A 53-year-old male asked:
Neurologist q: i have been taking lamotrigine for bp2 (not epilepsy). prescriber said stop taking *immediately* (no taper) if rash and that the reported risk of rebound seizures only applies to epileptics. (i am not epileptic). is she correct?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Cyma Khalilyanswered
Psychiatry 37 years experience
DEPENDS ON DOSE: I think that it really depends on the dose. If you are starting the lamotrigine and the dose is on the lower side then stopping immediately is not an issue. If the dose is really high then you may want to do a taper off but quickly since the rash can be dangerous. Typically the rash does not appear down the line..
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
27 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Bennett Machanicanswered
Neurology 54 years experience
2 points: 1. If you start Lamictal and get an itchy rash STOP immediately (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome can be deadly)
2. Unless you have been chronically using Lamictal, and are in therapy range, and have epilepsy, there is trivial
withdrawal risk. This is especially true on initial dose titration upwards.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
25 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Nov 22, 2020
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