rash reaction to Flucloxacillin - only 3 left to take...

[WaxOnFeckOff]

I've been on Flucloxacillin since last Sunday for an infected bursitis in my elbow. Fever went and elbow swelling and redness mostly gone. Emergency GP prescribed over the phone and initially had a lot of nausea etc when taking it which has slowly died down as the week has gone on. She said I could stop after 5 if ok but there was still a bit of redness and liquid so I kept on. I have less than a day to go but have developed a very itchy hivey rash today, after my lunchtime dose. I'm due another shortly.

I feel fine but everything is itching and bumpy and hot.

Do I stop or what? i have no shortness of breath or other obvious allergic reaction symptoms so don't think I need medical attention.

You should definitely speak to a doctor before taking another.

Stop immediately- don’t take any more. Ring 111 or whatever the number is and explain- they may prescribe something else.

I'm wondering if it a post viral rash and nothing to do with the anti bs?

I definitely don't feel i need urgent attention. I just either stop them now or finish the course, but technically the course could have been 5 days so...?

Ringing 111 is an object in futility nowadays as you have to go through about 10 layers of "are you sure it's not covid?" then wait on a covid nurse to call you back. Then they ask if you have any underlying health conditions. A no then has them asking about every underlying condition you could possibly have...

You should stop taking it until you have spoken to your doctor. I'm allergic to penicillin and came out in a rash when I took it as a child. The doctor told me that the allergic reaction can worsen the more you take. Not sure if this is over time but you need to be careful.

Everything i've now read says that it's more that you would take a dangerous reaction straight away, not on day 7. I had the common side effects of nausea and generally upset digestion from the beginning and that has eased off over the week. I took a dose when I got up, one about 2 and now I think about it my back was itchy before that dose as I went for a shower around 1pm and it was a bit itchy then.

I'm feeling it's a post viral rash rather than the anti bs I think.

I developed my penicillin allergy whilst on a course of them, had it before and no problem. Absolutely speak to your gp before taking any more.

Ah ok so if it was me (I’m
not a dr!)I would just stop then and keep a close eye. If you can take piriton you could try that to reduce the itching now. Make sure you say next time you see a gp that you had a rash etc as they probably won’t want to prescribe that antibiotic again as the next reaction could be more severe.

You can develop a dangerous reaction at any point. Allergic reactions can worsen with continued exposure. Why would you have a post viral rash after a bacterial infection? You should probably talk to a real life HCP.

Yes, I know the problem i was treated for was bacterial but that doesn't preclude me from having also had something else.

I was allowed to stop after 5 days anyway so I i'll just stop. It's the first time i've had antibiotics since I was a child and i'm in my 50s so body is definitely not used to them I think.

Ring a pharmacist.