Lamictal Acne
With the huge increase in use of Lamictal comes the inevitable huge increase in complaints about Lamictal. No . . . nothing can ever be easy! For most folks who take it, Lamictalis wonderfully helpful and has minimal side effects. Acne, as described above, is one of the more common complaints for those who do experience difficulties. It then leaves you with the dilemma of choosing whether you feel good . . . or look good. Most people choose to look good. More on that in another blarticle. From your description of your situation, there are a number of options available for you.
Since Lamictal is a medicine that is used for depression (most commonly for Bipolar Depression) you must consider the possiblility that you might get depressed. Non-phamacologic ways to avoid depression should be used to give you the best chance possible to stay reasonably happy. By exercising, eating right, getting enough sleep, working with a therapist, reading good books, and practicing your spirituality (whatever that is for you), you increase the chances of doing well off medicine.
Unfortunately, this is true: acne is listed in the official Prescribing Information from the manufacturer as having occurred in their research trials less than 5% of the time, but more than 1%, and more often than on placebo (the reference: page 37 of this PDF). I am sure that I have prescribed Lamictal over 500 times, probably while more than that, so on this basis I should have seen at least five patients, probably more like 10 or more, who are having trouble with acne because of the medication.
Lamictal is used in combination with other anti-seizure drugs in the treatment of some types of seizures. It also is used alone for treating partial seizures in patients of 16 years old and older when converting from the anti-epileptic drug valproate.
There are side effects with ALL medications; the most common with psych meds being constipation and headache and/or dizziness. Unless the side effect is life threatening or altering, please take the meds for at least two weeks before deciding if it is going to work for you. A lot of times your body needs to adjust to the medication, and then the side effects will decrease. Do not stop the medication without your psychiatrist’s instruction on how to do so.
