posted
Just wondering if anyone out there has had an allergic reaction to Mepron and what symptoms they had.
I started Mepron/Zithromax about 4 weeks ago. What I noticed at first was a 'tingly' feeling after taking it, but nothing that out of the ordinary. After about a week or so, I started feeling rather sickly... felt hot sometimes, woke up all sweaty 2-3 nights, then I had a pattern of feeling decent for 3-4 days of the week, the other days crummy again.
But I also noticed I felt a little itchy this whole time. And I was taking an antihistamine before I started (Claritin).
I stopped the Claritin last week, and then noticed I had sort of a light, blotchy rash on my belly and arms, and was even more itchy.
Question is, is this an allergy, or just my body sort of overreacting (immune system on overdrive)? There is also the possibility that I have allergies to something else too, since I was prone to rashes/hives even before the Mepron. But I did notice the increase in itchiness after starting it, so I'm pretty sure it, or Zithromax, is the cause.
What I am unsure of is how to proceed from here. Stop everything, then see if rash goes away? Switch to Malarone (which will do me little good if I'm allergic to the Atovaquone portion), or something else?
And a lesson learned: don't take an antihistamine when starting a new med, as you won't know for certain if you are allergic to it or not.
Posts: 584 | From NY | Registered: Feb 2009
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
I think you need to let your doctor know about this and see what he/she says. You don't want to take a chance with a possible allergic reaction.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Yeah, I see my doctor in three days anyway for my regular checkup, so will followup then. Just wanted to get some ideas of what may be going on, and how to proceed, before seeing him.
I'm still taking the Mepron, as I'd like him to see the rash. Otherwise, it'd just be some vague: I had a rash of some sort, not sure if it's an allergy or something else, type of appointment. If I feel it getting worse, throat closing up, etc. I'll of course immediately stop and chug down some benadryl. But for now it's just itchiness and mild blotchy rashes.
Posts: 584 | From NY | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
A tough question. Hubby had what we thought was an allergic reaction to Mepron 7 years ago. He was taking it every other day and on Day 10 he had a couple of hives. Within 24 hours his entire body was covered in hives and raised red welts where he scratched.
He gained 10 pounds of fluid weight overnight. His PCP said it looked like a textbook drug allergy. It took 2 weeks or more for the rash to go away. Actually it changed to where he just looked like he had an allover sunburn. The skin on his ears and fingertips peeled off -- even though he did take a diuretic for a week or so.
Fast forward to a couple of months ago. Hubby has pretty much tried every med out there for babs. So we decided to try malarone. Started out with 1 pill every other day and worked up to 4 pills per day. He was ok until we added in the quinine and clindamycin. He got some hives for a couple of days that only lasted a few hours.
We stopped the malarone and waited about a week to retry it. Hubby is back on 4 pills a day and so far has had no more hives.
So all I know to tell you is to talk to your doc and keep a very close eye on the rash and any other potential allergy symptoms.
This is not medical advice, just my opinion based on hubby's symptoms.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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You may want to take photos of the rash to show him in case it is gone or changes when you have your appointment. It always helps to place a coin or ruler near the rash before photographing to give it size definition.
I hope it is not an allergic reaction.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Thanks for the replies and good idea about the photos.
One thing I am unsure of is... is the mepron helping or not? My doc typically asks this each time I start a new med, looking for some reaction, good or bad. Thing is, I have felt a difference this month, but no idea if it's a side effect/allergy, or if it helped at all on the days I felt better.
How long does it take most people on Mepron to say: yeah, this is definitely working? According to my doc, by the second month they should feel some improvement going on. My breathing has been a little better on my good days, but on other days it's just as crummy as usual. I wonder if it's coincidence, babesia flare, or asthma (or something else) acting up on my bad days. Very confusing...
Posts: 584 | From NY | Registered: Feb 2009
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BackinStOlaf
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posted
I am starting it tomorrow. Saw doc today and he told me to watch out for any rashes. He said it is a typical allergy to Mepron.
-------------------- First Symptom 9/09 Multiple docs, negative Labcorp test LLMD: 1/10 Positive Igenex/CDC test Treatment 2/10 2/10-8/10 Amox, ceftin, zith, flagyl Currently: Bicillin, Minocycline, still dealing with severe breathing issues
Posts: 1121 | From New York, New York | Registered: Dec 2009
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Sammi
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posted
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Lemon-Lyme: [QB] After about a week or so, I started feeling rather sickly... felt hot sometimes, woke up all sweaty 2-3 nights, then I had a pattern of feeling decent for 3-4 days of the week, the other days crummy again.
To me these sound like Babesiosis symptoms, so it seems like the Mepron is working. In my experience, it can take some time to treat Babesiosis.
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