How can you spot a drug allergy?

I'm trying to figure out some odd issue I've run into.  I've suddenly developed hives, except they come and go.  However, each time they come back, they're worse, and they're coming back more often (per day).  I am on an antibiotic and I'm wondering how you can tell if you're allergic to a drug.  The hives appeared on the 5th day of taking the drug.  I assume it's not the drug, but I am curious to know what other people think.  I am not one who is prone to developing hives, so this is weird.  It scared me at first because I didn't know what they were.  I looked like I had been attacked by 1000 mosquitoes.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

You should stop taking the medication immediately? Are you on any other drugs? Which antibiotic are you taking?

The lesions should start to resolve once you stop the medications if they are because of the antibiotic medications.

You should also take oral antihistamine medications for the lesions and apply calamine lotion at the sites of the lesions.

If they still persist, it would be best to consult your doctor immediately.

Do not take this antibiotic again.

Let us know about how you are doing and if you have any other doubts.

Regards.

[newbith]

Well this is what's weird about it:  The lesions come and go.  The drug is Biaxin XL.  I've taken plain Biaxin before at least twice, but not this XL formulation.  I've been wondering if maybe I'm allergic to some other part of the pill that's not the drug.

I went to a local hospital, thinking I was having a reaction to the drug, and they said that my hives are idiopathic and that it couldn't be the drug because the hives were not persistent and did not appear until day 5.  They said that if it was the drug, the hives would have appeared earlier and would have stuck around.  I would be fine with this explanation if only I could be really really sure that it was right, which is why I'm now looking around for more information.  It just seems so odd that I would get this suddenly while on a drug (but I realize that it can happen).  They didn't see the hives, though, because the darn things cleared up while I was in the waiting room (only to come back again later, of course).

More detail that I had forgotten earlier:  the rash has so far only affected my legs and arms, especially the legs.

I have some Benadryl that I bought just for this.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

You could try some oral antihistamine medications like loratidine or cetrizine and see if it helps with your symptoms.

You could apply calamine lotion when the rash or itching occurs.

You would need to find out if you have had exposure to some new soaps or creams or lotions.

Let us know if you have any other doubts and post us about how you are doing.

Regards.

[newbith]

I will use the Benadryl if necessary.  I hope it just goes away.  Thanks for your comments.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

Let us know about how you are doing and if you have any other doubts.

Regards.