angiodema

[pwcosey]

I have a problem with lip swelling.  I have been to my allergist and he can't seem to do anything for me.  The first time I had the problem was 3 years ago and after the first incident I didn't have it again until 7/03.  I now have it every week to 2 weeks.  He was treating it with doxepin but that was way too strong and caused me to sleep for days.  I have now created my own "cocktai".  I use 1 Zyrtec 10 mg., 1 singulair 10 mg and 2 benadryl.  This helps if taken at the onset and the symptoms disappear within about 20-30 minutes.  Can I have allergy tests to help figure out what I am allergic to?  Is this dangerous?  What are the most common allergies that cause this problem?  Is there 1 medication that can be taken that is as effective as my "cocktail" that will not make me sleepy?  My problem does seem to have gotten a bit worse in that sometimes I cough a lot at the onset of the allergy.  Any suggestions or advice about treatment would be appreciated.

[K162]

A related discussion, angiodema was started.

[Skyds]

Since Jan '06 I have been suffering with chronic idiopathic urticaria and angioedema.  I have been put on so many different drugs including cyclosporin, montelukast, steriods (tablets and IV), dosulepin and a whole host of anti-histamines!  I am now taking 1 10mg cetirizine tablet 4 times a day, 1 25mg phenergan tablet at night and 1 25mg dosulepin capsule at night (soon to be increased!), also IV steriods when swelling becomes a problem. And still I swell up!!  My work has not been very understanding about this, as my lips, mouth, jaw area and eye lids swell to the point where I have difficulty seeing, speaking and being understood, etc. And therefore I am unable to work!  I have just had my tonsils removed, as christmas '06 I was taking cyclosporin at the time and caught severe tonsilitus!! I have increased in size due to steriods, I have been told not to worry about this or any of these problems. Which is a bit difficult as it is me not them. IV steriods the specialist says is the best way to go however my GP has reservations about giving me an injection, the specialist doesn't understand why my GP has issues with this.  Why does it have to be so difficult? The specialist says it might be due to pass major stressors - all my GP says your body has gone trigger happy, I am still suffering with hay fever, even though I am on so many anti-histamines!  In the begining I was 'fobbed off', given cream (which I feel they didn't believe me about the rashes and intense itching, etc.) and asked if it was a dental problem.  Even now, at the practice, if I see other doctors they will ask stupid questions and they don't sem to read my notes! and until you give it the medical term 'angioedema' they say to me to see my dentist!! Which is very anoying. I have now been given a leaflet about it, so I take that with me... Also, when I get my meds from the chemist I usually have the same conversation with the same chemist about its a lot of anti-histamines I am taking, sometimes this is very difficult as I can't talk to well because of the swelling.  I am getting to the point where I can't cope with this anymore!!  I really need to talk to someone who understands and are going/have gone through the same thing my email addy is ***@****, sorry for the rant...

[sweetdevil]

For the past 6 years my eyes and lips have swelled up for no apparent reason at all. It usually starts while i am asleep and when i wake up in the morning one of my eyes are swollen or my bottom lip and they swell so much i can feel the skin streching. When it first happened i woke up with both my eyes so swollen that i couldn't see out of them. It then trailed off for a year or so but started happening again 3 years ago. 2 years ago i actually woke up with half my tongue swollen. I take 1 Loratadine
tablet 10mg when it happens and after about 6 to 8 hours it goes away. But it's scary. My doctor doesn't think there is anything that can be done! I don't know what to do or how to find out what it is thats causing it to happen.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

This sort of condition usually is not allergic.  The fact that your allergist has not found an allergy in your case suggests that you aren't allergic.  This swelling usually comes and goes for no reason, and eventually may well just burn itself out and stop on its own.  meantime, non-sedating antihistamines like Allegra or Clarinex might be worth trying, as part of your "cocktail."  Ask your doctor.  And don't be discouraged--for the most part, this is just an annoyance.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff