G'day
I haven't submitted for a while but life's been a bit hectic and there just
never seems to be enough time to fit everything in. It's good to see many of
the old favourites, Dave, Julie & G., still ploughing ahead.
The reason I really wrote is to get some advice regards a rash which
developed which the Doc/s are sure is related to a reaction to medication
and more specifically to anti-convulsants. At the time it started I was
taking 1000 mg tegretol (carbamazepine) b.d. and 200mg lamictal
(lamotrigine) b.d.
My G.P. thought I may have TEN (toxic epidermal necrolysis) a particularly
dangerous skin rash which can be fatal in thirty percent of cases. I
reminded him of the fact that lamictal could cause this though usually only
in the first few weeks of commencement of taking it should you be allergic
to it. We then looked on the internet and two of the top medications which
can cause TEN are tegretol and of course lamictal. His advice was to
immediately discontinue one of the drugs and start using something else.
Between us we decided to substitute lamictal with keppra (leviteracetam).
Gradually (5 weeks) the ulcers healed and the rash faded.
Unfortunately the rash came back though not quite as severe and after
consultation with a dermatological specialist I was given a cortisone
ointment which has largely caused the rash to fade though not entirely.
I know there is/can be a reaction between tegretol and lamictal when they're
metabolised in the body (liver) and I'm sure that one of the contributors to
the group had a reaction regarding these two medications several years ago.
One plus out this whole mess, is that since I've started taking keppra, I've
not had any problems epilepsy wise, not even an aura and no significant side
effects. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions I would appreciate them.

Pablo