One last clarification on penicillin allergy

My drug reactions to penicillin (symptoms very similar to what mrbreezy describes) were not so much chronic as episodic occurring once every year or two and lasting for a few weeks to a month or so. Nevertheless they were severe enough to impact my life very negatively. I knew for years that I was allergic to penicillin and sulfa drugs (diagnosed at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle) but for some time didn't make the connection between my reactions and the penicillin in foods that I was eating.

After religiously eliminating foods that might contain trace amounts of antibiotics (most commercial meat and dairy products and farm raised fish) I have been free of these terrible allergic episodes for six years now. No, I have not been on a liquid diet for six years. That is only worth a try the first few days after the onset of an allergic reaction. I freely eat antibiotic free meats and dairy products and wild caught fish. All other foods free of animal products are safe for me to eat.

Anyway,I think we actually agree on the importance of eliminating any known allergens which is the important thing. Sorry for the misunderstanding. FB

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I'm glad this worked for you.  I do not recommend your course of action to others.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[summerluvr]

I am allergic to foods and I take antihistamines if I accidently eat them and have a reaction, I dont' think a liquid diet will help. Once the food is in your bloodstream drinking a liquid diet can not stop the reaction once its started.  I drink lots of water, but that is because my lips swell a bit and they burn because of it so it makes me thirsty.

[Cedarbeam]

My point is that if you are allergic to penicillin or sulfa drugs - don't eat foods that have these drugs in them. Forget the liquid diet if you don't think it will do any good, but avoid foods that contain these drugs if you are allergic to these drugs. That is the message I'm trying to convey. It may seem like common sense but you can't believe how few doctors warn their patients who are allergic to penicillin to avoid foods that may contain penicillin - and that would be most poultry products, other commercial meat products and possibly dairy products. Buy food that are antibiotic free - believe me it works to avoid allergens.