posted
In the last few days I broke out into hives all over my body. I went to my regular PCP who said they were indeed hives but didn't think they were related to any of my antibiotics because I didn't start anything new recently.
I started levaquin about a month ago and was feeling so much better on it so I'll be mad if I'm in fact allergic to it. It seems strange though that it would take a month for an allergy to come out and the doctor and allergist agreed.
I have an LLMD appt. on Thurs. so I will ask him but has this happened to anyone else?
Dr. gave me a strong antihistamine so I hope it helps but don't know if I should stop my abx in the meantime.
Posts: 71 | From New York, NY | Registered: Aug 2008
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posted
before found out what i had was lyme was having issues with hives, and was happening more and no certain trigger was ever found, we tried to kinda track things but no common demoninator, only thing i realized is if i had been really stressed, tired, not sleep, work crazy, etc.
then would have to go into pcp and get steroids shots, rx antihistamines and do this 3 days in a row to stay out of hospital..has not happened yet since lyme tx, but have had rashes now that come and go
maybe someone else has had this as well??
-------------------- i am not a Dr. any info is only for education, suggestion or to think/research. please do not mis-intuprest as diagnostic or prescriptive, only trying to help. **
dx in 08:lyme, rmsf, bart, babs, and m.pneumonia. Posts: 422 | From TX | Registered: Oct 2008
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Ocean
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3496
posted
Hey Lar, An allergic reaction can occur anytime after taking it. You could have been on it for years and then BOOM! Allergy. My sister took Bactrim fine the first time. The next year she took it and had hives all over her body, she was a mess, swollen lips (nothing life threatening) for several weeks (and she was taking benadryl like mad).
I would suspect allergy, but it 'could' be something else. I hope it's not since you've had such wonderful results.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Lar,
Yes, as Ocean says, "An allergic reaction can occur anytime after taking it."
And - an allergy can happen from the instant you take the med. It does not have to take a month. People respond differently.
Anytime you have hives, it is vital to stop whatever you are doing - everything if you can't pinpoint what is doing it.
go over all your food choices for days before - exposures to perfumes or chemicals, etc. Did you recently get anything new in your environment?
I assume you are off all artificial ingredients but you might want to check food labels. Sometimes, a mfg. will change a recipe.
Also check ALL the ingredients in the medicine. You might need to take only the brand or only the generic as sometimes, the secondary ingredients - fillers - can be a problem.
Above all, be sure you are not taking any aspartame/Nutrasweet/Equal - even in a cough drop or gum. MSG, too, can contribute to allergies. It has many names you can find on google.
I've had the hive reaction, with trouble breathing, and benadryl did not work. A few hours after hives broke out, I was in the ER with convulsions. I nearly died. They had that big needle resting on my chest, ready to go into my heart - but, fortunately, the emergency meds worked.
It was not clear which drug but it was the second course of a sulfa drug that was thought to be connected. The first course had gone fine, but did not treat my respiratory infection completely.
If you have hives now, please ask your doctor now what to do. This should not wait. If this gets worse, go to urgent care or the E.R. It could save your life as often after hives, your lungs may be affected.
I'm not trying to scare you but it's important to know that this could become serious. Be sure to have a plan in place if you need to get to the E.R.
AND - if this drug does not work - there is always another way. Always. You will still have a chance at a good life.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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lymestop,
Good point - and it's too bad that it is hard to tell sometimes but that article helps.
LAR-
Are you keeping up with your liver support supplements? That should help. Oh, and here's a new thread with a link about Quercertin - that can really help calm the mast cells:
[ 02-11-2009, 12:47 AM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
I too started hives on my hands and feet yesterday and had linked it to my 5th 3-day Tinidazole pulse.
I am also on Rifampin and Azithromycin, so it could also be bartonella-related or indeed a Herx.
It is very like the heat rash I sometimes get in the sun, so I am considering taking a one-a-day antihistamine temporarily, as I really want to complete at least 3 months of the Tini pulses, but obviously don't want allergic reactions to get more pronounced.
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
I had taken Bactrim several times with no problems. But I still had a very severe allergic reaction to it. I think it can happen at any time. I will never take it again.
-------------------- You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. Posts: 807 | From South Dakota | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
Years before Lyme dx I had hives for years alot!!!
Ended up on 4 different antihistamines.
-------------------- Suffering too many years to count. Can't remember anyway!!!! Posts: 46 | From It's News to Jersey | Registered: Mar 2008
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
After my post yesterday, the hives spread all over, though only my feet were itchy, so I took an antihistamine.
I also had an episode of abdominal pain later, so stopped all antibiotics and supplements except charcoal.
Today I still have the hives and have contacted the private Breakspear hospital [my LLMD works there only 2 days a week], where another doctor told me to stop all antibiotics and arrange to go there to be tested for sensitivities to the abx and maybe some foods, so that I could have de-sensitising drops.
Transport to the hospital is hard for me and if I'm going to have to have drops anyway, I'm wandering about taking an abx break and trying the Allergie-Immun test and drops.
posted
My dad just had an reaction to Doxy. He said it is really painful and alot of hives started in the areas where his pain was. Is that normal? Could it be a bad herx with a mix of an allergic reaction?? He did stop taking and won't take again. He is now taking Ceftin once he clears up of course.
Posts: 60 | From WI | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
I had hives and other symptoms that put me in bed for two days. This was with claforan, and apparently a lot of people have trouble with this drug, although not everyone. The hives took two weeks to go away, even though I stopped the drug immediately.
When I tried to look into the whys later, I could not definitely pin it down. Did not seem to be a herx, might have been serum sickness. Have not had this with any other drug.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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jlc,
I've had a similar reaction to doxy - at least 5 times, at least a month apart (I kept trying it as it used to be the only thing to decrease sound sensitivity and it was the only abx that did not increase tinnitus).
I had taken doxy years before all this for two months straight and did okay (but at that time, that's all the tx I could get from my GP).
I can't say the rash I had was hives - more like silver dollar sized round dark red (darker in middle) somewhat raised, very hot and VERY ITCHY. So, itchy that it was absolute torture.
Each time I had a between 8 - 13 - and in exactly the same places, all on hips and thighs.
The itch and spots would pop out within even an hour (or less) of taking the drug (my PCP said that if it were a doxy allergy it should have taken longer to rash.)
It's been well over a year or two since I've taken any abx and I still have some grey scars from that.
That painful, hot itch was absolute torture - and lasted for days after stopping the med.
Some say it might have been a herx and actual lyme bulls eye rashes (remember not all "bulls eyes" are exactly the same).
Some say it might have been an allergy to the drug.
It matters not for me as I cannot take that again. It was so bad that it was all I could do not to rip off the skin on the rashes trying to reach the itch that came from deep within.
So, if your dad is having a reaction, whether a herx or not, doxy may just be something that is not an option anymore. Torture is not helpful to healing.
I did not have a LLMD to consult but I hope your father does.
posted
Update: I saw my LLMD today and told him the story. The good news is that he thinks my lyme is going into remission but the bad news is that he thinks bart is a big problem for me.
I told him about the hives and he muscle tested me for levaquin and I could resist it. He said this meant it probably wasn't from the levaquin.
I actually am not sure it is from the levaquin either because I stopped it (along with my other supplements) two days ago and more hives have come out since then.
He gave me a RX for rifampin and told me to also continue the omnicef.
I'm wondering if I should start the new drug or wait until my hives subside (whenever that may be).
I think I will go see the allergist and be tested so I can figure out what's going on!
Posts: 71 | From New York, NY | Registered: Aug 2008
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just don
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1129
posted
funny,I was just coming on to discuss this very issue.
I once had hives from hades. It was right when I got cut off my short course of IV drugs,,,about 6 weeks of Clafran,,and 2 infusions of Vanco(the last ones)
I am led to believe bart is a major player for me also. just wondering IF this is a bart herx??
Just yesterday i was reading another post here that talked of 'Redman' syndrome in regards to Vanco. has anyone heard of this reaction??
for a week after this two doses of Vanco I felt normal,,first time since being sick ,last time since trying that,,,NO other drug has had ANY effect,good or bad!!
This has been years and years ago and I struggle in my feeble mind,,,trying to make sense of all this.
It was jumbled then,,,slightly less jumbled now,,,mulling it over I came to different conclusions NOW than THEN!!!
responses??fer --just don--
-------------------- just don Posts: 4548 | From Middle of midwest | Registered: May 2001
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