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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Asthma / November 2005Am I alergic to Prednisone or Keflex???
I had a terrible alergic reaction while I was taking both Keflex and Prednisone, but now I don't know which one caused it. It was an interesting story: I had acute bronchitis on a weekend, and my HMO doctor was unavailable, so I went to a clinic. They gave me Keflex and a shot (unknown). They said to come back in 3 days if it didn't get better. Three days later, it was still bothering me, but I went to my HMO doctor instead (since it was free). They didn't have real doctors there -- they had Practicing Nurses. So they gave me Prednisone. Then I had this terrible reaction where most of my body turned red as a tomato. It felt (and looked) like I had a terrible sunburn. I think that I had some hives as well, and my calves turned blotchy purple and red. They looked like an 80-year-old's legs, and I was about 45 then. Possibly protecting their butts, the Practicing Nurses told me that the reaction came from the Keflex. They said it couldn't possibly come from the Prednisone. However, I had taken the Keflex for 3 days and nothing had happened, plus, I had taken Keflex in the past without any reaction. I am also not alergic to penicillin. But they claimed that you can "develop" an alergic reaction to an antibiotic, and it couldn't have been the Prednisone. What do other people think (particularly doctors)??? > I had a terrible alergic reaction while I was taking both Keflex and > Prednisone, but now I don't know which one caused it. It was an [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > What do other people think (particularly doctors)??? I vote for the Keflex. My daughter had a reaction to Keflex that sounds similar to what you describe. She hadn't taken it before, so I'm not certain she developed an allergy. But it took a couple of days before the reaction kicked in and a couple of days of not taking that antibiotic for it to disappear. >I had a terrible alergic reaction while I was taking both Keflex >and [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > What do other people think (particularly doctors)??? Not a doctor, but I've read where people have had a reaction to prednisone, although some of their doctors have stated it wasn't possible. Symptoms have included the ones you had, and in some cases their faces were swollen and their throat felt like it was closing. Since it sounds like you had a reaction shortly after taking the prednisone, I'm guessing it was probably that. > Not a doctor, but I've read where people have had a reaction to > prednisone, although some of their doctors have stated it wasn't > possible. Symptoms have included the ones you had, and in some > cases their faces were swollen and their throat felt like it was > closing. Since it sounds like you had a reaction shortly after > taking the prednisone, I'm guessing it was probably that. not one either, but high dose prednisone can suppress thyroid stimulating hormone. > But they claimed that you can "develop" an alergic reaction to an > antibiotic, and it couldn't have been the Prednisone. > > What do other people think (particularly doctors)??? You really couldn't be allergic to the prednisone. It might be possible to be allergic to something else in the preperation and you certainly could have side effects, but not a true allergic reaction. A red rash could be just a side effect but itching and hives sounds more like an allergy. You can develope allergies at any time. In general you need a previous exposure to be sensitized so it virtually always is to things you have had before without incident. There is about a 10% chance that you are now allergic to penicillins as well.  Signature00doc >> But they claimed that you can "develop" an alergic reaction to >> an [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > penicillins as > well. I'm confused by this, Doc. Why does the manufacturer state "other allergic reactions" as a side effect? > I'm confused by this, Doc. Why does the manufacturer state "other > allergic reactions" as a side effect? There are many manufacturers so I woul dhave to see exactly what you are talking about. However, the first line of the contraindications section of every monograph is always allergy to that product or any of its components. I think that given the mechanisms of prednisone suppressing the immune sytem/allergic reactions) and the similarity of it to natural hormones that any reaction is much more likely a non-allergic side effect or an allergy to another component of the preparation than a true allergy to prednisone. Of course, if there is doubt another steroids can always be used in the future. Dexamethasone is probably the least similar of the corticosteroids. On the other hand, allergies to antibiotics are common - especially the penicillins and their deriviatives (like the cephalosporins including cephalexin/Keflex). Signature00doc > Possibly protecting their butts, the Practicing Nurses told me that the > reaction came from the Keflex. They said it couldn't possibly come > from the Prednisone. Yes, I was also told that it was impossible for me to have an allergic reaction to Prednisone. However, I have had an allergic reaction to Prednisone (I wasn't taking anything else) and so has my Dad. In fact, I have had an allergic reaction to every steroid that I have tried (Pulmicort, Flonase, Flovent, etc.). An allergy specialist over on one of the allergy newsgroups said that he had published a paper on people who have had allergic reactions to Prednisone, so at least one physician believes you can. However, it's been my experience that medical professionals will generally tell you that you can't. My experience says otherwise. (However, since you were taking more than one medication, it's possible that it was a reaction to another medication. But I wouldn't rule out Prednisone either.) Joan Joan, What was your reaction? I know I was told no reaction was possible, but I know for a fact that someone I know had the throat closing problem and worsening asthma symptoms. I've seen studies on this, so I have nothing nice to say about the doc who told her she was nuts. I personally have Charlie horses, which are painful, but not a rash condition. Joy > What was your reaction? I know I was told no reaction was possible, but I > know for a fact that someone I know had the throat closing problem and > worsening asthma symptoms. I've seen studies on this, so I have nothing nice > to say about the doc who told her she was nuts. I personally have Charlie > horses, which are painful, but not a rash condition.. I pretty much had a total systemic reaction. The major symptoms were those accompanying a sharp drop in blood pressure. There were other symptoms as well--most notably my intestines felt as if they were ripping apart. I didn't have hives, but I don't always have hives with an anaphylactic reaction. Joan > > What was your reaction? I know I was told no reaction was possible, but > > I [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > didn't have hives, but I don't always have hives with an anaphylactic > reaction. You might be interested in this response from another board: "Yes, it is possible to be allergic to prednisone. You might want to ask your doctor to test you for allergy to sulfite preservatives. This is what causes me to react to most medications, including Prednisone. There is only 1 brand of prednisone I can take - made by Roxane (5mg tablets only). It is gluten-free also. Sulfite preservatives are not often listed on labels, especially of medications. Those of us with sulfite sensitivity/allergy have to know what ingredients are most likely to contain sulfite preservatives so we can have a better idea what medications are safer for us to take. There is a list of commonly sulfited substances that are often used in medications and packaged foods - http://www.the-starshadow.com/Sulfites/bad_list.htm The list of safe foods is http://www.the-starshadow.com/Sulfites/good_list.htm " Signature00doc > Joan, > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > to say about the doc who told her she was nuts. I personally have Charlie > horses, which are painful, but not a rash condition. Cramps are a commons side effect with all of the steroids. And no, telling the patient they are nuts is generally not the best way to approach it even if you do think they are wrong. Signature00doc |
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