Any solutions to antiobiotic allergies when they're needed?

May 7, 2007 6:27 PM

Has anyone else had severe allergic reactions (e.g., hives, anaphylaxis) to antibiotics, and what did you do if you actually needed it?

I'm kinda in a bind. I was supposed to have a root canal done today, but for all reasons, I couldn't because of my allergies to most antibiotics. I can usually take an antibiotic two or three times, but then I start having allergic reactions (have gone into anaphylactic shock from them), so have been told that if I start having allergic symptoms to stop taking the drug and put it on my "medications I'm allergic to" list.

Anyway, I was told that I do need antibiotics, but she wants me to go into a hospital to have that done. To be honest, the thought of having to do that terrifies me, but I'll do it. She said the infection isn't bad enough that I can't wait (I'm leaving for a trip in five days, which is the main thing delaying me here). She's more worried about the allergic reaction though than the infection itself (which is both understandable and scary to me).

I currently have no regular physician (I have an appointment to see one when I get back though). I'm just wondering has anyone else had anything like this, and honestly, is there any way to prevent allergic reactions like this? Even done in a hospital, the thought terrifies me of possibly going through anaphylactic shock again.

posted by ForeverAKid to health & fitness (10 comments total)

I'm just wondering has anyone else had anything like this

I don't have a solution, but for anecdotal comfort, I'm the same way. As a kid, I tolerated Bactrim well (seems to be mild enough that many people with allergies can withstand it) and often chased antibiotics with a Benadryl just in a case. As an adult, I haven't taken an antibiotic in nearly ten years. While I'm frightened for the same reasons you are, my mantra is that if I DO eventually have to take antibiotics for a condition, it's better to take them now (under supervision, as you're doing) then let the illness get to the point where I have to take even more for longer. Good luck - I know where you're coming from.
posted by Zosia Blue at 6:38 PM on May 7, 2007

I'm currently waiting for part 3 of a root canal and I haven't taken any antibiotics. Did she say what it was for?

I'm "allergic to penicillin" but the scare quotes indicate I got a tiny rash once as a small child and have never had anything since then.

I can see why one would freak out a bit about being told to have a full ER team available for a simple antibiotic, but then again if something does happen you'll be perfectly safe. I wonder if you could go to a general anesthetic dentist and the whole thing, root canal and antibiotics together, could be done while you are out cold.
posted by DU at 6:44 PM on May 7, 2007

I'm allergic to ceyclor (I don't even know how to really spell it), but forutnately that family of antibiotics is not really prescribed anymore.
posted by Comrade_robot at 6:45 PM on May 7, 2007

I took a fluoroquinolone and nearly ruptured my achilles tendons. After three days the pain was intense, I stopped the course, and the drug was so strong it had already killed the infection. Luckily it didn't damage the tendon to rupture, although I couldn't really walk more than a few dozen yards for months and it took over a year for it to feel normal again. Drugs have powerful side effects. Before you take anything look it up, verify that you have the right pill by finding a picture of what it should look like and know what might go wrong. Don't be a hypochondriach but be informed.
posted by caddis at 6:51 PM on May 7, 2007

Have you tried and are you allergic to antibiotics in all antibiotic classes? I am allergic to penicillin, cephalosporins and sulfa antibiotics. The first one I've been allergic to since I was young, the other two I developed a reaction to after taking for a while. My reaction to sulfas are especially serious.

I have been told there is nothing that will prevent the reactions (I've asked since I am always fearful that I'll get a big surprise a week into a course of medicine). Nobody has suggested going to the hospital for antibiotic treatment, but possibly that is because there are a few classes of antibiotics that I can take (so far, at least).

In the absence of a regular physician, you might want to ask your pharmacist. If you do, take a list of the meds that you know are off limits.
posted by necessitas at 6:56 PM on May 7, 2007

I react badly to most antibiotics, too. It's definitely scary.
Make sure that YOU keep track of the ones you've had reactions to and what those reactions were. Like necessitas, there are a few I've been able to tolerate once or twice. Some, not at all.

I've also found that I can take certain ones for a particular period of time. For instance, 10 days of cipro is ok, so far, but 12 days is NOT. So you may find a little wiggle room that way, too.

How long is your trip going to be? If she says the antibiotics can wait until you get back, perhaps you can schedule the hospital time then? Maybe negotiate a kind you've taken once before without as much of a problem and the minimum length of time you'll need to take it?

I also heartily second necessitas' suggestion to consult with a pharmacist. Definitely take your list of what you've taken and the reactions.

Best of luck, and I look forward to seeing the other comments here, too.
posted by lilywing13 at 7:50 PM on May 7, 2007

Not sure I can give much practical advice but I can chime in w/ some sympathy. I got some pretty bad hives from tetracycline, but luckily the doctors have been able to prescribe around that w/ different antibiotic families when I've needed it.

Recently, I've been taking a course of bactrim but just started have some reactions to it. My doctor had warned me about bactrim (some of the potential side affects are *serious*) and I ended up immediately stopping. I've been taking some alivert and using topical antihistamines to help w/ the swelling/itching (oral antihistamines knock me right out).

I think one of the things you might want to think about is to gather your medical history and make sure you memorize and have a list written down of your drug reactions... This will help a physician prescribe around them (unfortunately, they usually tend to be more esoteric and expensive) when you *really* need them. Also, in emergency situations, would probably be handy to have.
posted by lhl at 8:33 PM on May 7, 2007

Also check if you can have sulfa drugs. Some of the sulfa drugs are pretty useful and they don't generally cross-react with antibiotics.
posted by watsondog at 8:51 PM on May 7, 2007

I'm allergic to all sulfites & NSAIDS, and went through a health problem a few years ago because of a medication that clashed with it, so I'm very paranoid about all drugs I take. Like DU, I was also told that I got a rash from pennicillin as a baby, so when I ruptured an eardrum last year when I was overseas I was given things other than pennecillin. Unfortunately, the medication wasn't strong enough, the infection grew, and now I have permanent ear damage & am stuck with permanent tinnitis.

If I could go back in time, I would've had them give me some pennicillin in small doses & then monitor my reactions. I would far rather have had a minor rash to deal with than permanent ear problems. I regret not suggesting that.

What I'm trying to say is... you need to be smart and use good judgment to protect yourself. But weigh things out. My experiences with root canals (I've had 4), I haven't gotten any infections that called for serious antibiotics. So unless they're necessary I wouldn't go for anything that might create a bad reaction. But if you sense that there is an infection and the reaction to the antibiotics will be less of a problem than the infection, then & only then, perhaps you should consider them.

As usual... IANAD, YMMV, etc.
posted by miss lynnster at 10:52 PM on May 7, 2007

To answer the "why antibiotics for a root canal" question, I have an infection that has spread out somewhat (I didn't feel any bad pains and apparently this has been there for some time); what brought me to the dentist was that I could SEE the infection on the gums.

I think part of this was due to having a doctor as a kid that gave antibiotics for just about anything. I'm allergic to penicillins, erythromycins, Cipro, and many generic names I have been told I can't take because of cross reactions (bad because I work at a pharmacy actually). I have a bad sulfa allergy as well (didn't realize how bad until I had a bad allergic reaction landing me in the hospital a few times after taking hydrochlorothiazide for years, which contains, I found out, minute amounts of sulfonamides).

Unfortunately, not all antibiotics are right for everything, and the ones right for this I already know I can't take. I can deal with short term (5 day) antibiotics, at least Avalox (only took it once though, so even that is still iffy), but they were talking clindomycin or penicillin type drugs.

I have read that sometimes, they give high doses of prednisone and Benadryl BEFORE giving antibiotics to people that are allergic. And I'd be more than willing to take something expensive - if I've never taken it before. But nothing like that is appropriate in this situation it seems. And they are more worried about the allergic reaction than the infection (hence my being allowed to put it off till after my trip).

I have to say though... it's really nice to know I"m not the only one like this. I try to explain it to people sometimes, and I just get weird looks.
posted by ForeverAKid at 7:50 AM on May 8, 2007