Am I allergic to penicillin?

[spludgey]

A little over a week ago I started having tonsillitis symptoms. I then went to the doctor last Wednesday and she prescribed me penicillin. I thought it was 250mg tablets she prescribed of which I was supposed to take two, twice a day.
After I got home I realised that they were 500mg, but they said take two, twice a day. My tonsillitis got better reasonably quickly, but now I don't feel so great. I developed a bit of a rash (most of which has disappeared again) on my feet, in my mouth on the palm of my hands and a little bit on my legs. But much worse than that, I've been itchy. Just everywhere, on my feet, inside my stomach, in my ears on my legs, etc.
Today I'm feeling reasonably good, but I've got a cough which is quite annoying and a runny nose.
I haven't slept well in the past few nights at all. I find it very hard to go to sleep.

The exact medication in question is Abbocillin -VK or Phenoxymethylpenicillin.

I haven't been able to go and see my GP because of work and I'm on day 7 of 10 days so I don't know if I can just stop taking them.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
If a drug allergy happens like in case of penicillin allergy, it is sudden and right after taking the first dose itself. This itch can be due to viral infections as well. I suggest you to consult a doctor for your cough and coryza and get prescribed other oral antibiotics like cephalosporins.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[bsmsl]

Hello and welcome to the communits.

Rash is a symptoms of drug allergy, but it is also a common symptom of a viral infection - chicken pox, measles, hand, foot and mouth disease, roseola...  There are many, many more.  Most of them are "childhood"diseases, but they are not limited to then.  I caught roseola from my daughter when she was about 1.  

I would suggest that you call your doctor and ask if he wants you to keep taking the medication or not.  He can always change it.  Also, you can go to your pharmacist and show them the rash.  A good one should beable to tell if it is a drug allergy rash or a viral.  I prefer the second option.  You con't really want to deal with a penicillin allergy.

God bless.