Am I having a penicillin allergy reaction? What is the non-penicillin form of Augmentin?

4 days on augmentin 825 for a chronic dental infection (now a bone infection), I started having major swelling in my hands. This is new, I've never had swelling like this. Yesterday my one hand looked freakishly red and swollen. It was so swollen, that when I straightened out my hand (which was difficult), everything turned white, inbetween the redness.

Anyway, I tried going off the augmentin (I'm taking it in conjunction with clindamycin), and today I feel much less swollen. I realized that also my abdomen had seemed swollen, and now it seems not as much.

I discussed these concerns with my primary doctor, but she says to just go back on it, she thinks I am having an inflammatory reaction to the chronic infection.

I don't know what to do. I do feel worse infection-wise after going off the augmentin, which I'm very concerned about (been fighting this infection for 4 months due to a root canal that didn't get rid of all the infected root, now have a bone infection there as a result). But, I don't want to wind up having a severe reaction to the augmentin, the swelling seemed like it had been building over the last several days.

Is there a non-penicillin equivalent to augmentin 825?

[gingerandrex]

Ug.. my son had this.  His hands were very swollen.  And with a tiny like rash.  The next symtom is blood in the urine (a slight light orangy color) than  possible kidney damage.  he was on Augmentin 825,  There IS a non-penicillin equivalent,  Ask you doctor.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

You seem to be allergic to penicillin/augmentin.Pls discontinue taking augmentin as you may get an anaphylactic reaction which may be fatal.

Allergic reaction to augmentin includes hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have diarrhea that is severe or lasts longer than 3 days, or if you have nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).These are life threatening symptoms.

Pls consult your dental surgeon to switch over to other antibiotics like third generation cephalosporins.If your symptoms worsen as a result of allergic reaction to augmentin, then contact a doctor immediately. You may require epinephrine, intravenous steroids and oxygen.

Take care and pls do keep us posted on how you are doing.