allergic to tylenol

[larandsandy]

Hi, I was told not to take tylenol for about 5 years now because I was getting quarter sized water-filled welts on my cheekbones about 20 minutes after taking it.  That was my only symptom.  They did itch but other than that, they would go away after a couple of hours.  My question is, do you think that this is a true allergy to acetimetophen or something else.  The doctor said not to take it any more, which I haven't.  But, I suffer from migraine headaches and only take advil as of now, because of this sensitivity.  I would like to be able to take tylenol to change up the medication as I feel you get used to only using one type.  I cannot take imitrex or any other the triptan type drugs due to heart arrythmia.  I used to take tylenol for years before this started happening.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.  I also do not get throat swelling or any other symptom.  Thanks I appreciate your comments.

[Babycakes1]

Maybe you could try plain old aspirin?

[larandsandy]

I have tried aspirin and it is like taking nothing for the migraines.  Unfortunately, I don't have alot of options in the pain med department.  Advil and tylenol worked the best at one time, but now just advil.  thanks for commenting

[LukeL]

Well going to a doctor and having a controlled test done would be ideal. I am not sure whats it called but they innject a tiny amount just under the skin or on the skin and mark it. Then look for a reaction. This way it is done in a controlled setting and any emergencies can be dealt with. It could be a non-active ingriedeint in the tylenol you are reacting to and not the acetamethapin it self.

Also don't assume you will always have the same reaction. I am alergic (allergic) to rodents and had a pet guniea pig when I was little and broke out in a rash. Years later I got a hamster assuming I outgrew the allergy or would have only a mild reaction. It turned out I nearly had an anaphlayxtic reaction and was lucky I was within 1 mile of a hospital and got proper treatment.

[larandsandy]

thanks for your comment.  I will have to get allergy tested as you suggested.  It could be something else in the tylenol causing the reaction.  Yeah, I know about how the next time could be different.  The doctor told me I could go into full-blown anaphlaxic reaction the next time I take the tylenol, so I will error on safety and not try it.  Hopefully, they come out with something new before I become over sensitive to the advil. thanks again.

[brown_eyed_girl420]

Hello, my mother and I have lite periods from taking tylenol, the doctor told us that it isn't possible, and we cant take aspirin because we are both allergic to it, so does anyone have any suggestions?...

[Toni Oliver]

I too have had migrianes all my life. I can not take aspirin only acetemethapin (tylenol) but now my doctor said I was destroying my liver. I am not trying a natural product I found at Walmart called Calming Sleep. I helps me relax and my headaches seem to go away. I also have tried HeadOn as seen on TV. It works if I catch it in time. ActiveON works as well but smells like BenGay just don't get it into your eyes. Try it a see if it helps. Toni

[bugsmoom96]

I am not sure why or how our bodies react to the ingredients in medications but my 12yr old daughter has been allergic to Tylenol since she was 2. When she was about a year old she was in and out of the ER with a fever and ear infections they recommended alternating Tylenol with Motrin every 3 to 4 hours. After every dose of Tylenol her fever would spike to over 104 degrees or higher this went on for over a year until we move from MN to VA and I started to work in a local hospital and a very good Dr. and friend discovered she was allergic to the Tylenol.

My question to the others of you here, if you do find an alternative to Motrin, Ibuprofen, or Advil as they are all they same will someone let me know. She is young and when running a fever now or getting injured she needs something to help her, but we are very limited. We have tried Aleve or Naprosyn and it seems to help but with some stomach upset.

Thanks
Bugsmom

[FurballsMom]

I get a different reaction to Tylenol.  It makes me dizzy and nauseous.  Often times that is the first thing doctors want to give to me for pain, but I can't take that stuff.  I get migraines and sinus headaches and cluster headaches.  I can't take anything for pain at all now, including all the NSAIDs.  I am allergic to all opiate medications, because they make me even sicker than the Tylenol does and even give me worse headaches than I had to begin with and will make the nausea bad enough to vomit.  Since I recently developed kidney issues, now I can't take any pain medication and have to just suffer through the pain until it goes away on its own, no matter how long it takes for the pain to leave.  I have a lot of other types of pain to deal with, too.
  One thing that helps with the pain is the chiropractic treatments.
There isn't much I can say about using any of these medications for fever, though, since Tylenol is in one category, and all the other things mentioned are in the NSAID category.  From what I've been reading on mercola.com, though, it is actually most often best to let a fever run its course, since that is one of the ways the body has to fight what ever bug is making a person sick.  Only extreme fevers need to be dealt with.  I would advise people to avoid the overuse of any pharmaceuticals of any sort, because you never know what the stuff will do to a person.  Also, children run the risk of developing Reye's Syndrome when using things like aspirin, which is in the NSAID category.

[FurballsMom]

It sounds like you're referring to the cramping many of us experience with menstruation.  Might I suggest an old fashioned remedy that doesn't involve the use of medications?  Many people say to use a hot water bottle over that part of the abdomen.  It's certainly a lot safer than the overuse of medications.

One thing that finally worked for me was a major change in my diet when I found out that I have a gluten intolerance and a lactose intolerance.  When I stopped these foods for the digestive issues, I noticed a wonderful change in my periods.  Oh, I still bleed a lot, but the cramping has lessened greatly in intensity, and I no longer get the giant blood clots.  Perhaps something like this will work for other women, too.  Many of us have food sensitivities (hidden food allergies) that we aren't fully aware of, and women seem to be affected much more often with gluten and lactose intolerance than men do.  You'll have to be off of these foods long-term to notice if this will work for you.  If it works, I'm sure you'll agree that it is worth just avoiding these foods altogether for you.  

The alternative gluten free grains are available in the bulk foods section of your natural grocery stores.  There are many varieties of rice that you'll discover if you haven't been shopping in this section before.  Note:  Wild rice is really not a rice at all, for anyone allergic to rice.  Besides these grains, there is millet, quinoa, teff, and amaranth.  Steer clear of the couscous!  Many people think it is a small grain, but it's not a gluten free item, because it is simply a tiny form of pasta that is usually made from semolina wheat flour.  Wheat is the biggest enemy here.  Also, you must avoid oats and corn, although not oats don't officially have gluten in them.  People with gluten intolerance don't do well with oats and corn either.  For pasta and bread lovers:  There are pasta and bread alternatives made from rice.

Also, avoid all those foods that doctors have been telling people to avoid, such as coffee and soda, sugar and caffeine, high amounts of fat and sodium, etcetera.  Go for whole food items and steer clear of packaged and canned foods.

Once I avoided all the problem foods, my periods improved as a bonus for eating foods that were meant to improve my digestion.

[jesjenk]

I recently had my daughter in the ER with an allergic reaction shortly after having Tylenol (9 months old). She has had it in the past with out  a problem. Can she suddenly develop an allergy to tylenol like that?

[Catch67]

I too have an allergic reaction to tylenol surprisingly similar to yours, only about 20-30 minutes after taking the tylenol an ovular welt develops just below my lower lip. I have a similar reaction to many other pain relievers/ fever reducers including asprin and motrin except a generic sodium naproxin but I try to avoid that too because I don't want to develop an allergy to that in case I'm in serious pain at some point. It's almost like a burning or itching sensation accompanied by what feels like pressure on my lip.

I would love to be helpful and recommend something as others have but honestly I am at a loss. Just surprising to see someone describe the same symptom as me when my doctor told me, "That's odd... Never heard that one before" which is quite possibly the least helpful thing to say possible.