Severe drug reaction to Lamictil

annette · 07-26-2005, 11:29 AM

I had a SEVERE reaction to 2 small doses of the anit-seizure med Lamictil
almost 4 weeks ago. I was given this for possible help with sleep problems.
It was excruciating--horrible h/a, blurred vision, fever, rash,ear infection(ruined ear tube) etc etc---
I am still suffering greatly with this--ear infection(can't take any antibiotics),
bands of numbness all around my head, no appetite at all, numbness around face, unbearable insomnia, anxiety, and blurred vision--all 4 wks later after 1 pill of a pediatric dose.

Does anyone have any ideas??I am so chemically sensitive that any detox I'v tried have been unbearable and made me worse.

I got off of Paxil c/t about 4-5 mos. ago. I t was unbearable even before this.
Hardly any sleep--that's how I got on the Lamictil to begin with! and terrible anxiety.

I'm thinking of going back on the Paxil to see if it would help me get out of this. It is intolerable and my family is going nuts!! I thought about going on a 10 mg dose to stabilize me, hopefully, and help me get over the drug reaction. I would like to hold out, but I honestly cannot. I can't survive like this.

Please give me your input--also any ideas about my head and vision(started AFTER the Lamictal) and I can't stand it any more.

Help!!

rdjanis · 07-26-2005, 11:42 AM

Annette, sorry but I don't know about Lamicitl at all.

I believe from what I read previously that you came off the paxil in just a few weeks, if I am correct this in itself with through you into major withdrawal.

Nothing wrong with going back to 10 and stabilizing, when you are ready do very small drops and stabilize in between. You will find the withdrawal much easier this way.

Take care.

Light · 07-26-2005, 11:46 AM

I am sure this is just a bad reaction related to the lamictal or withdrawal but please go to your doctor immediately if you haven't already. There is a potential fatal skin rash associated with lamictal (stevens-johnson syndrome). I am sure you already know about this and have been seen but since it's so serious I thought it was worth mentioning. It's more likely that this is just a withdrawal exerbation caused by the lamictal but it would be worth getting evaluated.

Buxy`s Back · 07-26-2005, 12:17 PM

sounds like the reaction i had with antibiotics during w/d was horrendous,took time but i did settle back down,my son takes limictal for his epilepsy,he gets a few strange symptoms but as he was put on it about age 6 he couldnt of told me any symptoms as his speech was slow,i hate him being on it but think siezures would cause too much damage the amount he was having,i couldnt believe it when i recently spotted its made by gsk!!! something i hadnt even thought about b4 this paxhell,i would rest assured that it is reaction to this as i havnt,and wont touch meds while im so sensitive with w/d ,hope your feeling better soon it will ease,it did for me

Bern · 07-26-2005, 12:22 PM

I was on a low dosage of Lamictal for about 2 months. The maker of Lamictal is Glaxo Smith Kline, same as Paxil. It didn't help me much, because they put me on it becuase they thought I had bipolar. I'm not bipolar...they only thought that becuase symptoms of bipolar disorder show when you are withdrawing from Paxil.

elisa · 07-26-2005, 03:31 PM

I'm sorry that you had to get through the horrible side-effects of Lamictal.

Sorry, cannot give you any guidance on the Lamictal.

Here's a link though on this drug. Just scroll on the left side of the page down to the drug's name.

www.crazymeds.org

scotty · 07-26-2005, 03:43 PM

I'm NO help here! I've never even had a doc prescribe Lamictal due to the potential problems.

annette · 07-26-2005, 05:16 PM

I'm thinking about going to the 10 mg of paxil to try to stabalize after this since I was unstable before the lamictal and went way too fast. i was just wondering if it would be ok while so miserable after the lamictal. one thought is maybe this has exacerbated the paxil still in my brain and bodyalthough all the symptoms after the lamictal are NEW ones. i have no shame getting back on the paxil at 10 mg then tapering when I'm better. i just wondered if it would be safe now while I'm going through Lamicatal hell(worse than the previous 4-5 mos. paxil w/d. i waited for almost a month for it to subside, but it hasn't.
i have been to the dr. 3 times and had an mri. i was told there's nothing they can do to get it out of my system, esp. since i'm so chemically sensitve(afraid to take anything new) my vision and dizziness got much worse(and still are) after the health store detox.
another part of the problem was a brain tumor 10 yr ago. Half of it is still in my head(stable after radiation) and the lamictal seemed to really concentrate in that area.
by the way, after the surgery was when i was put on paxil to "balance my brain chemistry"
I should have NEVER tried the lamicatal while in w/d but i was so desperate I unforunatelydid take it.
I'd like a concensus opinion of what this group would do if they were in my shoes. Thanks for your help!

scotty · 07-26-2005, 07:28 PM

Annette, alot of the symptoms that you're describing can be caused by paxil withdrawal. I would consider going back on a low dose and see it that helps, then wait a while and wean off.

07-26-2005, 11:29 AM	#1
annette Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15	Severe drug reaction to Lamictil I had a SEVERE reaction to 2 small doses of the anit-seizure med Lamictil almost 4 weeks ago. I was given this for possible help with sleep problems. It was excruciating--horrible h/a, blurred vision, fever, rash,ear infection(ruined ear tube) etc etc--- I am still suffering greatly with this--ear infection(can't take any antibiotics), bands of numbness all around my head, no appetite at all, numbness around face, unbearable insomnia, anxiety, and blurred vision--all 4 wks later after 1 pill of a pediatric dose. Does anyone have any ideas??I am so chemically sensitive that any detox I'v tried have been unbearable and made me worse. I got off of Paxil c/t about 4-5 mos. ago. I t was unbearable even before this. Hardly any sleep--that's how I got on the Lamictil to begin with! and terrible anxiety. I'm thinking of going back on the Paxil to see if it would help me get out of this. It is intolerable and my family is going nuts!! I thought about going on a 10 mg dose to stabilize me, hopefully, and help me get over the drug reaction. I would like to hold out, but I honestly cannot. I can't survive like this. Please give me your input--also any ideas about my head and vision(started AFTER the Lamictal) and I can't stand it any more. Help!!

07-26-2005, 11:42 AM	#2
rdjanis "has a lavender scented keyboard" Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ontario Posts: 22,240	Re: Severe drug reaction to Lamictil Annette, sorry but I don't know about Lamicitl at all. I believe from what I read previously that you came off the paxil in just a few weeks, if I am correct this in itself with through you into major withdrawal. Nothing wrong with going back to 10 and stabilizing, when you are ready do very small drops and stabilize in between. You will find the withdrawal much easier this way. Take care. __________________ Rita

07-26-2005, 11:46 AM	#3
Light Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,323	Re: Severe drug reaction to Lamictil I am sure this is just a bad reaction related to the lamictal or withdrawal but please go to your doctor immediately if you haven't already. There is a potential fatal skin rash associated with lamictal (stevens-johnson syndrome). I am sure you already know about this and have been seen but since it's so serious I thought it was worth mentioning. It's more likely that this is just a withdrawal exerbation caused by the lamictal but it would be worth getting evaluated. __________________ Drug-free since 4/9/05 If you ever teach a yodeling class, probably the hardest thing is to keep the students from just trying to yodel right off the bat. You see, "we build to that. " — Jack Handey Last edited by Light : 07-26-2005 at 11:58 AM.

07-26-2005, 12:17 PM	#4
Buxy`s Back Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: grimsby,england Posts: 4,480	Re: Severe drug reaction to Lamictil sounds like the reaction i had with antibiotics during w/d was horrendous,took time but i did settle back down,my son takes limictal for his epilepsy,he gets a few strange symptoms but as he was put on it about age 6 he couldnt of told me any symptoms as his speech was slow,i hate him being on it but think siezures would cause too much damage the amount he was having,i couldnt believe it when i recently spotted its made by gsk!!! something i hadnt even thought about b4 this paxhell,i would rest assured that it is reaction to this as i havnt,and wont touch meds while im so sensitive with w/d ,hope your feeling better soon it will ease,it did for me __________________ September 2009, not in severe hell just moderate hell, still recovering Joanne. LITTLE EVIL MEN HIDE BEHIND BIG COMPANY NAMES................QUOTE BY......MOI

07-26-2005, 12:22 PM	#5
Bern Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 3,338	Re: Severe drug reaction to Lamictil I was on a low dosage of Lamictal for about 2 months. The maker of Lamictal is Glaxo Smith Kline, same as Paxil. It didn't help me much, because they put me on it becuase they thought I had bipolar. I'm not bipolar...they only thought that becuase symptoms of bipolar disorder show when you are withdrawing from Paxil. __________________ PAXIL FREE SINCE 8/16/09!!! Spent a total of 11 years on Paxil. I have been taking Anafranil since 2005. Alcohol free since 12/31/07----Seroquel Free since 7/30/08

07-26-2005, 03:31 PM	#6
elisa Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 11,509	Re: Severe drug reaction to Lamictil I'm sorry that you had to get through the horrible side-effects of Lamictal. Sorry, cannot give you any guidance on the Lamictal. Here's a link though on this drug. Just scroll on the left side of the page down to the drug's name. www.crazymeds.org __________________ On A/D's since 1995, switching due to side-effects on 30 different brands of TCA's, SSRI's, SNRI's, Antipsychotics, Benzo's & Imovane. 6 ECT's. Tapering from 225 mg Effexor XR May 17, 2004. (Equiv. to 60 mg Paxil) Last taper Effexor XR Jan 17, 2006 down to ZERO. Currently protracted withdrawal. Sept 2006: 25 mg Doxepin. March 13/09: 10 mg Desipramine

07-26-2005, 03:43 PM	#7
scotty Administrator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 40,840	Re: Severe drug reaction to Lamictil I'm NO help here! I've never even had a doc prescribe Lamictal due to the potential problems. __________________ AKA Laurie "By ignoring the environmental factors the psychiatric profession gives itself complete job security by diagnosing life as a mental illness. The only people who will not qualify for a disorder are those who are dead." Joseph Arpaia, MD

07-26-2005, 05:16 PM	#8
annette Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15	Re: Severe drug reaction to Lamictil I'm thinking about going to the 10 mg of paxil to try to stabalize after this since I was unstable before the lamictal and went way too fast. i was just wondering if it would be ok while so miserable after the lamictal. one thought is maybe this has exacerbated the paxil still in my brain and bodyalthough all the symptoms after the lamictal are NEW ones. i have no shame getting back on the paxil at 10 mg then tapering when I'm better. i just wondered if it would be safe now while I'm going through Lamicatal hell(worse than the previous 4-5 mos. paxil w/d. i waited for almost a month for it to subside, but it hasn't. i have been to the dr. 3 times and had an mri. i was told there's nothing they can do to get it out of my system, esp. since i'm so chemically sensitve(afraid to take anything new) my vision and dizziness got much worse(and still are) after the health store detox. another part of the problem was a brain tumor 10 yr ago. Half of it is still in my head(stable after radiation) and the lamictal seemed to really concentrate in that area. by the way, after the surgery was when i was put on paxil to "balance my brain chemistry" I should have NEVER tried the lamicatal while in w/d but i was so desperate I unforunatelydid take it. I'd like a concensus opinion of what this group would do if they were in my shoes. Thanks for your help!

07-26-2005, 07:28 PM	#9
scotty Administrator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 40,840	Re: Severe drug reaction to Lamictil Annette, alot of the symptoms that you're describing can be caused by paxil withdrawal. I would consider going back on a low dose and see it that helps, then wait a while and wean off. __________________ AKA Laurie "By ignoring the environmental factors the psychiatric profession gives itself complete job security by diagnosing life as a mental illness. The only people who will not qualify for a disorder are those who are dead." Joseph Arpaia, MD

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)