Lamotragine / Lamictal is an anti-epileiptic drug that is also used to treat bipolar. Users report many "skin oriented" side-effects, and it makes one more sun-senstitive. It is known to bind to melanin-producing areas (or some such). It can also cause a fatal rash (Stevens-Johnson syndrome.)
Lamotragine / Lamictal is an anti-epileiptic drug that is also used to treat bipolar. Users report many "skin oriented" side-effects, and it makes one more sun-senstitive. It is known to bind to melanin-producing areas (or some such). It can also cause a fatal rash (Stevens-Johnson syndrome.)
At the end of the summer of 2009 I started on a trial of Lamictal. I was on it for only a few weeks, as I thought I had too many skin-oriented symptoms and was worried it might be "the rash". My skin was simply looking different, most of my ketoid "scars" changed appearance. At least one of my moles did, too (it turned almost black — but with the lamictal / melanin thing, I wasn't worried). I'm sure others changed but not in such a dramatic way. I believe I saw my derm. a few months after this, but I didn't point it out to her and she missed it. Then I went for too long, not getting back 'til two weeks ago.
Of course, the mole that changed was melanoma (in situ, yay!)
But I am also back on Lamictal because we haven't been able to find an effective drug for my bipolar depressions and if I can tolerate Lamictal, it can be a wonder drug for that purpose. I have been on it for a longer time now, and at a higher dosage than I managed before.
And boy, oh boy, is my skin changing again. I have many moles on my arms and shoulders, and I tend to stare at them when I am procrastinating. But I don't have a photographic memory or many photos of myself. It seems like most of them are changing, getting darker spots, being not-so-round …
I've googled but not been able to find any association between Lamotrigine and melanoma.
Questions:
1. Has anyone heard of or suspected an association between Lamitrigine and melanoma? (Or do I just blame the melanoma occurance on the increased sun-sensitivity of the drug?)
2. Do I bug my derm. for an exam ASAP rather than wait 3 months? (She saw the suspicious spot before she'd done my full-body exam 2 weeks ago, and I could tell she was worried, so I know she looked at least a little more carefully than usual.)
I'll take pictures of the way-things-are-now, and I see my psychiatrist on Wed. We'll probably give up on this trial. I know it may seem that it should be a no-brainer to stop the Lamictal, but the risk of death in the depressive phase of bipolar is freighteningly high.
I'm just so, so worried that there is more melanoma, or that I am making more right now.
Thanks for listening.
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