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Is Immune Suppression From Lamotrigine Reversible If The Drug Is Stopped? Why Did I Become Neutropenic While Taking Depakote?
Question: Is immune suppression from lamotrigine reversible if the drug is stopped? How quickly? I am 59 years old and have taken 400 mg/day lamotrigine for 5 years for migraine prevention and bipolar disorder II. I have had frequent infections of all types, mostly sinusitis. My immune globulins are all very low: IgG 307 (lower limit nl is 694). IgA 25 (LLN is 81). IgM <25 (LLN is 48). CBC normal. LFTs normal. T4/TSH normal. Vit D normal. Sed rate 2. Retic count 0.8. SPEP normal. I have macrocytosis of RBCs which has been partially reversed by high-dose folate. I also take amitriptyline 150 mg q hs for migraine prevention, and valcyclovir for chronic herpes simplex type 2. I think the valcyclovir caused mild neutropenia for a while, but this seems to have reversed. I also became extremely neutropenic while taking Depakote, and was then switched to lamotrigine
Hello
Thank you for sending your question.
Your question is a good one and I will work on providing you with some information and recommendations regarding the problems you are experiencing.
Lamotrigine which is commonly used for the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder can rarely cause agranulocytosis. However there are no confirmed reports of Lamotrigine causing immunoglobulin deficiency. I think your bone marrow is very sensitive and you have drug induced bone marrow suppression.
Low immunoglobulins in you could be induced by Lamotrigine alone or due to combined effect of other drugs with Lamotrigine. As we do not have any parameter or test to see which is causing problem in you, tapering and stopping Lamotrigine would be a good idea in you. If your globulin levels improve we can probably say it is Lamotrigine induced.
My recommendation would be for you to see your psychiatrist and then try tapering the medicine slowly. Abruptly stopping Lamotrigine is not good. Once you stop Lamotrigine in 2 weeks time we should see your immunoglobulins going up. You need to talk to your psychiatrist for an alternate medicine to Lamotrigine for your Bipolar disorder.
I thank you again for submitting your question. I hope you find my response to be both helpful and adequate.
If you have any additional concerns regarding your question I would be happy to address them.
Sincerely,
Dr Shiva Kumar R
Consultant Neurologist & Epileptologist.
Thank you for sending your question.
Your question is a good one and I will work on providing you with some information and recommendations regarding the problems you are experiencing.
Lamotrigine which is commonly used for the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder can rarely cause agranulocytosis. However there are no confirmed reports of Lamotrigine causing immunoglobulin deficiency. I think your bone marrow is very sensitive and you have drug induced bone marrow suppression.
Low immunoglobulins in you could be induced by Lamotrigine alone or due to combined effect of other drugs with Lamotrigine. As we do not have any parameter or test to see which is causing problem in you, tapering and stopping Lamotrigine would be a good idea in you. If your globulin levels improve we can probably say it is Lamotrigine induced.
My recommendation would be for you to see your psychiatrist and then try tapering the medicine slowly. Abruptly stopping Lamotrigine is not good. Once you stop Lamotrigine in 2 weeks time we should see your immunoglobulins going up. You need to talk to your psychiatrist for an alternate medicine to Lamotrigine for your Bipolar disorder.
I thank you again for submitting your question. I hope you find my response to be both helpful and adequate.
If you have any additional concerns regarding your question I would be happy to address them.
Sincerely,
Dr Shiva Kumar R
Consultant Neurologist & Epileptologist.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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