I had to take antibiotics for a bladder/kidney infection and I broke out in hives on my head at first. I tried to finish the RX and ignore the hives but then I started having severe chest pain and quit. It's been 4 weeks now and I have very itchy hives all over my body. I've tried Melaleuca oil and lotion, benedryl, claritin, acupuncture, and acidopholus. I also got allergy tested with all my vitamins/medications I'm taking and the antibiotic is the only thing I tested allergic to. I'm allergic to a lot of medications so when the urgent care doc prescribed this I doubled checked with him to make sure it wasn't related to anything on my allergy list. He was rushed...ugh. Anyway, I reacted like this with amoxicillin but that only lasted a week. Nothing helps. Do you have any suggestions? It seems like I need to detoxify from the inside out. I haven't tried a detox bath but I've read about it. The rash *looks* ok but it itches like crazy! UGH it's maddening! *ADDED* The antibiotic was one of those time released ones where you take it for 5 days and it works for 10. I've taken those before and wondered what an allergic reaction would be like if I had one. LOL Now I know!!!
I was thinking prednisone as well. It's the only thing I've seen work with a severe allergic reaction.
I would say you need to call the doc and ask for some steroids. They are what is prescribed for a severe allergic reaction. This would take care of the issue pretty quickly.
I think you did the right thing by quitting - at the first sign of an allergic reaction, STOP! Four weeks of itchy hives is not right. You've got something else going on. You should probably find out the base for the antibiotic - you may be eating something else with that compound in it. I'm not sure why you think Melaleuca oil will help - you need something from the inside, not something topical. Same reason the baths aren't working.
I can help you with detox from a NUTRITIONAL approach - I've gotten rid of all my allergies (seasonal, dust, animal and metals). But I've done that with a patented (therefore safe & effective) mix of soluble and insoluble fiber, to cleanse the colon, the circulatory and the lymphatic system. It's not an overnight fix, but it's long term.
I also think you should carry something in your wallet that indicates your severe reaction to this last antibiotic as well as anything else you've reacted to. Also indicate what you are taking on a regular basis. It will make it easier to treat you in the future, should the problem arise.
I don't know if my answer will help, but something that came to my mind was what happens to me when I take antibiotics, is that I get these red, ringworm looking things on my skin, and I found that it was a fungal infection and taking the right type of acidoph helps. they aren't all effective. There is a brand called bio-K plus in the fridge section at the health food store (sprouts, whole foods, etc) and you can also put it on topically. But I'm not sure if this applies to you. Large amounts of vitamin C can also help pull things through and help with skin issues. But it may be something more serious. If you are interested, you can write and I can suggest some good natural docs who could probably pinpoint what is going on.
Let me see if I have this right? You have been off of the antibiotics for 4 weeks? If so, then as soon as they went out of your system the reaction would go away, so therefore it CANT be a reaction to them....
I had a reaction to a antibotic and was working at a school the school nurse told me to go to the ER right away and be seen...they gave me two shots one was a steroid shot and the other I really dont remember, I felt immediate relief!
Hi Jaimee,
I'm sorry to hear that you're so miserable. It sucks having hives. One thing that could work is taking a baking soda bath or making a baking soda paste and put that on your hives. The baking soda will take away the itch and the rash at the same time. I've tried it on myself and my kids and it works every time. I hope that you're feeling better soon!:o)
I. K.
Antibiotics are metabolized from the system quickly. For example, the half life for amoxicillan is about 61 minutes. If you are still suffering from itchy hives 4 weeks after something else is going on. Have you called your doctor or the prescribing doctor? If not, you need to! In the future, discontinue taking any drug that you have an allergic reaction to as soon as it happens and contact your doctor. Anaphylaxis is not something you want to mess around with, and occurs after your body's initial allergic reaction.
