Lamictal rash or possibly shingles?

[ellenlou1]

I developed an itchy area on my side that lasted for over a week and then broke out into a circular area or raised red itchy and painful rash. It is approx half dollar size. I have been treating w/hydocortisone cream without help. The area no longer feels very itchy. It feels lightly painful. The pain seems to go deep into my body. I am on Lamictal. Wondering if this is possibly a Lamictal rash? Shingles? I am 46.  Ellen L.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Since the rash is painful, it is more likely a shingles rash. Shingles occurs in people who have had chickenpox and represents a reactivation of the dormant varicella-zoster virus. The first sign is usually a tingling feeling, itchiness, or stabbing pain on the skin. After a few days, a rash appears as a band or patch of raised dots on the side of the trunk or face. The rash develops into small, fluid-filled blisters which begin to dry out and crust over within several days. When the rash is at its peak, symptoms can range from mild itching to extreme and intense pain.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[lorilett]

I realize this is a very old post, but the above rash is more likely Stephen Johnson Syndrome since the patient was taking Lamictal.

[Booandlulu]

I’m a 45 y.o. (F) and also suspect that I developed shingles from this drug. It’s finally healing, but wow—so painful! It’s taken a good 10 days to scab over and heal. My primary care doctor said it’s definitely shingles and not a rash. The patch is on the left side of my lower back, about the size of an orange. I thought it was nasty bug bites at first, but they quickly turned into oozing blisters. (I remember thinking that it looked and felt like a patch of cold sores.) It didn’t itch much, but the pain was unbearable. I would compare it to getting a tattoo that never ends. Hydrocortisone cream did nothing to ease the pain. I ended up buying some lidocaine at the drugstore which helped immensely. I also have an autoimmune disease (RA). My guess is that the drug caused a big immune response and my body unearthed a dormant virus as my prize. Who knows. I wish there was more literature on this subject!

[workin]

All I can do is convey my personal experience with Lamictal. First time I took it, I developed a rash similar to the one you mention, on my thigh, then it progressed to shingles. The second time I took the drug two years later I developed a Stevens Johnson reaction. No comment or speculation here, just stating my facts. Use the info as you see fit.