AboutDr. Ravindra Bhaskar Ghooi Expertise I can provide information on drugs and medicines, their actions, uses, interactions and adverse effects. To avoid confusion, generic names of
medicines may please be provided. I am a pharmacologist, having worked
on animal and human pharmacology, and presently I am the Dean of Bilcare Research Academy, where we teach courses on clinical research. We dont work on saturdays and sundays, hence questions reachng me on these days will be replied on Monday, please bear with me.
Question I've got a question about a recent allergic reaction I am having to something. The reaction includes hives (from head to toe), itching palms, and some swelling of my mouth and tongue.
I did have a similar allergic reaction to Macrobid 4 years ago, however, I have never experienced any other allergic reactions.
I'm just piecing this timeline together and attempting to isolate what is causing the reaction.
In late February I started on Loestrin 24 FE. I took two packets without incidence. I filled a prescription for Junel (28 I think), which I began taking 10 days ago. About 20 days ago I was given a completely separate prescription from my dermatologist for Adoxa 150.
As I said the Loestrin was fine, and the first week of the Adoxa was fine. After starting the Junel 10 days ago I began getting hives, swelling, itching etc. Because of my history with Macrobid, I immediately thought it must be the antibiotic. I stopped the antibiotic 7 days ago at the direction of my dermatologist. I have not stopped the Junel and have continued to take it since I began the pack 10 days ago.
I thought ceasing the Adoxa would stop the reaction, however, it has not and some days the hives are quite numerous and widespread. Is it possible I could be reacting to the Junel when I never had a reaction to the Loestrin?
I am very tempted to stop the Junel right away and see if that is the problem, but would really appreciate some feedback before I do so.
Answer Hi Nancy,
Allergic reactions particularly hives are common to a number of drugs. Mostly the reaction is not to the active ngredient but could be to inactives which are present in the formulation. Hives also do not begin on the day you begin the treatment but they are due to slow reactions which are known as late phase allergic reactions.
It is not important whether you had a reaction to Loestrin or not, the very fact that you now have hives, needs discontinuation of all therapy and restart treatment with one drug at a time under the advice of yor physician.
Allergies are very upredictable and may or ma nt occur in individuals for reasns which we dont understand, I therfore prefer to err on the side of caution, especially when the patient is not very near (geographically) and advice is through the net.
Ravi Ghooi
