Just wanted to post something about drug fever, as I've never seen it posted here.
I had a personal experience with it years ago from a BP med. My only sx were fever and hypertension.
The higher my BP went, the higher the dose of the med the idiot doc prescribed. The fever stayed constant. And I felt really sick.
I took it upon myself to look up the med. Lo and behold "drug fever" was one of the side effects. Called up the doc, told him what I had found and demanded a new med.
Once I stopped the offending med, fever went away.
Fast forward, DD was put on rifabutin (similar to rifampin).
First go-round with rifampin years back caused major side-effects/herx and the drug was stopped immediately.
So, needless to say, I was very cautious about beginning the rifabutin.
After about a week, DD developed a fever, felt sick and was exhausted. But there were NO other symptoms.
Took awhile for it to dawn on me that it could be drug fever. Called the doc and told him the symptoms. He said "drug fever" before I did.
Stopped the rifabutin and poof, fever disappeared.
So, before anyone assumes that a fever is due to flu or herx, consider drug fever.
And, you could have taken a drug in the past and not had any problems with it (that was the case for me with the BP med).
Always, always read up on meds prescribed to you (as well as supps).
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
Scary Beaches---- can I ask, was it a high fever? Was it consistent?
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
Hi surprise! Yes, very, very scary!
In my case, the fever lasted for a couple of weeks and was consistent. From what I recall, fever was 100 - 101.
DD's fever was consistent too, but thankfully short-lived thanks to quick thinking. Her fever ranged from 99 - 101.
Not sure how high fevers can run with with drug fever. But it makes sense that with this type of reaction/side effect, the fevers would be constant, much like any other adverse reaction/side effect.
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
And I think fever varies according to the type of thermometer.
I would have sworn DD's fever would've been 102/103 based on my "cheek to forehead" assessment I used the ear thermometer with her and it was lower than expected.
Forget the thermometer I used on myself. Don't remember if those ear thermometers were around then.
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
Thanks Beaches- and I hear you on the thermometers! We have an ear one too, and I do about 6 readings each time!
I've never heard of a drug fever- golly, something else.
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
Up, because I think everyone here needs to be aware of this...
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I used the ear thermometer with her and it was lower than expected.