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Posted 7/2/2007 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
Can anyone who has had an allergic reaction to an IV antibiotic share his/her experience? What was the antibiotic, what were the reactions, how long did it take for them to come on, and how long did they last?



I started on 2g IV Ceftriaxone and was 2 months into my treatment when I got a bad viral infection with high-grade fever. I stopped treatment for 5 days, and when I resumed, I started to feel this tingling in my arms and my nose started running (runny nose lasted all night long and into the next morning). I tried again the next day, and more tingling and itching all over my body, again the next day as well. When I stopped treatment and tried again a month later, same reaction even with Claritin or 50mg of Benedryl, so I had to discontinue. Also noticed head pressure and slight light-headedness last time I tried a ¼ of the dosage (I never got a rash and never had problems breathing).

My ND wanted me to start treatment again with a different protocol with other antibiotics, and much lower dose of Ceftriaxone. I started my IV tonight after taking a Claritin, and I let it drip over 30 minutes rather than 15. It’s now an hour later and I don’t have the major itching or tingling (a little though), but I have this bad pressure in my head and feel light-headed. I just wanted to hear from others’ experiences to see if this is considered a major reaction and if I should never do Ceftriaxone again. Is this damaging my brain? Thanks.
Posted 7/3/2007 9:33 AM (GMT 0)
My brother was prescribed antibiotics once. I don’t know the name of the pill but I remember that it was red and yellow in color. You know half red and half yellow. He took one in the evening before or after meal, I don’t remember and midnight his whole body was itching and he had developed red rashes on his skin. We transported him to the hospital where he was given a vaccine and hospitalized. The doc told us that he was allergic to antibiotics and after that incidence whenever he is prescribed medicines he tells the doc beforehand that he is allergic to antibiotics.
Posted 7/6/2007 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
Kman

You should put Ceftriaxone on your list of drugs your allergic to. So far you have had some systemic reaction to the med and you would not want to tempt fates and have a major reaction as a anaphylactic reaction. This is my personal opinion.

I have had one anaphylatic reaction from an oral antibiotic and the reaction was instant, and the scariest thing I have ever had happen to me.

I was rushed to ER and the Doctor never asked my name but took one look at me and ordered Epi and Benadryl stat. My face was swollen and my lips were blue. Not a very pretty pictures.

Hope this helps you.
Posted 7/12/2007 8:06 AM (GMT 0)
The reaction that I had previously did not affect my breathing, and I did not have rashes. My nose just started to run and burn and some itching throughout my body. I did start a much lower dose last week, and I take a Claritin before each treatment. I seem to be handling it better with the lower dosage. I'm a week into it now and just get some slight itching and slight burning in my nostrils.
Posted 7/14/2007 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
Reaction to Levaquin

I have watched a close friend of mine live (use that term loosely) through a devastating allergic reaction to the antibiotic levaquin.  She took only 2 1/2 days worth of the drug, but almost immediately became ill - nausea, etc.  She was exposed to the sun for a little bit one morning, and apparently that triggered the photosensitive reaction. 

For the last 2+ months, she has experienced burning, tingling, numbness and pain in her whole body, sleeplessness, and extreme discomfort from this drug. It started out as numbness - kind of like when your hand goes to 'sleep' - the waking up part is numb? That began immediately after exposure to sun (intensified the effect, apparently), and ultimately it spread up and down her body and is now covering all parts.  This numbness turned into burning, as well as adding joint and muscle pain and weakness.  After extensive medical testing, to rule out other causes, the multiple doctors have conceded that it was an allergic reaction to the drug - just as she suspected from the beginning! 

She has gone from a healthy, athletic/active woman, to someone who is too weak and in too much pain to have any life at all.  It is so sad, and so far no treatments have helped.  She has tried many traditional medicine treatments and pain meds, as well as untraditional/eastern medicine allergy treatments, etc.  Unfortunately, even though the drug has been out of her system for so long, the allergic reaction has caused long-term problems - and as of now, no doctor has any idea of how long these effects will be around! Some other people she has found, through websites, etc, have suffered for years with these same allergic reactions to this drug! 

The really sad thing is that there is no treatment that she has come across to minimize the discomfort, and she cannot be in the sun or heat at all, as that intenstifies the pain.  Meanwhile, living in the south we have lots of heat and sun - she can't go outside, and her life is slowly dwindling to her dark room.  Her kids and family have suffered greatly as well, as she can't really function in any real way as a result of this. 

Does anyone here know of anyone like this? Any suggestions on what she can/might try? She is undergoing NAET therapy, but so far that has not helped at all.  Sorry for the long-winded venting  -  this is so frustrating as a friend to watch, and scary to think that any of us could have a reaction to a drug that is supposed to be helping us get well, and have it totally change/ruin your life!! (I hope it is temporary, but who knows at this point??)

Thanks for any advice anyone has. . . .

Posted 7/15/2007 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately in the hospital back in 99 I was given a mix of 5 drugs all at 1 time. Due to meds from my crohn's disease I have symptoms masked or totally different symptoms than the actual problem. The symptoms I had were menengitis symptoms however my actual problem diagnosed the next day was that my gall bladder was ready to burst. Since then all but 2 of the meds have been ruled out for allergic reaction. The 2 I am unsure of are Ceftriaxone and Compazine.
Posted 7/26/2007 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
Severe reaction to quinolones (same family as Levaquin), but in eye drop form. All it took was one drop. The drop didn't burn, but I immediately had a reaction and was rushed to the ER by my frightened husband. Took me right in, gave me a shot and benadryl. First reaction I have ever had in my life. Now it's all over my medical records. Scared the bejeezus out of both of us.
Posted 6/22/2012 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
emmagrayson said...
Reaction to Levaquin

I have watched a close friend of mine live (use that term loosely) through a devastating allergic reaction to the antibiotic levaquin. She took only 2 1/2 days worth of the drug, but almost immediately became ill - nausea, etc. She was exposed to the sun for a little bit one morning, and apparently that triggered the photosensitive reaction.



For the last 2+ months, she has experienced burning, tingling, numbness and pain in her whole body, sleeplessness, and extreme discomfort from this drug. It started out as numbness - kind of like when your hand goes to 'sleep' - the waking up part is numb? That began immediately after exposure to sun (intensified the effect, apparently), and ultimately it spread up and down her body and is now covering all parts. This numbness turned into burning, as well as adding joint and muscle pain and weakness. After extensive medical testing, to rule out other causes, the multiple doctors have conceded that it was an allergic reaction to the drug - just as she suspected from the beginning!



She has gone from a healthy, athletic/active woman, to someone who is too weak and in too much pain to have any life at all. It is so sad, and so far no treatments have helped. She has tried many traditional medicine treatments and pain meds, as well as untraditional/eastern medicine allergy treatments, etc. Unfortunately, even though the drug has been out of her system for so long, the allergic reaction has caused long-term problems - and as of now, no doctor has any idea of how long these effects will be around! Some other people she has found, through websites, etc, have suffered for years with these same allergic reactions to this drug!



The really sad thing is that there is no treatment that she has come across to minimize the discomfort, and she cannot be in the sun or heat at all, as that intenstifies the pain. Meanwhile, living in the south we have lots of heat and sun - she can't go outside, and her life is slowly dwindling to her dark room. Her kids and family have suffered greatly as well, as she can't really function in any real way as a result of this.



Does anyone here know of anyone like this? Any suggestions on what she can/might try? She is undergoing NAET therapy, but so far that has not helped at all. Sorry for the long-winded venting - this is so frustrating as a friend to watch, and scary to think that any of us could have a reaction to a drug that is supposed to be helping us get well, and have it totally change/ruin your life!! (I hope it is temporary, but who knows at this point??)



Thanks for any advice anyone has. . . .I








I think you are describing me, but no on has ever linked it to the massive amounts of levaquin I took for sinus infections. It's been called everything else. Did her symptoms appear while taking it or after? How is she now? I am horrible, feeling almost near death at times. Please let me know.

Post Edited By Moderator (Red_34) : 6/23/2012 6:43:59 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/24/2012 8:37 AM (GMT 0)
I was on IV antibiotics Cloxacillin and Clindamycin for a total of 8 days and continued with oral Clindamycin.  2 weeks later, rashes on both hands and swollen right arm.  The ER doc told me to stop the Clindamycin and the swell & rashes fade away after few days.

Soon after, i developed "Raynaud's" and Livedo Reticularis (?sp).

Seen a dermie, rheumy, orthopaedic, vascular surgeon, tested for Lupus,  Cryoglobulinemia, nothin positive.  so now, im still not sure which antibiotic im allergic to, whether the allergy caused so many other problems or should i get a lawyer to open a file for me.

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