Has anyone ever heard of an external Herxheimer reaction? My sister-in-law just started zithromax and has broken out in a rash of pimples on her chest and back. Her LLMD said this was an external Herxheimer reaction, but we've never heard of such a thing. Any experience with this and, if so, how was it treated? Thanks.
Posted by NP40 (Member # 6711) on :
My wife has talked to a woman from Illinois who's son broke out in a total body rash from IV Rocephin. Came on very quickly from what I've heard.
Posted by riversinger (Member # 4851) on :
Don't know why they would call it an external herx, but people certainly get all kinds of rashes as herx reactions. Pimple like rashes are one of them. Maybe they are differentiating it from more neurological type herxes, which I guess they could call internal?
With the fast, all over body rash you always need to be aware it could be an allergic reaction, and be in contact with the doctor.
External herx... whtever, herx is a herx. I busted out in a body rash from Rocephin, and also from Zithromax as part of my herx. It was no an allergic reaction even though it looked like hives. It went away, and never came back. Rashes can be part of a herx.
Yup, I second that- whatever or however they term it, a herx is a herx.
I have gotten very very bad chest rashes from some antibiotics ( interestingly, it was the ones that ended up working VERY well for me). It would come back every 4 weeks as part as my overall herxheimer reaction.
Sometimes it burnt, itched, drove me crazy, I put calomine lotion on it and just sufferred with the rest of it.
Posted by DolphinLady (Member # 6275) on :
I've had rashes when herxing too that I know weren't allergic reactions - the rashes were lessened or completely gone the longer I stayed on the antibiotics.
I'm still on abx but fortunately no longer get the rashes and other herxing symptoms have subsided as well.
Drinking lots of water really helps.
Posted by lymelady (Member # 6207) on :
I think toxins will work their way out of your system one way or the other, through skin as well. Lymelady
Posted by Wink9 (Member # 4516) on :
I have had the pimpley rash SEVERAL times. It was also the rash I got when I first got Lyme. Certain meds seem to bring that herx out.
Posted by Barrie (Member # 1796) on :
Thanks everyone. My sister is going tomorrow to a dermatologist. Her rash started right after she started on Zithromax. It is pimply all over her back, chest and stomach. It isn't hives. She does see a LLMD who didn't think it was an allergic reaction. Thanks for your help.