posted
I have been taking doxycycline and Malarone for about a month without any problem. Sunday night, after ingesting mashed potatoes in a restaurant I developed a rash that progressively spread all over my body. I spent a night of hell, scratching with a fork. It happened again last night in spite of benadryl and prednisone. Tonight, I took Benadryl as a head start, in order to avoid a full fledged attack... It is possible that either of these two medications would provoke such a reaction after tolerating them for so long? I stopped everything till this clears up. Has anyone experienced this kind of allergy? Any advice? Thank you
Posts: 123 | From Los Angeles | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
Sometimes an allergic reaction can occur as blood levels rise over a period of time.
Recently, I broke out in hives after taking methadone for three weeks. The first 2.5 weeks were fine...and then BOOM...itching and hives.
Obviously, you should talk to your doctor. At the very least, s/he will probably want you to have an Epi-pen on hand in case of severe allergic reaction. (I carry one because I'm deathly allergic to cashew nuts.)
Unless your LLMD specifically tells you to take prednisone, you should avoid it because steroids can make Lyme much worse.
It could be the combination of meds, or just one of them. Your LLMD might have you go back on one at a time to see if you can rule out the culprit. Or you might have your prescriptions completely changed.
But this is definitely not a problem to ignore. Sometimes a mild allergy can turn into a major, life-threatening problem without warning, especially with repeated exposure to the allergen.
Better to be safe than sorry!
Posts: 398 | From By the Salish Sea | Registered: Dec 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- As you did, stopping all your meds is the first wise move. I do hope your LLMD can sort this out.
During a non-busy time for them, I would also call the mgr. of the restaurant and ask for a list of ingredients in your meal. My guess is you got some MSG (google for all the names MSG hides behind).
If you had a salad, ask if they use sulfites to keep them fresh.
Since you are on lyme treatment, you probably know that alcohol is not part of treatment, but for later on, once you are past lyme, if you do have a sulfite allergy, know that avoiding wine would be best then, too. Sulfites occur naturally in many foods, but the addition to keep salads and wine fresh often topple the amount some people can handle.
You might also ask the mgr. if they had just sprayed any products in the restaurant, etc. Or new carpet, fresh paint?
Don't alarm them and just explain that you might be allergic to a food or ingredient and you need to figure it out.
Also, potatoes are often loaded with farm chemicals. Years ago, my liver/porphyria doctor told me to avoid all potatoes that were not organic.
Why he singled out particularly the potato, I'm not sure but he was very animated about it.
DOXY ? Yes, I've had some severe rashes from that. I had taken it several times, over a couple years. Was off for a while and then started again and - poof- within 20 minutes - nearly a dozen silver dollar sized circle rashes, very hot and torturously itching.
So I stopped. Now, for me, doxy was the ONLY thing that calmed the hyperacusis (sound sensitivity) so that I could go out and be with people. So, I really wanted to go out to a song circle once a month and Doxy had worked for me for a while.
But, once the rash came . . . I waited . . . another month and tried again. Same thing. Over 6 months, I tried 4 times. Each time, just ONE pill and within 20-60 minutes, 8 - 13 round patches popped up - exactly in the same places at before.
I could not continue and, to this day, have not found anything that calmed down my ears like doxy had.
Some speculate that the doxy brought lyme to the surface. Maybe. But I could not tolerate it so it had to go.
Anna points out that, even for meds we've previously done fine with, a serious reaction can still occur. A life-long allergy can develop and, as far as I'm concerned if EVER there is a question about allergy, STOP all things suspect.
You might also address possible cytokine reactions.
I ditto what Anna said about steroids: " Unless your LLMD specifically tells you to take prednisone, you should avoid it because steroids can make Lyme much worse."
Please keep us posted on what your LLMD suggests.
You might also think over any personal care products or other environments that you were in that day.
Good luck. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
I had lots of problems with hives while sick with lyme and during treatment.
Think about all meds, etc. that you take. Did you change any of them. For me, I got hives from my hormone replacement therapy that I had been on for 2 years. When it was increased a little, the hives started.
Then, it seems like I got hives as a reaction to many things.
So, don't limit your thinking to the lyme meds is my message to you.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
Yes; my daughter took an antibiotic off and on for over a year, and then bam, one day she became extremely allergic to it.
I would definetly stop taking them both and call your LLMD. An allergic reaction can be very dangerous.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Thought I'd add this: A case of new food allergies caused by "a tick bite"- did the bite cause Lyme? Unfortunately,the article doesn't say,although the fellow was given abx.
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