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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Peter on October 1, 2003, at 17:49:07
I woke up at 5a.m. this morning 'cause my body was so itchy. I turned on the light and saw that I had what appeared to be hive-like welts on my hands, face, and one or two on my arms. I took a claritin (the only antihistamine I had handy) and 5mg ambien to get back to sleep for a few hours. The conditiom has persisted throughout the day today, and the areas around the hives are more swelled-up. Also, a rash has popped up on my neck - little red spots all over my neck.
Now, I've been taking lexapro for 26 days and nothing like this has happened before since I started it. I've also been taking adderall and klonopin with it, and I haven't added anything new to the mix; in fact, I've been decreasing the adderall,for the last week, following the orders of my pdoc.
Is it possible that this is an allergic reaction to the lexapro? But how could it happen this late into treatment? I thought allergic reactions to meds happen pretty soon after you start them. I called my pdoc's private line, because I've been bugging-out all day about this; I think he was with a patient so the conversation was very short; but he said I should take benadryl and see if it helps - he said he didn't see how this could be an allergic reaction to the lex this late into treatment. I didn't have time to ask him anything else. Then I looked up 'hives medication allergy' on the web, and I found a few sites describing allergic reactions to meds - they said that one rarely has an allergic reaction the first time the body is exposed to a med - it's only after the body begins to recognize the foreign substance that the immune system begins to respond. I might be thinking unclearly because of the high level of anxiety this has provoked in me, but when I read that I started thinking that allergic reactions to medications do NOT happen immediately, and now I'm paranoid that this is a dangerous allergy to the lexapro. Any feedback? I'm really anxious.
Posted by djmmm on October 1, 2003, at 18:02:20
In reply to HIVES! Lexapro?? freaking out..., posted by Peter on October 1, 2003, at 17:49:07
> I woke up at 5a.m. this morning 'cause my body was so itchy. I turned on the light and saw that I had what appeared to be hive-like welts on my hands, face, and one or two on my arms. I took a claritin (the only antihistamine I had handy) and 5mg ambien to get back to sleep for a few hours. The conditiom has persisted throughout the day today, and the areas around the hives are more swelled-up. Also, a rash has popped up on my neck - little red spots all over my neck.
> Now, I've been taking lexapro for 26 days and nothing like this has happened before since I started it. I've also been taking adderall and klonopin with it, and I haven't added anything new to the mix; in fact, I've been decreasing the adderall,for the last week, following the orders of my pdoc.
> Is it possible that this is an allergic reaction to the lexapro? But how could it happen this late into treatment? I thought allergic reactions to meds happen pretty soon after you start them. I called my pdoc's private line, because I've been bugging-out all day about this; I think he was with a patient so the conversation was very short; but he said I should take benadryl and see if it helps - he said he didn't see how this could be an allergic reaction to the lex this late into treatment. I didn't have time to ask him anything else. Then I looked up 'hives medication allergy' on the web, and I found a few sites describing allergic reactions to meds - they said that one rarely has an allergic reaction the first time the body is exposed to a med - it's only after the body begins to recognize the foreign substance that the immune system begins to respond. I might be thinking unclearly because of the high level of anxiety this has provoked in me, but when I read that I started thinking that allergic reactions to medications do NOT happen immediately, and now I'm paranoid that this is a dangerous allergy to the lexapro. Any feedback? I'm really anxious.Call your doctor. I can't tell you to discontinue a medication (im not a doctor), but If I was in your position I would discontinue the newly added medication (lexapro) until you can see your doc.
I had a similar reaction to the immediate release version of wellbutrin...It gave me hives nearly 2 weeks after starting it, and the hives disappeared almost immediately after discontinuing the medication.
Hives can lead to full anaphylactic shock.
Posted by Peter on October 1, 2003, at 18:28:56
In reply to Re: HIVES! Lexapro?? freaking out..., posted by djmmm on October 1, 2003, at 18:02:20
> > I woke up at 5a.m. this morning 'cause my body was so itchy. I turned on the light and saw that I had what appeared to be hive-like welts on my hands, face, and one or two on my arms. I took a claritin (the only antihistamine I had handy) and 5mg ambien to get back to sleep for a few hours. The conditiom has persisted throughout the day today, and the areas around the hives are more swelled-up. Also, a rash has popped up on my neck - little red spots all over my neck.
> > Now, I've been taking lexapro for 26 days and nothing like this has happened before since I started it. I've also been taking adderall and klonopin with it, and I haven't added anything new to the mix; in fact, I've been decreasing the adderall,for the last week, following the orders of my pdoc.
> > Is it possible that this is an allergic reaction to the lexapro? But how could it happen this late into treatment? I thought allergic reactions to meds happen pretty soon after you start them. I called my pdoc's private line, because I've been bugging-out all day about this; I think he was with a patient so the conversation was very short; but he said I should take benadryl and see if it helps - he said he didn't see how this could be an allergic reaction to the lex this late into treatment. I didn't have time to ask him anything else. Then I looked up 'hives medication allergy' on the web, and I found a few sites describing allergic reactions to meds - they said that one rarely has an allergic reaction the first time the body is exposed to a med - it's only after the body begins to recognize the foreign substance that the immune system begins to respond. I might be thinking unclearly because of the high level of anxiety this has provoked in me, but when I read that I started thinking that allergic reactions to medications do NOT happen immediately, and now I'm paranoid that this is a dangerous allergy to the lexapro. Any feedback? I'm really anxious.
>
> Call your doctor. I can't tell you to discontinue a medication (im not a doctor), but If I was in your position I would discontinue the newly added medication (lexapro) until you can see your doc.
>
> I had a similar reaction to the immediate release version of wellbutrin...It gave me hives nearly 2 weeks after starting it, and the hives disappeared almost immediately after discontinuing the medication.
>
> Hives can lead to full anaphylactic shock.
>>>Man. I hear ya. I'm considering stopping it, but if this is not lexapro-related, than I'd really hate to stop the lex after sticking with it for 26 days. I think the worst of the SE's are gone, and I'm proud that I actually got thru them without throwing in the towel earlier (and trust me, I considered quitting many times). It would really suck if I stop it after having come so far, especially if I'm on the cusp of having the lex benefits kick in. It's been a long journey. On the other hand, it would suck even more if this IS from the lex and I fell into anaphylactic shock. I took those 2 benadryls almost 2 hours ago, and I don't see any improvement. AGH!! this is very frustrating. I don't know what to do.
Posted by EscherDementian on October 2, 2003, at 7:00:11
In reply to Re: HIVES! Lexapro?? freaking out... » djmmm, posted by Peter on October 1, 2003, at 18:28:56
How much Adderall are you taking?
I once experimented taking larger and larger doses of Adderall to explore possible improvement levels, and the exact same 'hives' you describe, occurred. It was a reaction to too much Adderall in my system, i assumed. However, i was also taking a small regular dose of Lexapro.
Benadryl(antihistamine)had no effect on the itchy welts/hives.
The welt/hives disappeared after reducing my Adderall to my most comfortable dose and taking Vitamin C in a fairly large dose(1000mg) with lots of water. I think i repeated the Vit.C a half-hour later. i did not change anything about my Lexapro.Try "Emer'gen-C"/cranberry powder packets that you add to a glass of water. Any healthfood/suppliment store should have them. i get mine from TraderJoe's.
Each packet is 1000mg Vit.C + high potassium and effective nearly immediately after you drink it. Cranberry is a detoxin. It can also neutralize the effects of some drugs.Escher
Posted by Peter on October 2, 2003, at 8:01:59
In reply to Re: HIVES! Lexapro?? freaking out..., posted by EscherDementian on October 2, 2003, at 7:00:11
> How much Adderall are you taking?
>> Now 30mg, Last week, I began tapering from 40mg by 5mg every 4th day.
> I once experimented taking larger and larger doses of Adderall to explore possible improvement levels, and the exact same 'hives' you describe, occurred. It was a reaction to too much Adderall in my system, i assumed. However, i was also taking a small regular dose of Lexapro.
> > I too began experimenting with the adderall by increasing the dose during the first few weeks of taking lexapro, because I was especially depressed during that time. But the hives started after I had already begun reducing the adderall. I also am taking a small, regular dose of lexapro (10mg).
> Benadryl(antihistamine)had no effect on the itchy welts/hives.
> The welt/hives disappeared after reducing my Adderall to my most comfortable dose and taking Vitamin C in a fairly large dose(1000mg) with lots of water. I think i repeated the Vit.C a half-hour later. i did not change anything about my Lexapro.
>
> Try "Emer'gen-C"/cranberry powder packets that you add to a glass of water. Any healthfood/suppliment store should have them. i get mine from TraderJoe's.
> Each packet is 1000mg Vit.C + high potassium and effective nearly immediately after you drink it. Cranberry is a detoxin. It can also neutralize the effects of some drugs.
> > I'll see what I can find. But first I'm going to have a doctor take a look; I've felt crummy the last few weeks, like I've had an underlying sinus infection or something (waking up everyday with blocked ears and stuffy head). Maybe these welts are somehow related and a doctor might prescribe me antibiotics or something.
> Escher
> Thanks,
Peter
Posted by EscherDementian on October 2, 2003, at 18:02:04
In reply to Re: HIVES! Lexapro?? freaking out... » EscherDementian, posted by Peter on October 2, 2003, at 8:01:59
Posted by Emmy333 on October 3, 2003, at 9:52:52
In reply to Re: HIVES! Lexapro?? freaking out..., posted by EscherDementian on October 2, 2003, at 7:00:11
believe me--i have been dealing w/ hives on my chest/ neck/ face for a few years now. the hives could have just been a fluke , not from the medication, but the more you think about them, they will appear. i have stress-induced hives and when i worry/ think about them/ get anxious, the hives will appear. so just by focusing your attention on it, they can appear from anxiety. i wish you the best of luck.
Posted by Kacy on October 3, 2003, at 17:12:02
In reply to Re: HIVES! Lexapro?? freaking out..., posted by Emmy333 on October 3, 2003, at 9:52:52
I'm surprised by your doctor's surprise. Hives can break out when the drug reaches a certain level. For instance, I broke out at three weeks and a day of Wellbutrin. Some drugs take a long time to build up in your system. The hives went away after a day so I continued taking the drug; they came back with a vengence three days later. This time, it was three types of hives and hives on top of hives. I'd get a second opinion before I took anymore.
Posted by Peter on October 3, 2003, at 18:41:09
In reply to Re: HIVES! Lexapro?? freaking out..., posted by Kacy on October 3, 2003, at 17:12:02
> I'm surprised by your doctor's surprise. Hives can break out when the drug reaches a certain level. For instance, I broke out at three weeks and a day of Wellbutrin. Some drugs take a long time to build up in your system. The hives went away after a day so I continued taking the drug; they came back with a vengence three days later. This time, it was three types of hives and hives on top of hives. I'd get a second opinion before I took anymore.
>>Well, I finally tracked down a doctor here in Europe. I'm staying in a rural area, and the doc said that all the Autumn insects migrate into houses around this time and basically feed off your skin. Great. So I have like 30 various insect bites - spiders, etc. He said it is not an allergic reaction to the meds I'm taking. That was a relief, but the reality that these are insect bites isn't exactly comforting. I also have some stapholoccocus bacteria blended into the bites on my skin. Joy. So he gave me proper ointments to put on and I fumigated my romm w/some insecticide. Not hives after all, although they sure did look like it, by appearance and sheer amount of welts. As far as I know, I am ok. And I shall continue on the meds.
This is the end of the thread.
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