If you are doing IM Bicillin, do you have to do skin-test for allergy everytime before injection?
I am considering doing IM Bicllin myself, but the skin-test seems unconvenient.
I was warned by my sister, who is a medical doctor, that you need to do skin test everytime and should get some medicine at hand in case of emergency.
Posted by lymie tony z (Member # 5130) on :
NO...that's pretty dumb advice...
no offense to your sister...unless she's a sheduck! LOL
zman
Posted by tickedntx (Member # 5660) on :
I have been on Bicillin injections since early June 2005. I do not even know what this skin test is. I do, however, have an EpiPen on hand for 20 minutes post-injection in the event of an allergic reaction.
Posted by Dave6002 (Member # 9064) on :
Thanks for the quick replies.
Zman, you are welcome and no offence at all cuz this is a free opinion board.
Posted by David95928 (Member # 3521) on :
Because I had taken penicillins on a number of occasions, my doctor was not concerned about allergic reaction. My pharmacist agreed. Nevertheless, I keep an EpiPen around. It sounds like your sister is misinformed. Treating Lyme involves risks, but not treating it also involves risks, but not the kind that frighten physicians.
Posted by tickedntx (Member # 5660) on :
I have been told (though I cannot remember by whom) that an allergic reaction from penicillin can develop at any time, even if you have previously had none. This may be what your sister was referring to.
In all the discussions about Bicillin on this board, however, I have never seen reference to a skin test, only the need to have an EpiPen on standby.
Posted by Lymeindunkirk (Member # 7118) on :
I also take bicillin injections (3X week) and never heard of a skin test. My doc is lyme literate and I would hope he would have told me if it were important. You never know though........
Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :
Did you have a suspected childhood pencillin allergy or some other reason there is a concern?
Before starting Bicillin, my LLMD had me go through extensive penicillin allergy testing with an allergist, because of a possible mild childhood penicillin allergy.
The allergists gave me the all-clear to do Bicillin, but I have a nurse inject me and I hang around the medical clinic for a while afterward just in case of any reaction. She had an Epi-Pen standing by for the first two injections. I've been absolutely fine.
Jill
Posted by TheCrimeOfLyme (Member # 4019) on :
YOu dont have to skin test every time, but you should have an EPI PEN at ALL times.
Posted by Thereminator (Member # 8324) on :
Where do you buy an EPI PEN? Alan
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :