i got that rash from it and had to go to the ER twice and took two weeks to feel better, they dont tell you that 10% of people get that rash. and the doc is supposed to start you off slow at like 25 mg and work up over a 3 week period or you run a much higher risk of that rash.

Thanks #1. Doc said 100mg was baby dose. Was pretty fired up so I think she was trying to bring me down about 10 notches. How long after starting did the rash start? I already have headaches and dizziness.

I got the rash also. My pdoc kept me on it anyway I ended up so sick I slit my wrists. Alot of ppl have great success though.

100mg? Are you on Tegretol also! With tegretol it takes double the normal dose to be effective and I still started at50mgs then 100 a week later

No tegretal. Only Celexa

ive had great success with Lamictal. im on the max and have never gotten the rash. so much better than lithium. no wieght gain and no blood work. gl

10 days for my rash only on 25mg's.

i just got taken off today .i got the rash.i was up to 150 mg....shit on to the next med...

I was on 200 for a while, but I went to lithium and it is the dog's bollocks for me...

I TAKE 200MG OF IT DAILY AND I FIND IT TO BE A GREAT MOOD STABILIZER ALTHOUGH I'VE READ THAT DOSES OVER 200 ARE NOT EFFECTIVE IN TREATING DEPRESSION; HOWEVER, STARTING YOU ON 100MG? I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT...YOU MUST START LOW! I WAS STARTED ON 25, THEN 50 AND SO ON. THAT'S REALLY SCARY. I NEVER DID GET THE RASH THOUGH.

Wow. I wonder if she is scared because she lost 3 patients. I was i bit wild when i saw her...

I WOULD SERIOUSLY QUESTION YOUR DOCTOR ON THIS IMMEDIATLY!!

Usually Lamicital is begun on a "starter Pack" that lasts 5 weeks.

The dosing schedule for the starter pack is as follows:

2 weeks at 25mg
2 weeks at 50mg
1 week at 100mg
after that based on how you are doing your doctor moves you SLOWLY to a maintence dose. In my case I went to 150mg for another week then 200 (starting today) and will eventually wind up at 250 or 300mg.

The purpose of the starter pack is to mitigate the serious rach threat of Lamictal. Usually the rash appears in people just starting Lamictal, and is dramiatically reduced when slowly titrated over the 5 week period to a maintance does. Whie this is happeneing, it is common to have another mood stabilizer to aide you during the titration period. Often this drug is Lithium. After you are at a maintence does, your Doctor may or may not remove this supplimental drug.

The rash side effect should be taken seriously. Lamictal can cause very serious skin rashes and allergic reactions. These rashes can cause large sections of the skin to die and can cause disfigurement or even loss of life.

In adults, a dangerous Lamictal rash seems to be a little less common than children. Up to 0.3 percent of adults taking the drug developed a rash that required hospitalization. The rashes are less common in people taking Lamictal for bipolar disorder and are more likely in people taking Lamictal for epilepsy. Combining Lamictal with divalproex (Depakote, Depakote ER) or valproic acid (Depakene) increased the risk of serious rashes (up to 1 percent).
For this reason, expect that you will not be taking Lamictal with these drugs.

I have been on Lamictal for quite a while and have had to "start" it twice (due to a recent hospital stay). If I can be of any help feel free to contact me.

I am SERIOUSLY concerned over your story!!!

I thank all of you for your input. I am questioning the doc choice now and will confere with her quickly. Thanks again!

I have had full blow manic episodes though. I wonder if this is why I started so high. I will still cut back and call doc.

I want to add a couple things...

1st to anyone that stops Lamictal for 4 days or longer for any reason, such as hospital stay for ECTs like I did...if you stop for that long it requires you to start all over from the starter pack.

The second I think I will start another thread on called "What type of med doctor do you see?"