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Allergic reaction to antibiotic

4 replies

MaggieMagpie1 · 02/10/2017 17:49

Hope someone might be able to help with this

I developed Cellulitis after an insect bite last week and was given Flucoxicillan in quite a high dose to treat it. I've had it before with no problem, but yesterday started to notice raised areas and redness on the backs of my arms. This morning I woke up to a very itchy/stinging rash on my arms, neck, and chest. It began to spread over my torso and down my legs. I took an antihistamine, but it didn't help.

Once I found out that my gp surgery was closed today due to a local holiday I rang 111 and was asked to go to the local hospital OOH service. I did that, and was told I'd had a severe allergic reaction to the flucoxicillan. Another antibiotic was prescribed along with Piriton and I was told to take them. I was to be back in contact if I began to be sick etc.

Have got home and had a cool bath, taken the new pills etc. if anything the rash is feeling/looking worse than it did before. Does anyone know how long Piriton should take to kick in, or if it's possible for it to make a rash worse?

It doesn't sound likely but it's really driving me up the wall and not sure what to do now

OP posts:
muminmanchester · 02/10/2017 17:52

I had this after coamoxiclav a few years ago. It did clear up quickly with the antihistamines, so I hope yours does too. I can still remember how itchy it was! Make sure your GP puts a note on your file, a drug rash can be a lot more serious second time around so I'm now considered unable to have penicillin

RosyPony · 02/10/2017 17:54

Why my son has an allergic reaction it can be 30-45 minutes (possibly up to an hour) for the Piriton to take effect. Feels like a life time, but I find a cold flannel on the affected areas helps, (he gets itchy eyes, itchy nose and hives on his face) about the only time my toddler willingly lets me use a flannel on him!

hannah1992 · 02/10/2017 17:54

It can take a good 24 hours for it to work.

I'm allergic to Lenor as I found out as a teen. I was doing hairdressing. Woke up one morning with a spot on the top of my boob thought nothing of it went to work came home took off my tunic to find the whole of my chest and stomach bright red. Mum said leave till morning and go doctors. In the morning I was itching all over and I looked like a lobster from head to toe. Couldn't get in doctors so went to pharmacist and they said piriton and give it 24 hours to work if it hadent started to fade within 48 hours go back and see doctor. It worked writhing 4 days I was back to normal. But I'll never forget it I felt like I was on fire!

So yeah it will work but it can look worse before better with a serious allergy.

Hope you feel better soon. Try a bath with baking powder in for the itching

MaggieMagpie1 · 02/10/2017 18:12

Thank you, it's been a couple of hours since I took it and I have had a bath, I'll give it longer though! Ugh!

It is now on my file that I can't have flucoxicillan. I'll never forget that I can't have it, that's for sure!

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