Lamotrigine-induced Neutropenia Followed by Drug Eruption: A Case Report

A 55-year-old female with no physical problems was initially hospitalized for psychotic mania but soon discharged. A month later she was rehospitalized for bipolar depression and treated with lamotrigine (25 mg/day), olanzapine (10 mg/day), and lorazepam (0.5 mg/day). On day 22, lamotrigine was stopped because of neutropenia. On the same day, the patient developed skin rashes with pruritus, which gradually spread. We present this case as evidence that neutropenia and pruritic rash are rare side effects of lamotrigine, and could have causal relationships with each other. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for these effects when using lamotrigine.