Reassure me - UPDATE post 48

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, I think I'm having an allergic reaction (side effect?) to a prescription medication. The advice online (offhand I don't know where the paperwork is from the pharmacy, and they're closed now anyway) says to contact your doctor immediately. I stopped taking it. I haven't gotten better but I haven't gotten worse.

I hate to go to the ER. I can call my doctor in, hold on, less than nine hours. Convince me I'm wrong or right to wait.

 

[RitaZ.]

Okay, I think I'm having an allergic reaction (side effect?) to a prescription medication. The advice online (offhand I don't know where the paperwork is from the pharmacy, and they're closed now anyway) says to contact your doctor immediately. I stopped taking it. I haven't gotten better but I haven't gotten worse.

I hate to go to the ER. I can call my doctor in, hold on, less than nine hours. Convince me I'm wrong or right to wait.

What are your symptoms?

 

[JerseyJanice]

Sorry, Katie, but I don't think you're being stupid.

Like Rita asked, what are your symptoms? If they are serious enough to warrant medical attention, you need to get to the ER tonight. At a minimum, you should call your doctor's phone number and place a call to him/her through the answering service.

Good luck.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

Ugh ... don't fool around. I took a medication that I was allergic to. It SLOWLY locked my jaw so that I couldn't talk. I was in my first year of teaching first graders at the time ... and didn't want to leave my class in the middle of the day. ... giving directions with my teeth clenched was lovely. I didn't know what was happening to me.

I called my sister and she picked me up from work and went to the ER. The doctor put me on an IV with Benadryl. It immediately worked. The doctor went on to tell me that a locked jaw is only one of the side affects ... and that various muscles in my body could lock up ... including my heart ... so please go to the ER if you are not getting better ....

 

[JessicaR]

Can you take benadryl? Take two.

 

[kaytieeldr]

My lips are tingling - like I was biting them, or I had Chinese food (I did) and an MSG allergy (I don't) and my upper chest and shoulders feel like I was wearing a too-tight bra for too long.

I'm calling the office number as soon as I post this

 

[buckler]

My lips are tingling - like I was biting them, or I had Chinese food (I did) and an MSG allergy (I don't) and my upper chest and shoulders feel like I was wearing a too-tight bra for too long.

I'm calling the office number as soon as I post this

That is a definite need for attention. I hope you are not alone. Don't attempt to drive yourself to the ER. You should not be operating a vehicle.

 

[JessicaR]

They are going to tell you to take benadryl and head to the ER. Dont drive if you do take benadryl.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, if I don't hear back from the on-call doctor within one hour, I need to call again.

 

[buckler]

They are going to tell you to take benadryl and head to the ER. Dont drive if you do take benadryl.

The risk of driving isn't from the Benadryl...it's from if you stop breathing. Your airways can close up from swelling from an allergic reaction!

I've had a serious allergic reaction to an antibiotic and had to go to the ER. I'm glad my husband was driving. I was in no condition to drive and my breathing hadn't been affected too much yet.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, call the hospital... or somebody... tonight.
They will probably give you a recommendation for the Benadryl...
They will probably advise you to come to ER.

Do NOT drive yourself.
With your symptoms, and the Benadryl knocking you out...
DO NOT DRIVE...

 

[buckler]

Okay, if I don't hear back from the on-call doctor within one hour, I need to call again.

If you start to have trouble breathing call 911!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, based on my description, he feels whatever IS causing my symptoms is unrelated to the medication.

I'm calling CVS next.

 

[Imzadi]

How can people be recommending she take Benadryl when you don't even know what she took? What about drug interaction?


The too tight chest worries me. Please call your doctor or 911.

 

[RitaZ.]

Okay, if I don't hear back from the on-call doctor within one hour, I need to call again.

I'm sure you will hear from him/her soon. I've had to call doctors in the middle of the night in the past and they responded within 10 to 15 minutes. One time, I had a reaction to Levaquin and left a message for my doctor. He called me within 10 minutes.

Take it easy. Remember to breathe and relax. You will be fine.

 

[buckler]

Okay, based on my description, he feels whatever IS causing my symptoms is unrelated to the medication.

I'm calling CVS next.

Do you have someone with you (real people...not us "virtual" people!)?

 

[Wishing on a star]

Your symptoms do concern us.
When symptoms involve the mouth/lips and breathing, then, IMHO, they should be taken seriously.

I am not so sure that you were taken seriously enough by whomever you have just spoken with.

If you do not have the Patient Leaflet for your medication, I think that by law they must have the full Patient Information listed on their website. You should be able to read about possible side-effects or allergic reactions online.

PS: I think the reason that people are recommending Benadryl is that it is a go-to treatment/prophalactic(SP?) for allergic reaction.

I do recommend that you call and talk to somebody else and see what they might recommend. And, then take the Benadryl if they recommend this.

I would look up the Patient Info online, and call the hospital (or some other 24 hour number).

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, I feel emotionally better after talking to the pharmacist (than the on-call doctor, who's not part of the practice I go to). Yes, side-effect symptoms are serious, but not fatal. Yes, I need to call my own doctor first thing in the morning. No, I will not have trouble breathing between now and then (the tightness in my upper chest is really upper chest - armpit-level and above). Please call him tomorrow night around this same time and let him know how things turned out.

 

[buckler]

Okay, I feel emotionally better after talking to the pharmacist (than the on-call doctor, who's not part of the practice I go to). Yes, side-effect symptoms are serious, but not fatal. Yes, I need to call my own doctor first thing in the morning. No, I will not have trouble breathing between now and then (the tightness in my upper chest is really upper chest - armpit-level and above). Please call him tomorrow night around this same time and let him know how things turned out.

That sounds much better. Get some rest and let us know you are okay tomorrow.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

Hey Katie, you should really go to the ER. How do you know these side-effects won't get worse while you sleep? A trip to the ER would make you ... and all of use feel better. Do you have someone who could take you?