Neurological Issues/ Autoimmune?

[Tangled]

Hello,
I know you're answering questions beginning the 9th (Tomorrow) so I hope it's ok to post today. I am desperate for any help I can get. I am wondering about the possibility of your immune system or nervous system having an allergic reaction or overreacting to certain drugs/medications? I am very ill and have been for almost 18 years now and I can't find a doctor who can help me or has a clue as to what is wrong with me.

17 years ago I was given an intramuscular shot for pain in the emergency room. I am not positive, but I believe it was Demerol. Within moments of that shot I began to have a bad reaction and I "tweeked" out.

Couldn't sit still. Had to get up and pace the floor.
My mind raced and I talked a mile a minute
I developed severe anxiety
My arms and legs began to ache in severe pain

This continued for hours and hours and hours. I got a little better, but it took 2 weeks before these sensations died down enough to be able to get out of bed. Since then I continue getting these break-downs, especially if I am under stress or if I take certain medications. I have to be careful about the medication I take. Some, such as Nyquil can cause me to become very ill and will bring about another break-down. All of this has progressed over the years with neurological type symptoms such as, sound sensitivity, sensory nerve changes, electrical zaps in my head and body, severe muscle aching that travels to different areas, squeezing pressure in my head, neck and up and down my spine. On and on!

At some point over the years I developed a butterfly shaped rash over my cheeks and nose. When it is severe it will burn and sting and take on a welt appearance. It never fully goes away, and is usually pretty faint until I take a hot bath, exposed to sunshine or become sweaty with activity. The sun and hot baths will bring it out bright and burning. I have IBS symptoms and chills that come and go. I have much more to say, but short on word space.

Any Ideas?

[Garth L Nicolson, PhD]

Here is some information from Drugs.com on side effects:

Demerol Side Effects - for the Professional
Demerol
The major hazards of meperidine, as with other narcotic analgesics, are respiratory depression and, to a lesser degree, circulatory depression; respiratory arrest, shock, and cardiac arrest have occurred.
The most frequently observed adverse reactions include lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea, vomiting, and sweating. These effects seem to be more prominent in ambulatory patients and in those who are not experiencing severe pain. In such individuals, lower doses are advisable. Some adverse reactions in ambulatory patients may be alleviated if the patient lies down.
Other adverse reactions include:
Nervous System: Euphoria, dysphoria, weakness, headache, agitation, tremor, uncoordinated muscle movements (e.g. muscle twitches, myoclonus), severe convulsions, transient hallucinations and disorientation, visual disturbances.
Gastrointestinal: Dry mouth, constipation, biliary tract spasm.
Cardiovascular: Flushing of the face, tachycardia, bradycardia, palpitation, hypotension, syncope.
Genitourinary: Urinary retention.
Allergic: Pruritus, urticaria, other skin rashes, wheal and flare over the vein with intravenous injection. Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis.
Top


Demerol Injection
The major hazards of meperidine, as with other narcotic analgesics, are respiratory depression and, to a lesser degree, circulatory depression; respiratory arrest, shock, and cardiac arrest have occurred.
The most frequently observed adverse reactions include lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea, vomiting, and sweating. These effects seem to be more prominent in ambulatory patients and in those who are not experiencing severe pain. In such individuals, lower doses are advisable. Some adverse reactions in ambulatory patients may be alleviated if the patient lies down.
Other adverse reactions include:
Nervous System. Euphoria, dysphoria, weakness, headache, agitation, tremor, uncoordinated muscle movements, severe convulsions, transient hallucinations and disorientation, visual disturbances. Inadvertent injection about a nerve trunk may result in sensory-motor paralysis which is usually, though not always, transitory.
Gastrointestinal. Dry mouth, constipation, biliary tract spasm.
Cardiovascular. Flushing of the face, tachycardia, bradycardia, palpitation, hypotension, syncope, phlebitis following intravenous injection.
Genitourinary. Urinary retention.
Allergic. Pruritus, urticaria, other skin rashes, wheal and flare over the vein with intravenous injection.
Other. Pain at injection site; local tissue irritation and induration following subcutaneous injection, particularly when repeated; antidiuretic effect.

Side Effects by Body System
Nervous system
Central nervous system side effects include sleepiness, respiratory depression, delirium, seizures, tremors, dizziness, visual disturbances, muscle twitches, dilated pupils, and Parkinsonian symptoms. A case of seizures has been reported in a patient with porphyria. A case of transient neurological symptoms has been reported after use of subarachnoid meperidine.
Central nervous system side effects may be either depressant or excitatory. Excitatory symptoms are sometimes ignored as possible side effects of meperidine, but may be due to the accumulation of a metabolite, normeperidine. Accumulation of normeperidine occurs more frequently in patients with renal insufficiency and in patients who are receiving meperidine via a patient-controlled analgesia pump.__Severe adverse effects, such as respiratory depression, may be treated with the opiate antagonist, naloxone.
Psychiatric
Psychiatric side effects include fearfulness, agitation, paranoia, hypervigilance, and auditory and visual hallucinations.
Psychological dependence on meperidine may develop.
Gastrointestinal
Meperidine may cause contraction of the sphincter of Oddi, thereby increasing intrabiliary pressure. As a result, meperidine may aggravate rather than relieve biliary colic.__Constipation is less common with meperidine than some other narcotics.
Gastrointestinal side effects including increased gastroesophageal reflux, increased biliary pressure, dry mouth, nausea, and vomiting have been reported.
Other
Other side effects including an opioid abstinence or withdrawal syndrome has been reported.
The opioid abstinence or withdrawal syndrome is characterized by some or all of the following: restlessness, lacrimation, rhinorrhea, yawning, perspiration, chills, myalgia, mydriasis. Other symptoms also may also develop, including: irritability, anxiety, backache, joint pain, weakness, abdominal cramps, insomnia, nausea, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, or increased blood pressure, respiratory rate, or heart rate.
Respiratory
There are case reports of bronchospasm occurring in patients with a history of asthma after receiving meperidine. Because of this effect and possible respiratory depression, meperidine should be used with caution in patients with severe reactive or obstructive pulmonary disease.
Respiratory side effects including bronchospasm have been reported in patients with underlying pulmonary disease.
Cardiovascular
Hypotension occurs most commonly in patients who are under anesthesia, who are dehydrated, and who are receiving other medications.
Cardiovascular side effects including phlebitis have been reported. Hypotension has been reported rarely.
Genitourinary
Genitourinary side effects including urinary retention have been reported.
Dermatologic
Dermatologic side effects including rash and sweating have been reported.
Musculoskeletal
Musculoskeletal side effects including a case of meperidine-induced muscular rigidity have been reported.

[brandinicol27]

A related discussion, HELP PLEASE! was started.

[Garth L Nicolson, PhD]

It is possible.  There are a number of ways in which you could have been infected.  And certain infections can certainly pass the blood-brain-barrier and cause chronic neurological symptoms.

[Tangled]

One last thing,

I had an epidural during childbirth, is it possible I contracted an infection through that which turned into a chronic infection? Could my central nervous system be inflamed for all of the years? Perhaps the shot I had for pain inflamed it further? I am just reaching for straws here. I'll consider anything at this point.

I appreciate your help and time.

[Tangled]

Thank you for your help. I am sure you're out of time here, but if you happen to see this could you tell me how I go about being tested for infections? Are there specific tests I ask for?

[Garth L Nicolson, PhD]

These are very likely different issues.  The apparent adverse drug reaction is quite different from the underlying problem that brought you to the ER in the first place.

From the brief description of your signs/symptoms before the ER incident, one or more chronic infections may be involved. These can cause the skin rashes, IBS and other problems.

[Tangled]

I wake up most mornings with that severe ache in my arms and legs. It will hurt from the elbow down, and usually the knee down. It makes me feel weak and I have difficulty walking and opening jars (for example) At times the ache travels around to different locations. My chest, neck, back and so on... I got pregnant (lost it since then) in June '09,  which brought about the worst break-down I ever had. I have not gotten much better and spend all of my time in bed sick and crying.

I have had a normal MRI and EEG.

I don't know what is going on, but I do know that I was fine until I had that shot in the ER. Since then I have not been the same person. The only issue I had was OCD since childhood. It was minor and didn't hinder living. If this matters, I was in the ER for a pelvic infection I developed after the birth of my daughter. I had also developed toxemia with that pregnancy. If you have any ideas for me, I would greatly appreciate any help I can get. I am tired of living this way.


Thanks.