So, I'm kind of in a confusing spot at the moment.
Got a bite....might not even have been a tick. Saw LLMD.
He started me on Doryx (doxy) as a precaution. After about a week or two of it, I started noticing that my upper chest was itchy in the mornings. No rashes.
I called to ask about it, and he recommended that I stop taking it for 5 days. Today is that 5th day.
Meanwhile, I had to start Fluconazole for Candida 3 days ago. I've taken that before and never had a problem.
This afternoon, hours after my third dose, I suddenly got intense itching on one small little area of my neck. No rash or mark.
It passed in about 20 minutes.
So....now I am wondering....could this itching be drug side effects? Die off reactions?
How do you know whether it's a harmless/annoying side effect versus a developing allergy?
I should note that I have no known drug allergies. I know that allergies can develop over time.
However, wouldn't it be a big coincidence for me to develop an allergy to Doryx and then to Fluconazole less than a week later???
That seems like a stretch.
I did some digging and it seems that itching CAN be a yeast die off symptom.
I've gotten the same intense itching once or twice before when treating yeast years ago....but on my foot.
That never worried me because it wasn't anywhere near my throat.
The fact that it's my neck scares me into thinking about serious, throat-closing reactions.
Am I worrying for nothing? I hope so.
Any ideas?
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
It is hard to tell when a new allergy is developing. One of my kids has a drug allergy... ped dismissed it as an upset stomach.
I developed drug allergies... LLMD didn't recognize it at first either.
I would think about seeing either an allergist or if there is a rash to speak of a dermatologist.
When I showed the derm the rash that developed from Bactrim, he immediately said, "Oh yes, that's definitely a Bactrim rash."
So the answer is that in a less-obvious case, you may not be able to tell but hopefully one of these specialists can.
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
I'm just so frustrated because I want to get this round of treatment over and behind me.
It should be straight forward. Take the meds, get blood work done at next appointment, treat anything that might come up.
Because time is of the essence, I don't want to have to keep stopping and starting the drugs. I want to continue and just knock out anything that might be there.
And if it wasn't a tick bite, I'd have the peace of mind knowing that I was treated appropriately.
I'm worried that if I have to wait to get in to an allergist, etc., too much time will pass and I could become chronic (again).
The good thing is that I started treatment a mere week after seeing the bite. I wasted no time.
So I know that even it was a tick bite, it could be completely wiped out.
I don't want to risk too much time passing without treatment.
I guess I could always switch from Doryx to Ceftin. And maybe to OLE for candida???
I just prefer to finish what the doctor started.
Even when it should be cut and dry, it's complicated.
My main concern is....IF it is a developing allergy, does that mean it will progress to a serious reaction if I don't stop taking it?
I keep thinking....what are the odds that the Doryx would become an allergy......and then the Fluconazole as well in less than a week's time???
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
Well... Doryx can make candida worse .. and fluconazole can cause die-off. Same problem two times over??
Hope you can figure it out. I think you will get enough warning if it's a life-threatening allergy. Let's hope so, anyway!
I'm in the same pickle .. almost. I just had to stop doryx because it was killing my stomach. It made me itch too.
So today I began Bactrim and within an hour I'm itching. I pray I can take this for at least a week since I just had surgery and this is my last oral antibiotic I can take for this bacteria.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Lymetoo, Doryx made you itch.....but never became a serious symptom?
That makes me hopeful.
Ugh....I really hope you can stick with the bactrim as long as you need it. Then you can be done.
Wishing you a fill recovery from surgery!
I found a comment from someone else who said Doryx made then itch....but never badly enough to have to stop.
So now I'm concerned about having stopped...and restarting. Hoping I don't get a bad reaction.
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
I have candida also .. so I know that could be the reason for my itching. I only made it 3 days on the doryx. .. so hard to say if I could have made it any longer.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Lymetoo, did you stop the Doryx because if the stomach issue....or the itching?
Yeah, I keep reading that candida can cause itchy skin. And candida die off can cause itchy skin. Hoping that is all this is.
Sounds like a similar issue for you, huh?
The antibiotics might be intensifying your candida symptoms and triggering itching.
Hope you find relief!!!
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Lymetoo, take Benadryl for that itching. Then, you may be able to complete the course of meds.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Oh, wow. A friend of mine was just diagnosed with Sjogren's. She was sick for quite a while before the docs figured it out.
I feel the same way about Benadryl. If I take more than 1 or 2 doses, I feel like I'm in a coma.
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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I did notice that soon after taking my doses, I was coughing a bit and got a runny nose.
Maybe just a coincidence.
I'm trying to distract myself so that I'm not sitting around waiting for something bad to happen.
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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