a couple of weeks ago I was given antibiotics amoxi clav I was sick after taking them and they upset my stomach..within a few hours I broke out in a itchy rash ..it would appear then go and erupt on a different part of my body.. eg: all over both legs then whole of my back  ..at one point I thought I was going to rip my hair out it was so bad.. I rang the NHS direct they said it was a reaction to the tabs to stop them immediately take a piriton (which I already had) and go back to the docs the next day or go to AE if my breathing was affected.
By the next morning the rash had gone if my OH hadnt have seen it.. it would have been hard to believe I had suffered so much.
Doc wasnt really that bothered I supposed because I looked ok he gave me a different prescription.

Anyway since this incident I keep breaking out in spots only way to describe it is they look like 4 or 5 heat spots in a group or 2 together or 1 on its own in different parts of my body.
Before anyone suggests... they are not bites ..strange feeling in the area just before they erupt then within half an hour or so they completely disappear.... I also have pains in my joints whether it is connected I dont know I mentioned it to the doc he said it is my age..lol.. my doctor did blood tests as I am on thyroxine the results came back normal today but my t4 are elevated but stable.

I will have to go back to the docs as this is getting beyond a joke I am very uncomfortable. i havent changed anything to my routine washing powders/ cleaning products/foods etc...

Anyone any ideas....

Roni

> I also have pains in my joints

This makes me think of some sort of auto-immune response .
Could you take a few photos of the spots , maybe with a 1p piece next to a spot to show how big they are, as they keep disappearing ?
You definately need to go back . Hope you get some relief soon . XXX

Were the ab's penicillin based ? Just re read and as they are amoxy then they will be.

If so I am allergic to penicillin and found out whilst in hospital after an operation. It took me a few weeks to get over the rash.

I have since then once been given them by mistake and had the rash again and was also violently sick with them .

LJS yes they were , ..had penicillin before no problem but I presume you can become allergic to anything at anytime. Doc said the rash wouldnt be from that as it would only take 24/48 hrs to go I hope you are onto something there ... I will do some researching on how long it can take to leave the system.

St Dom will take some pics ..good idea..

Thanks

I found out I was allergic to penicillin last year. The rash I had was very red, very itchy, covering a lot of my body and lasted for a few weeks. I had to go and get it checked by my GP before I was 'officially' declared allergic and my records noted - my vet took it very seriously.

> had penicillin before no problem but I presume you can become allergic to anything at anytime

Yes - I hadn't had antibiotics for about 30 years, but had had penicillin with no problem previously.

Yes I had taken penicillin before a few times through childhood but I was in my early twenties when I succumbed.

I remember feeling so bad as had a drain coming out of my jaw and then having the reaction and so felt like poo !

I think the gave me some steroid cream and anti histamines to treat the rash. It took at least a week to start to calm down .

Daisy made me laugh.. can tell this is a dog forum..he he >my vet took it very seriously<.

Sound like I am still suffering from the reaction to the tablets....

How did you cope with the itching ... its driving me mad....

Here is a pic similar to the spots (hives) this pic is not me!

http://www.uptodate.com/contents/image?imageKey=PI%2F18589&topicKey=PI%2F367&utdPopup=true

> Daisy made me laugh.. can tell this is a dog forum..he he >my vet took it very seriously

:) :) I had spotted it and was changing it, but I'm watching Lambing Live and forgot to push the 'Change' button to change it :) :) :) I'll leave it now to make a few others laugh :)

> How did you cope with the itching ... its driving me mad....

You need to be taking anti histamines and to be using a mild steroid cream , but as you are going to the Doc's you might prefer to be able to show him the rash ?

your doctor is presuming it was an allergy type rash, and totally forgetting that there are other more long lasting skin type lesions that can be caused by augmentin. these are not allergies, but side effects. Some of them can be quite serious. Go back to your GP, and tell him to check the BNF ( British National Formulary) for the list of skin effects of augmentin....they are listed in there. If you get no joy, get a second opinion.

PS I am a qualified prescriber so my advice is professionally based, not a lay opinion :)

Hi Roni,

I have my little medicine book here which gives side effects of all medicines.

The side effects of amoxycillian - penicillin-type antibiotic are:

Rashes, high temperature and joint pain.

Allergic patients may suffer anaphylactic shock, the most common side effect is diarrhoea.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So it looks as though the joint pain comes from the amoxi, though my little book does not say how long the symptoms will last. So nothing to do with your age hun. :-)

Hope you get better soon. xxx

thank you pinklilies

roni~

thanks Carrington..

know what peeps...so glad I posted...feeling better already!

Roni~x

If your rash looks like the picture posted then you may have acute urticaria (nettle rash/hives) it's a not uncommon allergic reaction to a variety of drugs and should fade with use of antihistamines. As you were advised, if you start feeling faint or have difficulty breathing or feel like your throat is closing up, then it is an emergency and you need to get to hospital. Sounds as though you are okay though- here's a link http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nettle-rash/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Hope you feel better soon.

If the rash is still itchy and bothering you , I would cover the areas in calamine lotion. This is what I do when I get a reaction to something , I'm terrible with Chlorine and suffer for about 2 - 3 weeks after swimming , hence I don't go too often now .

Ditto you are showing signs of allergy you MUST note that you will not be able to use that medicine again or you risk anaphalactic shock thats the diffeculty breathing. I did when I was three months pregnant and it took me two months to be clear of spots, I could not take antihistimine in large enough doses because I was pregnant.  Back to the Dr's for you my friend you could do with Zirtek or a better antihistimine than piriton which is a bit weak. Amoxicillien is penicillen by another name and you need it on your records and a medialert somewhere to show you are allergic to it.

i was going to say hives,they dont always itch,my daughter gets them
http://www.healthy-skin-guide.com/hives-look.html
this link shows different types of hive outbreaks
jo

couldnt get an appointment today at docs so nipped up to see my chemist as he is easy to talk to and usually very informative. He said he has never known a pen: rash to last as long as this has...usually 48hr then it clears up that it doesnt stay in the system that long, that is why you have to take a course of tabs.
He said I should take piriton and another antihistermine (which he gave me cant remember the name... ) to take these over the weekend then get back to the docs on Monday as something else is 'going on' which needs to be sorted.

I am not sure what he told me is correct if I go by the info I read yesterday ...most of which stated that a penicillin reaction can last for weeks which appears as a hives rash.

Taking the tabs he gave me , no rash today ... upto now .. feel a lot more comfortable but still have the pains in my joints. Will go see the doc on Monday with  pics if the rash appears anytime  during the next 2 days.

Thanks everyone sooo much for your advice and knowledge on the subject... your all stars!! x