Allergic reaction to Penicillin?

[technogeeky]

Hey folks,


I had my wisdom teeth removed last Thursday and for the past few days I've been experiencing a lot of posion-ivy or bug-bite type rashes. I have pictures if you want to see them, but they are all over my body - my arms, legs, thighs, side, etc...


I am going to see a doctor today at 3:00, but I was wondering if you have had experince with this in the past. I have taken drugs like Amoxicillin with much success, but never penicillin by itself (as far as i know).


The symptoms were gradual, and I now have more symptoms of an allergic reaction such as fever, constant headache, nasuea, etc (only a slight amount of all of this).


Let me know waht you think.


The reason I think it's NOT posion ivy or the like is because the older patches aren't getting any better - they are still as inflamed as the new ones.

 

[Jzero]

I had a similar reaction to penicillin once after a surgery.

Funny thing is I called my doctor and he said "There's no way to be sure it's the penicillin unless you keep taking it and finish the prescription."

WTF?

I didn't take my pill that night and the next morning the rash was gone.

And you're going to tell me it WASNT from the penicillin?
Sheesh.

 

[technogeeky]

Would it be helpful if I posted a pic of the rash (say, on my arm) since I have them...

I guess i'll do that.

 

[MajesticMoose]

Talk to your doctor, He'll know better than anyone here

 

[ElFenix]

my sister is allergic to it. and i'm allergic to sulfa, the other miracle drug.

 

[Codewiz]

Lots of people are allergix to penicillin. That could very well be the cause. My great grandfather died when he was given a shot of penicillin and was allergic.

 

[Woodie]

An all-over rash ("hives"), as you describe, is a common symptom of anaphylactoid reactions. If that's the only symptom, then it's considered a mild reaction, and doesn't require treatment, per se. However, you would want to use extreme caution the next time you take any medication in the penicillin family, as this treatment may have sensitized you to it, and the next one may trigger a much stronger reaction.

You can usually treat the symptoms (rash, itchiness) with benadryl, or another anti-histamine.

Fever, headache and nausea are not usually indicative of an allergic reaction, but they could certainly be a side-effect of any of the medications that you are taking.

In any case, ask your doctor about it, he's the only one who can really diagnose it, since he can see you (and the rash).

 

[tcsenter]

I had my wisdom teeth removed last Thursday and for the past few days I've been experiencing a lot of posion-ivy or bug-bite type rashes

Well I used to get poison ivy as a kid all the time and even a few times in my teens. When you say a rash like poison ivy, I am picturing a 'blistery' type rash that weeps fluid, drains, or becomes scabby. That isn't consistent with the hives or 'welts' that you get from a systemic allergic reaction, unless you scratched the skin off of them.

I also was allergic to a bunch of things and would get hives/welts all over my body from scented laundry detergents among other things so I know my wheals, hives, and welts.

 

[technogeeky]

Here is my arm. Hi, whitey!


Yeah. It sucks. It itches like crazy!

I really don't want any permenant skin damage, either.

 

[Viper GTS]

Penicillin gives me hives too, but don't worry about skin damage - It'll go away.

Definitely see your doctor, he may give you a different antibiotic.

Viper GTS

 

[tcsenter]

Here is my arm. Hi, whitey!

Yeah. It sucks. It itches like crazy

Yeah, that doesn't look like allergy 'rash', it has a vesicular look to it, but then it is not easy to tell from a picture and lest we forget I'm not a physician. It certainly looks like something that you should have your doctor look at...and soon.

 

[CKDragon]

In 6th grade I was found to be allergic to penicillin, also. I was too young to care to learn anything about it that would be useful to you, sorry. Hope it gets better.

CK

 

[technogeeky]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

Here is my arm. Hi, whitey!

Yeah. It sucks. It itches like crazy

Yeah, that doesn't look like allergy 'rash', it has a vesicular look to it, but then it is not easy to tell from a picture and lest we forget I'm not a physician. It certainly looks like something that you should have your doctor look at...and soon.

3:00.


Thank all of you for the advice. That's one thing I love about people here! You can always count on the ATers to help out.

 

[rickn]

I was allergic to penicillin, ampicillin as a child. Dunno if that is the case anymore in adulthood. I've never had to take either as an adult

 

[tcsenter]

Yeah, that doesn't look like allergy 'rash', it has a vesicular look to it, but then it is not easy to tell from a picture and lest we forget I'm not a physician. It certainly looks like something that you should have your doctor look at...and soon.

Well I should clarify a bit, by 'allergy rash' I meant it doesn't look like a typical skin rash that is a manifestation of an allergic reaction to something you've ingested internally.

It does, however, look very much like allergic contact dermatitis, or an allergic reaction to something you've directly contacted with your skin. My skin breaks out just like that when I come into contact with low-quality alloys that contain nickel.

 

[mpitts]

I found out I was allergic to penicillin after the doctor prescribed amoxicillin to me and I broke out in the same hive-type rash you described. It was all over my body and face. I stopped taking it and it went away.

 

[technogeeky]

Well, I got back from the doc.

She said that:

1. She does not believe it's an allergic reaction to penicilin. In fact, she reccomends that I continue taking that medication until I run out, then to switch to a new antibiotic she prescribed.

2. Another medication I was taking to help me recover from my wisdom tooth surgery, she said, causes infection and rashes to worsen and the skin to become much more reactive to things like posion ivy, which she believes I have.

3. She told me to take some skin medication, some benadryl-type stuff, and use some creme in order to get rid of the rash. She said that the doctor that gave me the medication combo is known to cause problems.


Overall, I'll live.


Thanks for the help!

 

[CPA]

I'm allergic to penicillin and all of its derivatives. Just get a rash, though, not much else.

 

[MrMilney]

When I was about 12 or 13 I was given Augmiten (sp?) which is a derivative of penicillin. I broke out in hives and started having trouble breathing. My mom called the hospital to see what she should do and the ER nurse said "bring him in!" My mom asked if it could wait until the morning since we lived about 45 minutes away and it was late at night. The nurse said "get him in here now!"

Ever since then no Doctor wants to give me penicillin or any derivative of it.

 

[dakata24]

my bro just went thru that too.. rash all over.. it was a week after taking it that he started to get a rash.. went to the doctor and just said to stop taking the penicillin and prescribed some antihistimine something to reduce the itching..