched it, it side that it is more promonient on the trunk etc. I put some tegraderm on it and it seems to be getting much better now. But, last night I remember I have a whole tube of "Safe Gel" and sterile telfa dressing. So, I put that on just this morning. I think that is probably what they would do in a burn unit. Thinking about calling her and asking for some oral steroids too.

I am still interested if anyone has gone through this with Lamictal. And how severe it was. I just can't understand why only in that one area. I am more prone to think it was something I was locally allergic to like the flee spay for my dog. I might have forgotton to wash my hands with Hibaclens a couple times. Really don't know at this point. Acually, in my research it has been said to start off with a low dose of 25mg for two weeks then every two weeks increase it by another 25mg. Makes sense to me. That is the way they monitor lithium. They just don't start you out on a high dose. Although she only started me out on 100mg HS, that still might have been to much for me. She gave me full control over my dosage, so I have decided to start all over and do the the gradual increase myself.

Thanks again for you expertise,
Carrie

antigone

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Posted: 03-21-08 10:35am


Carrie, The rule is start low and go slow. Most meds can have side effects if the dose is increased too fast. Keep an eye on those blisters. If they continue just stop taking the med. I hope this med. will work for you.

CarolDiane

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Dry flaky skin Posted: 03-21-08 12:26pm


I have had like forever. I remember when I worked at the hospital, I could not just purel at all. I now use Hebiclens to wash my hands all the time. Having MRSA that happened with an emergancy appendectomy in the incision back in 2003 does not help either. So, like you, I try and use my medical knowledge on myself all the time constintally taking precautions in cleanliness. Especially my hand. The worst for the transfer of germs as we both know. I will change the Saf-Gel dressing today and see what it looks like. My skin gets dry and cracked very easily but, these were three tiny blisters. Personally, I don't think it is the Lemictal, but like you said early. Better safe then sorry. I am sure you know the really bad side effects of this drug (which I will not mention here) so I am really worried and will go straight to the hospital if I see one more blister. I did start on a 25mg HS dose last night and in two weeks will increase it to 50mg and so on. I really think I may stop at 50. Sounds like a safe zone. Thanks again for your input, Carrie

CarolDiane

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Posted: 03-23-08 16:51pm


I had to stop the medication. This weekend I came up with two new blisters in the same place. Will call my doctor tomorrow. I just don't understand why it is so local. It contradicts everything I have research. Confused

antigone

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Posted: 03-25-08 02:37am


Carrie, I am interested in what your doc will say. Let me know. Interesting that the blisters are so localized. Steven-Johnsons Syndrome can have blisters but so localized is odd. Please let me know what your doctor says. Are you feeling ok otherwise? Hope you are well.

CarolDiane

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Posted: 03-25-08 03:06am

antigone wrote:

Carrie,

I am interested in what your doc will say. Let me know. Interesting that the blisters are so localized. Steven-Johnsons Syndrome can have blisters but so localized is odd. Please let me know what your doctor says.

Are you feeling ok otherwise? Hope you are well.

Hi there,

Yes, I have (as I said) researach this so much even as far as asking my pharmasist to look at it. And even he said "hmmm" to it. You are right, it is to localized. I is only on the medial lower side of my left palm. Very local indeed. Even he said he has only seem one case and it looked nothing like mine does. He said it was horrific to look at. I personally do not think it is from the medication. BTW: I got two small new blisters over the weekend. Pharmasist also said that S-J syndrome is all over your trunk, eyes etc......just like I researched it was. I am going to get in to see GP tomorrow and will probably be reffered to a Derm. Other then that I am doing alright. My two L,3and4 buldging are giving me fits now since my surgery on L-1 55% fracture. I guess that pain was hiding cause the fracture was worse. As we both know if one pain is severe enough, it will mask the other.
I will let you know for sure when I find out from Derm, cause GP has no clue what this is. I think we are all at a standstill as to what it could be. Seems almost like something I might have touched. But even then, it is not spreading any farther then it is. Wierd, really is.
Hope you are doing well yourself. Wherever you are, keep warm or keep cool. And by all means stay healthy!

Carrie

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Posted: 04-10-08 10:04am


hi there, stop the limictal now and get in to see a dr asap it is not a joking matter and nothing to pidddle fart about.

CarolDiane

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Posted: 04-10-08 10:37am

aw5of5cw1of4 wrote:

hi there, stop the limictal now and get in to see a dr asap it is not a joking matter and nothing to pidddle fart about.

Believe me I know that. Just did not want to say how fatal this could be here on the board. The % rate is low. But, always me. And anitigone it has been confurmed by my neurologist. I am now on Seriquil and Depakote. I am a Zombie have the time but, what a difference in just one week. I feel almost like my ole self again.
Most of the statistic's show little % with possible fatal side effects. I thnk it was like 7% of the non placibo takers. But there were some placibo takers that also went out of the study because of a so called side effect.
Glad I am off of it. Hand skin has already healed but, blisters with saf-gel are taking there time but are going away. yes

BTW: My neurosurgeon's Practioner was the first I showed it to and she emmediatly called my GP and had me go right to her office. Was then told to stop the Lemictal NOW! It took about two weeks before she changed my med's to see how it looked.

antigone

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Posted: 04-10-08 11:10am


Carrie, Soooo glad you had this looked at. The secondary infections related to Stevens-Johnsons Syndrome can be life threatening. It akin to having a severe burn. There are complications with fluid loss and infection due to the integrity of the skin being compromised. I am really glad to hear the blister are healed. I, too, did not want to be an alarmist on this forum and tell you how dangerous this can be. Still interesting that the rash was so localized. Lucky for you that it was. I hope all is well with you. I am hanging in there by a thread with my kids. I wish spring would come in earnest and it would warm up here! Hang in there, luv!

CarolDiane

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Posted: 04-10-08 12:57pm

antigone wrote:

Carrie,

Soooo glad you had this looked at. The secondary infections related to Stevens-Johnsons Syndrome can be life threatening. It akin to having a severe burn. There are complications with fluid loss and infection due to the integrity of the skin being compromised. I am really glad to hear the blister are healed. I, too, did not want to be an alarmist on this forum and tell you how dangerous this can be. Still interesting that the rash was so localized. Lucky for you that it was.
I hope all is well with you. I am hanging in there by a thread with my kids. I wish spring would come in earnest and it would warm up here! Hang in there, luv!

I know. And even all my years in health care, I had never known about this syndrome. And yes, I was very confused due to the fact when I researched it after they all told me what they thought it was, most sites said it is most promonient around the mouth, nose and eyes. I also have MRSA aquired in the OR in my incsion after my appendectomy. So, I though it may have started to come to the surface as in the community infection does with blisters with clear centers. Believe it or not, I still have my doubts. Because this also became promonient right after my back surgery on 3/3/02. Just very coinsidental that this happend at the same time. I am very up to date on MRSA, but not sure if hospital aquired can come out to the surface like this after 5 years. Confused

Plus, these two blisters never oozed fluid like they say they do with Stevens-Johnson that cuases dehydration and hospitalization. Never a bit of fluid came out of them. Again* Confused

antigone

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Posted: 04-11-08 00:18am


Very interesting. MRSA is nasty stuff. I don't think this is related to MRSA. Hopefully, the MRSA is cleared up and you are not colonized with it. That would cause repeated infections as soon as your immune system is stressed. In the UK they are banning long sleeves with healthcare workers due to transferring microbes on sleeves. I think that is a brilliant move and we should do it here, too. We will, in 20 years. We won't listen to the European studies - we are so much more sophisticated than everyone and we will do our own studies and find the same results. Ugh, medical field is strange. We should know as we are part of it! Take care.

CarolDiane

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Posted: 04-11-08 04:10am

antigone wrote:

Very interesting. MRSA is nasty stuff. I don't think this is related to MRSA. Hopefully, the MRSA is cleared up and you are not colonized with it. That would cause repeated infections as soon as your immune system is stressed.
In the UK they are banning long sleeves with healthcare workers due to transferring microbes on sleeves. I think that is a brilliant move and we should do it here, too.
We will, in 20 years. We won't listen to the European studies - we are so much more sophisticated than everyone and we will do our own studies and find the same results. Ugh, medical field is strange. We should know as we are part of it!

Take care.

Also, did you hear that as of two years ago, they are holding all hospitals in the UK for hospital aquired MRSA. About time. I tried litigation, but it no one would take the case. We are so far behind the times, I know. When I was on the vent for 10 out of 16 days in Critical Care Unit with double aspiration pneumonia, MRSA came right out and said hello! On Vancomycin I went. And that was just two years this coming Dec! I try and not be around anyone that is sick to the point it has turned into a phobia with me. So yes, it has colonized and as long as I stay as healthy as I can, I'm good to go. Have'nt had an ER visit since. I has now been over a year since I was admitted through the ER. yes

Georgia59

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Posted: 04-12-08 13:18pm


Thanks for sharing your experience, Carrie, I've never heard of that before and it's a good thing to be aware of.

CarolDiane

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Hi Georgia! Posted: 04-12-08 13:25pm


Long time no chat. Yes, I had some cream medication that they use at hospitals for 2nd degree burns and it seems to finally be working. I keep it covered all the time now. Not due to infecting someone else but, for the sole reason of not getting the blisters infected again. Good to hear from you. Hope you are doing well. I wish you a wonderful life and work future. You will be an asset to the clinical future.

Georgia59

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Posted: 04-12-08 16:04pm


Hope you are doing well as well!

CarolDiane

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Dahhhhhh Posted: 04-14-08 21:15pm


Well, back to the doctor I go again tomorrow. Rat's! Another blister has shown up and the other ones are not healing as well as I think they should be. I called her service tonight to see if she wanted me to go to the hospital. I have to call her office in the morning so she can look at it. It really looks gross. And it is now oozing clear flluid slowly. She said she pobabilly have to put me on steroids and an antibiotic. I will let ya know how things turn out. Always something with me. Will it ever end?