NOT allergic to penicillin meds after all!!

LilacTree · ‎03-25-2012

After years of thinking I am allergic to penicillin, it turns out I am not. I have a very severe UTI and my PCP was going to send me to a urologist. She said only the penicillin meds and one other called "Monurol" (that I've never heard of) would treat it. However, the Monurol is very expensive and not covered by my Part D insurance.

When I asked what kind of bacteria this is, she said it is not that rare, but that individuals with autoimmune diseases do not

respond well to the regular Bactrim, Flagyl, etc. meds.

Allergy to penicillin is on my chart and I have thought I was allergic to it for about 35 years. So I discussed the circumstances with my PCP as to why I was told not take it any longer. I never have. But I cannot afford the Monurol, so I asked my doc if we could try the penicillin before my having to go to a urologist. We decided to take a chance that amoxicillin would be a safer trial.

I cut the huge pink amoxicillin pill in quarters and took one quarter every 15 minutes until I had taken the entire dose. Nothing happened, no anaphylaxis, no rash, no allergic symptoms. I halved the next pill and again, nothing. So I am not allergic to it. I'm still halving the pill because it is so large, but my UTI is easing and I feel relieved that I am not allergic to it.

Doc doesn't know yet. I have several more days on it and I have read the lesser allergic reactions can happen sometimes weeks later, but they are usually not deadly (like anaphylaxis would be).

So I took a chance, and it seems to be working out. It will be a relief if I can take a tried and true med like penicillin (or amoxicillin) again that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and is covered by insurance.

By the way, the articles I read all said that a lot of people think they are allergic to penicillin when they are not. So in a situation like mine, testing can be done to be sure.

Formerly Ford1224
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Elie Wiesel 1986

lovemyparrot · ‎08-13-2011

Hi, I was told "a million years ago", when I was a teenager, I think, that I am allergic to penicillin. I have always announced this allergy to doctors, etc. BUT, no-one has ever needed to prescribe it to me and I have NO IDEA if I am really still allergic.

I would guess, just like you LilacTree, that I am not allergic now at all, if I ever was !!

Thanks for posting.

hoosieroriginal · ‎03-04-2012

Careful - the hives and rash usually don't appear for 5 days - that's when mine did - hives and rash all over my body - just last week. Everything was going fine - had a small itch on my wrist, then my ears, bottoms of my feet, palms of my hands, hives everywhere and rash around my mid-section.

Lilysmom · ‎03-09-2010

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
Careful - the hives and rash usually don't appear for 5 days - that's when mine did - hives and rash all over my body - just last week. Everything was going fine - had a small itch on my wrist, then my ears, bottoms of my feet, palms of my hands, hives everywhere and rash around my mid-section.

@hoosieroriginal, exactly what I was going to say. For me, the penicillin has to build up in my body before I have the reaction.

@LilacTree, I am hoping you are right. It would be a real treat not to have to worry about it anymore! Good luck to you! LM

Zhills · ‎11-15-2011

As much as I hate to say this, my rash did not appear until I finished a 10 day treatment of Augmenten.

"That's not going to happen to you, Lilac. It will work! OK?"

Sometimes it is the extra ingredient added to penicillin to make it Augmenten. I, too, have taken Amoxicillin after that, but then our bodies and allergies can change.

Hope it all works and you are all better real soon!

LilacTree · ‎03-25-2012

@Lilysmom wrote:
@hoosieroriginal wrote:
Careful - the hives and rash usually don't appear for 5 days - that's when mine did - hives and rash all over my body - just last week. Everything was going fine - had a small itch on my wrist, then my ears, bottoms of my feet, palms of my hands, hives everywhere and rash around my mid-section.

@hoosieroriginal, exactly what I was going to say. For me, the penicillin has to build up in my body before I have the reaction.

@LilacTree, I am hoping you are right. It would be a real treat not to have to worry about it anymore! Good luck to you! LM

@Lilysmom

I did read that. I was mostly worried about anaphylaxis, which can take only minutes to cut breathing and kill someone. I am happy that didn't happen.

I will be careful not to jump the gun, but right now it's helping me, so I have my fingers crossed that this will be successful.

The articles I read said it can happen both ways. One can take a med for years and suddenly develop an allergy to it . . . and one can also lose the allergy to a med over time.

In my situation I don't think I ever had the allergy. I think my sister's husband (a veterinarian) just gave me a very old pill. Also, acute (or chronic) sinus infections can cause rashes. It's going to be hard for me to know for sure because I have chronic itching and rashes all the time because of my autoimmune diseases. Perhaps I should do the testing even if this winds up curing my UTI with no allergic reaction.

My youngest daughter just had her procedure yesterday and is not feeling that much pain today, although she is taking a nap right now. I will ask her later if she's ever had a rash from her chronic sinus infections.

So I guess we can never be sure one way or the other!!

Formerly Ford1224
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Elie Wiesel 1986

kelsey17 · ‎04-10-2012

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
Careful - the hives and rash usually don't appear for 5 days - that's when mine did - hives and rash all over my body - just last week. Everything was going fine - had a small itch on my wrist, then my ears, bottoms of my feet, palms of my hands, hives everywhere and rash around my mid-section.

I am allergic to a couple antibiotics.....and some i had taken for like the 2nd or third time.......it doesn't necessarily happen the first time you use the antibiotic......

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

My dad is allergic to it. He was given penicillin when he was younger & stopped breathing. The medic knew exactly what was going on. My dad said he was floating above his body & could see them down below working on him. He could not move. The doctors were saying he's gone & my dad was like no I'm right here. They told him to blink his eye move his hand do something to let them know if he was still there. One of his eyes finally blinked & they got him back.

goldensrbest · ‎03-10-2010

Ever since i was a little girl, i have it on my records also they said i had a bad reaction to it ,i have wondered if i really am.

When you lose some one you L~O~V~E, that Memory of them, becomes a TREASURE.

LilacTree · ‎03-25-2012

@goldensrbest wrote:
Ever since i was a little girl, i have it on my records also they said i had a bad reaction to it ,i have wondered if i really am.

@goldensrbest

Sounds as though you should get tested, goldens. I may myself if I wind up getting symptoms within a couple of weeks.

Formerly Ford1224
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Elie Wiesel 1986