red dye allergy generic pain medicine

Welcome, red.

There shouldn't be enough dye to trigger a reaction, but other excipients could.

Do you have a problem with corn or potato starch? There may be a disintegrant in the pill too, depending on manufacturer. You need to google the med and the manufacturer, maybe even call them. The starches are made using sulfites, so that's a possibility, but only if you have a bad allergy to it, not just a mild sensitivity.

There could be sucrose, table sugar. And with generics, who knows what's in there and not 100% on the label.

Propylene glycol is another possible thing. It's used in makeup too. Do you have any reactions to makeup?

I would talk with the pharmacist. Also write down the manufacturer and never take that brand again and be leery of anything else they produce.

I would think your doctor should be able to write a different Rx. Definitely call and ask! Insurance might put up a fight, but they can be called by your doctor. You might have to return the leftover pills, probably to the pharmacist. Make sure your pharmacist puts a note in your file about this reaction.

Best wishes and keep in touch!

It is possible too, that you could have developed an allergy to the Norco itself, since allergies can develop at any time, but I think a true allergy to narcotics is somewhat rare. Intense itching is a common side effect of narcotics (it happens to me with hydrocodone and morphine), but that isn't a true allergy. But since you also have hives, though, it does sound like an allergic reaction - to something.

I agree about talking to your pharmacist. I would probably call your doctor too just in case you need to change medications all together. If it is an allergy to the hydrocodone itself, there are other meds you can try. And I'm not sure if the pharmacist can refill or change the preparation without the doctor's consent. State laws are so touchy about narcotic prescriptions.