Medication sensitivity?

[Sailorsong]

I have been wondering lately if my sensitivity to medication could be related to my MS. I could understand being sensitive to some medications but not everything.

For example I have high BP and unlike most people I take 3 different types to control my BP. The reason I take 3 different ones is because if my doctors try to increase any one of them (all are 1/2 the smallest dosage available) my BP and or pulse goes too low.

My doctors have tried putting me on every anti-depressant there is but at even the smallest dosage they just knock me out and I'm not able to function. One doctor even tried having me take 1/4 of the smallest dosage pill (not very easy to cut a pill into quarters) and it still knocked me out.  

When I get TN I tale 1 5mg Hydrocodone. It doesn't really help the pain, but it knocks me out for 8 hours so that I sleep through the pain.

So does anyone else have this kind of problem? Before my MS symptoms first showed up I took normal amount of medications with no problems at all.

Dennis

[welshbot]

So are you sensitive to dmds? I've tried three so far and they've all knocked me for six. The last one being tecfidera, which has been the worst so far. It was absolutely awful. I lasted three days on it.

[HLAB27pos]

http://acanvasoftheminds.com/2012/12/04/medication-sensitivity-its-in-your-genes/

I found this while researching drug sensitivity. I am seriously considering having this test done. I am so tired of trial and error with my meds.

[aspen2]

Thank you for this!  I'm also insanely drug sensitive; heading off to read.

[supermum_ms]

Hey Dennis,

I have a love hate relationship with medications, my self and both my kids are sensitive/allergic to.... lol it seems like just about anything you can think of now. We all have reacted to medications with hives, swelling, redness, blisters, intense itching, hyper or hypo activity but my son reacted to Tofranol (sp) with severe weight and height retardation, tachicardic, sweating, foggy brain or racing thoughts, fear etc

Why people become sensitive is quite interesting, allergy prone individuals are more likely to have chemical sensitivities too, not always though so its a bit of a guessing game. Some classes of drugs are more known for the typical sensitivity reactions, ones that target immune system responses  like antibiotics are more known. If your sensitive, the immune response is not only attacking the invading bug but also the medications sent in to eradicate the invader, their immune response goes haywire.

This is why i always feel worse 'after' I start taking antibiotic, lol I generally avoid the medications my Dr wants me to take. From our experience(s) Dr's don't necessarily believe their patient is 'sensitive' until after they've seen it for them selves. DD almost instantly reacts to morphine, twice different dr's have chosen to give her morphine anyway, thats after being fully informed! If they dont believe it can happen they will ignore her, she's left swelling up like a balloon, red rash spreading fast, welts, itching and an intense desire to throttle the dr ;-) or anyone who touches her, and the Dr is left scratching his/her head because its not suppose to happen, and yet it actually does!    

This is an interesting read, list some classes of drugs, allergy vs sensitivity etc.

http://www.answers.com/topic/drug-allergies-sensitivities

Cheers.........JJ

[rendean]

Many drug allergies as well. So tired of hearing , "I never saw anybody allergic to that" and "Boy, do you have a lot of allergies".

However, since I am redheaded, which everyone tries to blame the allergies on (wrong, didn't happen until MS symptoms started in retrospect) it takes 30% more medication to achieve the same level of pain control than those who aren't redheaded. It has to do with the gene that causes the hair color according to my pain mangment doc.

Ren

[anon07072023]

I'm sensitive and almost allergic to many medicines - this has just been in the last couple of yrs.

I can't take solumedrol, because they thought my achilles tendon was going to tear, plus I lose weight, heart races, face & neck turn red, my voice is hoarse and my throat feels tight.

Hydrocodone makes me have non-stop vomitting - I think 13 times in 2 1/2hrs and it feels like I'm in the ocean floating around.

Prednisone - I get hives in my mouth (which is the opposite of what it's supposed to do).

Dicyclomene - hives in mouth, rash & hives in mouth, neck, chest, arms, and swelling in throat.

Etc, etc.

[grandmalaurie59]

very interesting.....I am very drug sensative too!

Laurie

[beema36]

I am very sensitive to drugs. It drives my drs crazy.I am not sure if it's ms related though.

[SarahL2491]

well, I'm no help either.  Im also labeled drug sensitive.  Never thought of connecting it to MS though.  Interesting.  I've been that way got probably the last 15 yrs........will run it past my neuro in May.  I know I can't take a lot of pain medication and they think I am just after the hard stuff because I turn down what they offer....

Thanks for bringing this thought up!

[dogmum]

I'm labeled "drug sensitive" too and they told me that it's quite common with people who have auto-immune diseases.  In my case, I've always been that way though.