Allergic Reaction

[Shakehicks]

I was prescribed Bactrim DS & Cephelaxin for an absess I had on my stomach.  I suffered hives, swellen lips, face, pain, heart racing, shortnessof breath.  The hospital kept me over nite for observations.  I think they prescribed the wrong doses as well.  I was instructed to take 2 Bactrim twice a day & 1 cephelaxin 4 times a day.  Been home from the hospital for 4  days now.  Just starting to feel some relief, how long will it be before i'm back to myself?  The hospital sent me home with benedryl, prednisone, zantac.

[Bridget A. Hewitt, RN]

Hi and thanks for using the forum.

First, I want to make sure that you are no longer taking either antibiotic until you know which one (or if it was both) that you had a reaction to.  Since you were taking both at the same time, it would be difficult to know which one caused the reaction.   You would most likely have to see an allergist for testing.  You should continue to take the benadryl, prednisone, and the zantac as prescribed and you should follow up with your primary care doctor.   It can take you a few days to start to feel better, depending on how many doses of the antibiotics you actually took before you had the reaction.  Also, make sure that you always remember that you are allergic to these antibiotics and you should not take them again.  Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

Bridget

[Shakehicks]

Most of the hives are gone but I still have swellen all over my body,  I still ache and itch when the benedryl wear off. My feet and lower legs are swollen now and they weren't before.  So now the hosiptal says i'm allergic to both.  I believe it's the bactrim because the first week I took it wrong I only took 2 pills a day until I realized I had so many left and read the label wrong and was instructed by the 24hr nurse on my insurance card to start taking them the way they were prescribed 4 pills a day 2 in the am then 2