I do not want to scare anyone off medication or persuade them not to take Lamictal. I would like to advise anyone that is taking or going to take Lamictal (lamotrigine) to follow dosages exactly as they are prescribed and not to skip a dosage. This medicine has to be slowly built to a therapeutic level. It also has to be weaned off of as well. There were 2 cases recently here in Louisiana where the patients were not advised by private doctors of the serious side affect known as Steven-Johnson syndrome. One of them had started developing the rash. You think you have the flu, run fever then start a rash. This rash is a deadly reaction to misadministration of the medicine and can potentially kill you. Based on the severity of the rash it is sometimes called TENS, which pretty much covers the whole body. Victims are treated in the burns units because the skin literally burns from the body. I am including web adresses for patients to read about this reaction. Once again I would like to say I am not trying to scare anyone off the medicine but to advise only that you take it as directed and not miss a dose. I am taking this medicine myself and do not plan on getting off of it. It has worked for my mixed bi-polar. There are several medicines that can do the same thing that are also prescribed for other things. Lamictal has proven to be high risk for the reaction. If you have a concern talk with your physician. Always ask about side affects or contradictions with other medicines you are taking and include over the counter medicines including vitamins and pain medicines. While they seem harmless they could be harmful. There may be alternates that you can take in their place. Your pharmacist is your best friend where medicines are concerned. ALWAYS put on record what you are taking. The computer is programmed to watch for the interactions. I have also found that you should ask about things to avoid such as grapefruit juice! It seems to come up often. The number one thing seems to be to increase medicine output. Some medicines should be with food, some without! Be aware not beware and be safe.
http://www.sjsupport.org/htmldata/reactionphoto_1.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stevens-johnson-syndrome/DS00940
