Suddenly allergic to asprin??? - Allergies Message Board

PavilM · 12-28-2006, 10:53 AM

Hi I am a 41 year old male who previously had never had any problems taking asprin. Today I finally narrowed down causes and found that I am having an allergic reaction to my big bottle of asprin.

My symptoms start about an hour or so after taking the asprin. First I get a numb either left of right side of my upper lip. Then that side swells up and feels like I have novacaine shot into it. Then it spreads to the other half of my upper lip. Eventually it reaches my lower lip and swells there as well. By that time my lower cheeks and lower part of my nose feel numb like the novacaine as well. Really weird. I end up looking like a Simpson's character for about 3-4 hours with the huge lips, they eaisly swell to 2 to 3 times their normal size then it subsides. No other symptoms either.

Is it possible I am just having a reaction to something in this particular brand of asprin? I haven't tested it yet.

Is it possible to suddenly become allergic to asprin when you never had a problem in the past. It's not like I am taking a large amount just two asprin, normal size.

Any help/advice on this matter would be great. Thanks

dustoffkid · 12-28-2006, 11:15 AM

Yes, it is possible. As a matter of fact, that's pretty much how allergies work, you build up to them and then all of a sudden BAM! you're allergic. While it may be an ingredient of the aspirin you are taking, I'd think that the aspirin itself is a far more likely culprit.

You can go to a doctor and have this confirmed, of course, but in the meantime I'd stay away from products that contain aspirin.

PavilM · 12-28-2006, 11:55 AM

Thanks for the reply.

I will try with another brand of asprin to narrow it down further. Seems my reaction to it is quite differernt from the "normal" reaction to asprin allergies.

dustoffkid · 12-28-2006, 12:15 PM

Since you are not certain if you have an aspirin allergy, let me clarify....

Allergies are cumulative. That means they build up over time. This means that if you do have an aspirin allergy and you take aspirin again, the reaction will likely be worse than the last time. Maybe even anaphylaxis. Read as: possibly fatal.

I urge you to consult your doctor before experimenting with aspirin. Just because it is an over the counter drug doesn't mean it's safe to mess around with.

PavilM · 12-28-2006, 01:07 PM

Ok, thanks for the info. No testing till I see a doctor.