allergic reaction to drug??? need help!!! - General Health Message Board

Erica · 09-14-2002, 10:31 AM

Hi I am not sure if anyone here can help me, monday the 9th i had carpal tunnel release surgery. Anyways i am 19 had the first hand done 4 weeks ago was given iv antibiotics to protect against infection. Anyways that surgery went fine was home within an hour or so. This time on monday i was given the same iv antibiotic and had what the nurse stated as a allergic reaction, broke out in hives, chest hurt, palpitations which where all eventually controlled with iv benadryl. So I didnt leave the hospital till much longer this time. the nurse told me what the drugs where and wrote them down + told me to probably not take those antibiotics again in the future. (i have to take antibiotics before surgery and dental work for heart valve disease.) but my orthopedic doc that did the surgery said for it happening only this one time that it probably wouldnt be a drug that i would never be able to take again. (the antibiotic is the only thing they figure could have caused the reaction) is it safe to take this drug again in the future? i don't get it snd i don't ever what to have an allergic reaction again, it was horrible. I will make sure it is listed in my chart and stuff regardless of what my orthopedic doc said. i turst him but don't want to go through it again! Is it commen for drugs to not cause a reaction the first time they are introduced or taken but then future uses of it can cause reaction??? -- confused!!!
-- the drugs was Kefzal/Ancef for (dental work usually take ammoxicillin oral)

thanks for your help!! - Erica

Jay Tor · 09-14-2002, 03:16 PM

There are several different classes of antibiotics. 'Class' in this case means its chemical composition or structure. Kefzol belongs to the cephalosporin class of antibiotics. Therefore, it is possible to have no reaction to one class of antibiotics while having a serious reaction to another [unrelated] class of antibiotics.

Here's some technical information - suggest you print and keep it in your medical file. Also, some people with antibiotic allergies are advised to wear MedicAlert tags/bracelets.

MEDLINEplus Drug Information Cephalosporins (Systemic)
[url="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202119.html"]http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202119.html[/url]

mlgable · 09-14-2002, 11:31 PM

Yes antibiotics may not cause a reaction the first time or not as noticable one. Since your have several different opinions about whether or not you can ever take this drug again you may want to see an allergist and be tested for allergies. My son had a reaction to Penicillin when he was a baby but when tested for allergies he tested negative for any antibiotic allergies and the allergist said this was not uncommon for a baby to be sensitive to antibiotics but not have a true allergy to this medication.

Karla · 09-18-2002, 04:37 AM

I took Dilantin (anticonvulsant drug) for 6 months daily just fine. Then I built up a horible drug allergy to it and had a nasty reaction. Also I was fine with iodine eating sea food and touching iodine/betadine solutions. However, one day when giving birth to my twins they cleansed me between births with iodine and I had a severe allergic reaction to it. I was injected with iodine for a cat scan and had a severe reaction to that to. However, I was able to eat sea food a while longer then built up a reaction to that as well. So I guess this demostrates how you can be fine with a drug one day and not the next. Also I agree with what the prior posts said.

Erica · 09-18-2002, 11:54 AM

Thank you for your helpl, i will take all this advice into cosideration and will talk to my regular family dr/nurse practicioner next week when i go there for a different reason. Thanks Agian,

Erica