posted
I had posted under another topic that after two days of half doses of rocephin I developed a rash on my face and a few hives. That was Friday into Saturday morning. The llmd told me we needed to not introduce anything else for at least a week and the rash is resolved. He also asked me to come in and discuss options.
Well I went to see him today which was good because the rash is still all over my face and he was able to see what happened. He asked me if I had any breathing difficulty that Friday night and I do recall my throat feeling uncomfortable but I thought at the time it was due to the high pollen.
Anyway his suggestion is that next Monday we start the rocephin again at an even lower dose. I am not sure I am comfortable with that although I really need treatment and I had tolerated rocephin in the past. I am allergic to all penicillins and have been since childhood
Has anyone ever had this situation with an allergic reaction to rocephin but have gone ahead with treatment anyway?
Posts: 97 | From New York | Registered: Dec 2011
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Pocono Lyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5939
posted
I'm wondering what your rash looks like. I didn't have this with Rocephin but did/am with Mino/Doryx.
Pretty strange. I had taken Mino in the past for over a year with no rash. About a year and a half ago, tried Mino again and got a strange rash. I stopped it.
A few months later went on IV Doxy with no rash. hmm same class of drug.
Recently started Doryx and within two days the rash is there. Itchy and looks like a cross between acne and chicken pox. Since then, some are fading, new ones emerging etc..
LLMD concurred it's not an allergic reaction so I'm trying to ride it out.
-------------------- 2 Corinthians 12:9-11
9 But he said to me, �My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.� Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ�s power may rest on me. Posts: 1445 | From Poconos, PA | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
Funny you should say that. It is a strange rash, only on my face. Looks like a cross between pimples and measles. Itchy sometimes, stinging sometimes. I did get one or two hives the evening before on my neck but that was it. Just woke up in the morning with this rash all over my face. Also, the outside of my nostrils were bright red and almost burnt looking.
Posts: 97 | From New York | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
Pocono Lyme, your rash really does sound similar to mine. Unfortunately I cant take anything now until this clears up and I think the rocephin really aggravated the spirochetes because I have symptoms galore today!! Its like every symptom I ever had is in full force. Its horrible.
Posts: 97 | From New York | Registered: Dec 2011
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Pocono Lyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5939
posted
lyme1987, does sound similar. My first rash was pretty heavy on my face and then my back. Also the second time.
This time a little on my face but already cleared. I did use cortisone cream on it when it started. The rest of it is sporadic on my legs and back. I did have some on my abdomen but they went away. And yes symptoms galore. Feeling really sick.
-------------------- 2 Corinthians 12:9-11
9 But he said to me, �My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.� Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ�s power may rest on me. Posts: 1445 | From Poconos, PA | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
Pocono Lyme, I just went to the allergist that did the rocephin testing for me and had given me the all clear before I started the IV. He looked at it and also remarked that it looked like measles somewhat. He said it was not a true allergic reaction but a reaction to the drug.
Is there a difference do you know? Still, I did get a couple of hives also
Posts: 97 | From New York | Registered: Dec 2011
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
For your doctor to want to give this same med to you again tells me that he has determined that you are NOT allergic to rocephin.
If he believed you were allergic or any chance you were allergic, he would never try you on that med again. It would be his license if you had a bad reaction.
So, he saw the rash and he has likely determined that this is a detox issue, side effect, or something similar and not life threatening, so he is starting you back on the med again.
If you don't trust the doctor's judgement, then maybe you need to call and ask some more questions until you feel comfortable about trying this med again.
Did he tell you what to do for the rash? If not, I would ask about that when I called also.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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desertwind
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25256
posted
Perhaps allergic/sensitive to something in the suspension?
Years ago I had a reaction to my first dose of Rocephin. Lungs closed up.
However, I was recently tested for Rocephin allergy and it came up negative...So it could have been something in the suspension.
Sometimes it is so hard to tell.....
Posts: 1671 | From Tick Infested New Jersey | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
TF, I am concerned about taking it again because there were hives on my neck, although only two. However, the llmd wants to start out with an even lower dose and have me take zyrtec or something similar beforehand.
I did have the strange sensation in my throat when the hives were coming out too. I thought it was from pollen but I never really had those kinds of allergies. It's so hard to know what to do but you must be right that the llmd would not take a chance unless he thought it would b ok.
Posts: 97 | From New York | Registered: Dec 2011
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
If you are uncomfortable trying Rocephin again, talk with your doctor.
Does he want you to come into the office to try the Rocephin at the lower dose? Will he and his staff monitor you during the infusion and after to make sure that you don't have an anaphylactic reaction?
Can your doctor prescribe an EpiPen for you to have at home incase you have airway swelling and difficulty breathing with another dose of antibiotics? They will need to teach you how and when to use it also.
There are other IV cephalosporin alternatives that can be used instead of Rocephin if you are truly uncomfortable trying it again.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
What are the other alternatives? And yes, he wants me to come into the office for the lower dose. For any and all IV doses actually because my insurance wont pay for me to do it myself. Which is ridiculous because it would be somewhat less expensive.
The epi pen sounds like a good idea as it would give me some level of comfort.
TF had offered that there were other alternatives. I did ask the llmd about IV Zithromax but he said in that case he would rather do the oral Zithromax. Why I don't know.
All I do know is that I am experiencing more symptoms since I started and stopped just the 2 days of rocephin. Headaches, joint pain, parathesias, neck pain, blurry vision, ear pain, head and ear pressure, ringing ears, etc. Etc.
Posts: 97 | From New York | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
People allergic to penicillins frequently have cross-sensitivities to cephalosporins--including Rocephin!
I'm concerned that your doctor has not discussed this with you, and is trying Rocephin again despite signs of an allergic reaction. If you're going to go through with Rocephin treatment, make sure you have benadryl and an epi-pen on hand!!
Posts: 962 | From Charleston | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
I really am VERY concerned about trying the rocephin again. It seems pretty clear to me that I have developed an allergy to it. There must be another way. Although I mentioned the alternatives given to me on this site to my llmd he still thought we should try an even lower dose of rocephin. I am very conflicted over this. Of course I want to treat the Lyme, but at what price?
Posts: 97 | From New York | Registered: Dec 2011
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