Anyone ever had an allergic reaction to Stevia?

[tonilea]

I started having an allegric reaction last night - I have never experienced anything quite like it! My upper lip started to swell in the middle and I had a few, small, itchy hives. I took some benadryl in hopes of heading this thing off... to no avail.....This morning, I looked like I could be Daisy Duck's stunt double! My upper lip wash huge and I had lots of very, very itchy hives.

I went to urgent care this morning and they gave me a steroid shot, Atarax and an EpiPen.

The only thing new in my diet is the Stevia and I think I have used it on one previous occasion.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I think people can be allergic to anything. This happened to my FIL from cut grass and more and more things started to do it. Could you have been bitten or stung even?

I hope you feel better

 

[shortbun]

It could be anything but if the Stevia is new to you, avoid it. I've have swollen lips twice and the doctor said both times it might not ever happen again. It's scary isn't it?

 

[Debbie7452]

I'm so glad for you that you got steroids. I once had an allergic drug reaction, but we didn't figure out what was going on because I did not have the normal symptoms. My reaction went into my joints and spine and I was almost completely incapacitated for about a month! I had no idea that allergic reactions could do that! You always hear about the swelling/respiratory type reactions...

Anyway, the next time I reacted to a similar, but different, medicine (antibiotics) I ran to the Doc and got a shot of epinephrine and steroids and I got better right away. Hope you identify the problem and get better!

 

[tonilea]

It could be anything but if the Stevia is new to you, avoid it. I've have swollen lips twice and the doctor said both times it might not ever happen again. It's scary isn't it?

It is frightening. Even more so is the fact that I am NOT certain it was the stevia.

The doctor said the oddest thing, "Stevia is all natural, it shouldn't cause an allergic reaction." WTH? Stawberries, shellfish, ragweed, nuts, and so on are all natural......

 

[Christine]

It is frightening. Even more so is the fact that I am NOT certain it was the stevia.

The doctor said the oddest thing, "Stevia is all natural, it shouldn't cause an allergic reaction." WTH? Stawberries, shellfish, ragweed, nuts, and so on are all natural......

Odd--not so much. Stupid, yes. Stevia is a plant based sweetener. ANYTHING can cause an allergic reaction.