How to trade anxiety for something much worse

The drug lamotrigine may be an oldie, but that doesn’t mean for one minute that it’s somehow been proven to be a “goodie.”

A quick look at just the top part of its 69-page label will warn you about such shocking side effects as “life-threatening serious rashes” (including one where you skin literally peels off your body), a critical blood disorder, suicidal behavior, and meningitis.

For nearly 25 years, the med has been prescribed to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and a whole host of other off-label uses not approved by the FDA.

At this point, I wouldn’t even be surprised if it was being given out for ingrown toenails!

Now, the FDA is warning that despite the longevity of this drug, it’s recently gotten the agency’s attention for being the cause of a potentially fatal condition in which the body’s immune system goes into overdrive.

This might have been just another eye-opener into the risky world of Rx meds were it not for the fact that Lamictal (the brand it’s sold under) is so easy to obtain. Practically anyone who has gone to see their doctor about depression or anxiety can get it.

It’s even being shoved down the throats of mere tots!

So, if there’s any chance you’ve received a prescription for Lamictal or one of its generic versions, it’s urgent that you check the label and find out right away – and contact your doctor immediately about how best to go about getting off of it.

Knowing your options

Felicity Kane was only 18 years old when her doctor suggested that she try lamotrigine for her migraines. It was going to be a “miracle” pill, her family later recounted.

But not too long after taking the first dose, the UK teen was rushed to the ICU and needed to be put on a ventilator. She died a few days later when her kidneys, liver, and heart shut down.

It would be bad enough if this drug were limited to what the FDA originally approved it for: seizures in adults, then epilepsy in kids as young as 2 years old, soon followed by bipolar disorder. But at this point, docs give it out off-label as a “miracle” cure for not just migraines, but anxiety, OCD, ADHD (attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder), and even PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

And by now, Lamictal has been on the market for so long that most probably don’t even think twice about writing an Rx for it.

Last week, however, this old med was in the news again when the FDA issued one of its drug safety communications about a side effect called “hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis,” or HLH.

That’s described by the FDA as an “uncontrolled response by the immune system” – one that can kill if not treated ASAP. It can start with flu-like symptoms and quickly attack your organs. And, of course, even with quick medical help (such as in Felicity’s case), surviving HLH isn’t a given.

That’s why the FDA warns that anyone taking the drug should be on the lookout for symptoms such as fever, skin rashes, unusual bleeding, or problems with their vision.

But instead of going into a panic should you start feeling sick or notice anything different about your skin, a much better solution would be to not start up on lamotrigine in the first place! Especially since there are safe and effective treatments for most all of the conditions it’s prescribed to treat.

For example, I’ve told you how HSI panel member Dr. Mark Stengler has found that depression often results from a nutritional or hormonal imbalance. And in cases of PTSD and anxiety, many patients have been successfully treated without any drugs at all, thanks to professional counselling, meditation, exercise programs, supplements such as holy basil and kava root, and even pet therapy.

As for migraines, CoQ10, vitamins B2 and D, and magnesium have all been able to stop these attacks before they strike just as successfully as heavy-duty meds.

In addition, kids who suffer from epilepsy have been able to achieve seizure control by use of a ketogenic diet – one high in fat and very low in carbs, quite similar to the Atkins diet.

The point is that there are many ways to treat a health problem that don’t involve drugs capable of also shutting down your organs or giving you a fatal skin rash.

So, before you let you doctor convinces you to take a risky med such as lamotrigine, you need to know all of its risks and all of your other options.

“FDA: Lamotrigine tied to rare, serious immune system reaction” Megan Brooks, April 25, 2018, Medscape, medscape.com