Successful management of lamotrigine-associated skin rashes in an adolescent girl with autism and bipolar disorder

Lamotrigine, an antiepileptic class drug, is an agent that can be used as a mood stabilizer in children and adolescents and skin rashes as a side effect are seen. Rarely, Stevens Johnson Syndrome may develop with skin rashes that may be mortal accompanied by systemic symptoms. In this paper, lamotrigine was started as a mood stabilizer in addition to the current olanzapine treatment in an 18 years old adolescent girl with autism spectrum disorderand bipolar disorder type 2. After the dose was increased, erythematous acneiform rash developed on the 10th day. Then, lamotrigine was discontinued and skin rashes regressed. Slowly titrating lamotrigine dose, noticing skin rashes on treatment and be able to distunguish bening and malign rash are so helpful for clinicians. An 18 years old adolescent girl who was followed up with the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and bipolar disorder was started on lamotrigine as a mood stabilizer in addition to the current olanzapine treatment. On the 10th day of treatment, erythematous acneiform skin rashes appeared on the face. After the dermatology consultation response, the drug was discontinued and the skin rashes regressed within 1 week. The fact that the skin rashes appeared in the head-neck region, were mildly painful, tended to coalesce, and resolved when the drug was discontinued, suggested that might be malign rash. The absence of systemic symptoms, intact blood values and no additional treatment is required, suggested that might be benign rash. Further studies are needed on the use of lamotrigine in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.