My mother told me I was allergic to penicillin. When I was in my 30's and living in France, my doctor told me it probably wasn't true and gave me amoxicillin. I broke out in hives. Now I have both penicillin and amoxicillin on my list of allergens.
Anything with ‘cillin’ in the name of the medicine is going to have penicillin in it because there’s a family of medicines that have similar ingredients in it.
Suggested to have prevent tablet 500 mg from my orthro hours later rashes bruises and hives along with that there was another medicine 100 mg n m not sure which one caused that brutal hive
The doctors tell me I have a Medication Sensitivity. I cannot take strong meds. Penicillin and other meds, like opiates, make me so utterly sick that I can't get well from the original illness. So I just tell the doctors and the pharmacists to list them in my records. The pharmacists always ask me about the prescriptions before they issue them!!! Thank goodness. Thank you Docs for the video!!
Interesting that this subject comes up because for years I was told I was allergic to penicillin and I never believed I was. In 1986 I was taken penicillin for some kind of illness and on the 2nd last day of a 10 or 7 day treatment I broke out in hives all over my face and body. After being treated for the hives my family doctor deemed I was allergic. I asked to be tested to be sure and was denied for some reason I don't remember. So for years I told Healthcare personnel that I was allergic and not truly believing it. I had my gallbladder removed in 2013 as an out patient and of course told them I had a penicillin allergy. In recovery the nurse asked me what my reaction to penicillin. I told her that it was hives and then asked her why she was asking, she told me because the doctor gave me a shot of penicillin. From that day forward I just stopped telling doctors that I had a penicillin allergy. I had no reaction to that shot of penicillin. I'm in a new province not with new files and no mention of any penicillin allergies. Now weather I did the right thing remains to be seen. Just thought I'd share my story.
Same story as many others. I broke out in hives once while taking penicillin and was told to avoid it. I recently was convinced to take it for a stubborn post surgical infection. The doctors had tried many antibiotics including IV ones for 2 out of the 5 weeks I was on them. I was very anxious when I took the first pill. Hubby and daughter waited with me in case. I was fine! I had been told that even if I did react it would be mild. So penicillin is back in my arsenal.
Exactly as you suggest, I had tonsilitis every 5 minutes when I was a kid, was repeatedly dosed with penicillin and was eventually told I was allergic to it, I can't remember the details. As an adult I had myself checked by an allergy specialist who told me that there was no evidence that that was in fact true
WOO HOO! Thanks for this video. I was told that I was allergic to penicillin back in 1973! I am also very allergic to sulfa drugs...that WE DO know. This limits antibiotics for me a lot! Per your suggestion, I saw an allergist today. I spent three hours (nothing else to do!). I had the skin pricks then a 30% dosage of oral penicillin. After 15 minutes, they gave me the 70% remaining dose. 45 minutes later...I'm doing fine! He asked me how I found out the information that prompted me to get tested. I mentioned your videos. The doctor will notify my primary care physician and get this allergy removed from my record! As you say at the end of every video, I am "...in charge of my own health!" I gave the two extra books, "Good Night Humans" to two well deserving friends. Please thank Ms. Maalf again! WW
My husband is allergic to penicillin, or so we think! He was also allergic to Azulfidine, but since it was the drug of choice for his condition back in the day, the doctor insisted that we do systematic desensitization. That worked! I'm intrigued by your video and I'm going to think hard about next steps.
Hello docs! Mike from you Marlin Perkins reference I wanted to let you know that your videos helped enormously with the pre op anxiety I was torturing myself with. I had my RTHR on September 25. Posterior approach using the MAKO robot and striker components. Walking with walker and home on 36 hours . I won't sugarcoat anything, I had significant pain for the first three weeks. Taking meds on a regular schedule kept the pain from becoming overwhelming. Each week I can get by with less of the opiate, my kidneys aren't playing well with others so I'm trying to wean off the opiate onto Tylenol and a muscle relaxer. The PT ( Physical Terrorism) have my best interest in heart, but I really need the strong stuff prior and after. The trouble sleeping you discussed is absolutely accurate, and miserable! I believe sincerely that I get real, restful sleep twice a week. Anyway, the information you kind orthopods up in the mysterious white land to the North had been very helpful and reassuring for me. Thanks so very much for your work, and sense of humor! Mike Wong Old enough to remember all the good shows. get what
Wow, who knew? I was the kid with the rash! I don't remember what illness I had (very ancient history), do remember cold baths and calamine lotion for the rash so it must have been a significant one. Years later I was told it was specifically "penicillin G" I was allergic to (by a medical person, not an allergist). Wondering the significance of the G? Love this channel, you guys come up with the most interesting stuff!
Currently on amoxicillin for infected tooth. I have nausea and depression, which are side effects that can happen. That doesn’t mean I’m allergic to it, just that my body doesn’t like drugs.
So great that you brought this up. If anyone isn’t sure, I think it’s worth it to get tested and find out. I was told all of my life that I was allergic to Penicillin. My younger brother was told this as well. He decided to try taking it as an adult, and had no reaction. I was getting allergy shots at the time but hoped that like my brother, maybe I wasn’t really allergic either. My Doctor did a allergy test to see if I was still allergic, unfortunately I am allergic.
I fell into a yellow jacket nest when I was about 5 and got stung over 100 times. I got penicillin and broke out in itchy hives at my joints. I’ve been telling doctors I’m allergic ever since but I don’t really know. I’ve explained it to every doctor but none cared enough to find out.
When I am asked, I say that I have a "sensitivity* to penicillin class. I get severe headaches, & generally feel "off" for a couple of days, but it's not life-threatening. Penicillin isn't the only thing that causes it; for a long time it happened nearly every time I ate yeast bread. Now I can eat some yeast bread as long as I don't overdo, but sourdough still gives me a headache. So do some cheeses, e.g. sharp cheddar or bleu, which i haven't tried in a very long time. My conclusion is that the cause is some metabolite of eukaryotic fermentation.
The other big allergy that we don't know if we really have is Sulfa. I had a breakout with sulfa when I was a teenager. At age 74 now, I still list that as my allergy!
Me too! Being allergic to penicillin AND sulfa isn't good when one has an infection. I wrote, yesterday, that I was tested yesterday and, after 53 years...no allergy. The allergist did say that there's always a possibility of a mild case of hives BUT the anaphylactic reaction is the one they would worry about. I got no reaction at all. I took sulfa antibiotics about 10 years ago and developed a mild rash on my lower extremities. So, I'm allergic to sulfa. Earlier this year, an ENT wanted to treat an ear infection but was limited due to my penicillin AND sulfa allergy. I suggested that the worst case with sulfa would be a rash. Well, the next morning, I looked like I had measles on my lower extremities. That didn't work! Plan B. Now, the penicillin allergy will be removed from my records. WHEW!
When I was six I had a bad reaction to tetracycline in which I collapsed. A couple days later they gave me penicillin and I had another reaction but not as severe, but it went down on my records as a reaction to both. Many years later like 25, my doctor questioned the reactions and I went to the sensitivity clinic in Hamilton where we slowly tested penicillin. Turns out I was likely allergic to the coatings they used way back when and I was fine with penicillin but still allergic to tetracycline. I am now 65 and have only had penicillin about 5 times and it works good.
I always list penicillin as an allergy issue even without true anaphylaxis. Here's why. Doctors used penicillin for everything during my childhood. It was the magic pill/shot when they had very little in the medicine chest. At a certain point my body said 'no' and my gut still automatically goes on vomit decades later. But not true anaphylaxis. On the rare occasion I do allow use of antibiotics, I can work with a modest dose of one of the relatives as long as I can take it with food. Even then, I labor to get my gut microbiota back in shape. Good piece. Thanks again.
I was 5 or 6 and was sick . The family doctor came to the house (yes correct) and gave me penicillin. From what i remember, my moms no longer alive, it didn't take long i broke out in a rash. Thats all i remember. Im 71 and still would like to get tested , just in case....do you think it is a good idea?
Had a situation where one kid, had an allergy to a class of antibiotic drugs then the siblings were told they shouldn’t have it either. Sounds like a good reason for my kids to be tested. Good food for thought in the video. Thank you.
My mother told me as a child that I had a reaction to penicillin. It’s noted in my chart. When I had a TKR, cefazolin was administered during surgery. I wound up with jaundice (a liver injury is what I was told). I was told it is in a family of drugs, cephalosporins, and I should never ever have a drug in that family. I was also told that penicillin falls in that drug family.
Unlike so many people who commented, I had no problems with penicillin as a child or young adult. Then, several decades ago, I was given ampicillin. I broke out into an extremely itchy, red rash all over my chest. I stopped taking it immediately and went back to the Dr. the next day. He looked at the rash and immediately said I was allergic to Ampicillin. Most Doctors do list it that way but some list it as a "Penicillin and derivatives" allergy. The only other allergy I have is to bandage adhesive. I can tolerate it for an hour or so. Then I develope itchy, swollen, red rash where adhesive touched the skin. Again, this developed a few decades ago. I am now 75.
I had a reaction on penicillin at age 18. Was told by my pediatrician after describing my reaction that I was allergic. Realized later that I really needed to know for sure so went for cillin testing at an allergists office and, yep, I was and am allergic to penicillin as well as amoxicillin and ampicillin.
As a child, I often had strep throat in the winter. Every time I took PCN. In college, I worked full time and carried a full load of classes. My immune system became compromised, and I ended up in the hospital with double pneumonia. There, I was pumped full of PCN via IV. One day, I became covered in hives and was given IV benadryl (or something similar). The symptoms quickly resolved, and the doctor told me never to take PCN again as I may have an anaphylactic response, so I never have.
I was diagnosed with a Penicillin allergy at aged 11 after having stomach bleeding while taking it. In retrospect, I have a theory that I may have self medicated with chewable baby aspirin, which was widely available and never mentioned to me as being harmful to your stomach. I don’t remember for sure, but I know we had it in our home and I used it at times without permission. Fast forward to Four years ago, after a procedure, I was coming out of sedation and heard 2 people talking about me (at least I thought they were). One apparently had accidentally administered a penicillin based antibiotic and the other person said “her chart says she’s allergic to Penicillin.” I can’t remember anything after that, but I had no reaction to whatever they gave me, leading me to suspect I really have never had an allergy to it.
I am allergic to penicillin. It started with a mild rash. Another dr said I probably wasn’t truly allergic, and gave me Augmentin. I broke out in an itchy, dark rash all over and had trouble breathing. I’m also allergic to Cephalosporins (last time had pretty significant breathing trouble after I was mistakenly given IV Rocephin. Thankfully I was in the ER, and they were able to administer IV Benadryl and stuff to help). I also had an anaphylactic reaction to two non antibiotic medications.
Well, the last time i had it, i itched for 10 hours, ripping my skin off. Then i started getting MRSA infections due to skin scraps and usually end up in ICU for 7 days on Vancomycin, which is a violent drug. This has happened three times since 2007 six months after my heart stroke Cardiac ICU. One doctor at the VA (i know i hate them too) said a few years ago i was a MRSA carrier, and should never help or be around people with open wounds. Good job guys.
Exactly as you suggest, I had tonsilitis a child and told I was allergic. As an adult that needed surgery I was told let's give it a try and have not reaction. Since then I have had it several times.
When I was about 10 yrs old I got blood poisoning in my leg. I was taken to the ER and the doctor gave me, what he called a super duper shot of Penicillin. After I got home, I started vomiting yellow bile, and developed welts on my body. My parents took me back to the ER and the doctor said I was allergic to the Penicillin. About 12 or 13 yrs ago I had to have a tooth extracted surgically. After the surgery the dentist gave me a prescription for an antibiotic. I went to the pharmacy and got the script filled and went home. I took the recommended dose and went about my day. I didn't look at the name of the drug for a couple of days. When I did I saw that it was Amoxicillin. I had not had any reaction to it, but to be on the safe side, I called the dentist and asked why he gave me a drug that was related to Penicillin when it says right on my chart I am allergic. He then gave me a different prescription . Since I did not have any reaction to the Amoxicillin, I have wondered if I am actually allergic to Penicillin.
In my mid 20's, my family doctor gave me a shot of penicillin. While driving home, my left arm began to swell with some associated pain. I returned to his office and he gave me another shot that almost immediately put me to sleep. After my "nap", I woke to a normally sized arm and no pain. The doctor told me that I had an allergic reaction to the penicillin and should never take it again. I'm now 76 and still have the allergy on my medical records. Question: Should I be retested? Thanks.
Diagnosed with very severe aplastic anemia with concurrent pulmonary actinomycosis. Was on amoxicillin for six months. Eight years later was ill with relapse and bad tooth infection. Was given penicillin type drug, tazocin, and turned bright red with edema as well. I am also allergic to sulpha drugs. Also to some cephalosporins. But I like the idea of doing an allergy test to confirm. Will try and find somewhere to do that.
Penicillin saved my life. That was long ago when only penicillin was used-not any of the derivatives. Lots of penicillin. Turned allergic, tested many decades later-couple of years ago. Still allergic. Always have to remind current providers I’m allergic when they come up with some derivative they want to prescribe.
I had a bad reaction to Pen-Vee-K 😊when I was 8. Swollen tongue, hard to breathe, etc. So now, at 63, I've been going through several years of UTIs and sinus infections, indiscriminately treated with Keflex, which made me vomit horribly, and a nasty group known as the flouroquinolones (Cipro, Levaquin and others), which caused the most painful tendinitis in my legs. My feet turned inward as I tried to walk on the outside edges, and I swore never again. When I say these were Rx'd indiscriminately, I mean the M.D.s prescribed these drugs without culture lab tests, so they didn't really know which pathogen(s) we were fighting. At my insistence, my nasal secretions and sinus cavities were tested and swabbed with my last sinus infection, and I've been confirmed with MRSA in my sinus cavities. Permanent colonization, I'm told. And I'm looking at major dental work and TMJ involvement with possible reconstruction within the next year. So then I caught another UTI, likely from unavoidable exposure to stool in bouts of diarrhea caused by the antibiotics Rx'd repeatedly for the UTIs. A vicious cycle. My current uro-gyn M.D. will Rx only Bactrim or Macrobid for the UTIs, and only after confirmed lab cultures of my urine. Mostly E. coli, Enterococcus, some Pseudomonas, and a surprise with Brucellosis pathogens causing the UTIs. So I've been tested, again at my insistence, for penicillin allergy. Allergies can be outgrown, and I hoped for a miracle. Turns out, I can have amoxicillin that they tested me with. But I'm hypervigilant and vehemently refuse all antibiotics without a damned good explanation as to why they're needed and the actual lab tests that prove it. Just last week, a nurse tried to add Flagyl to my I.V. when I went to the ER for what turned out to be a gallbladder attack, my first. I told her I'd sue her personally and the hospital, and I wanted to talk to the prescribing M.D. BEFORE she added that piggyback to my saline-morphine-Zofran drip. I had no fever or chills and no sweating, though my B.P. shot up to 206/102 with a heart rate of 48, so they wouldn't give my regular Metoprolol and Losartan doses, which I missed during my 12-hour stay in the ER. I was dehydrated and on the verge of DKA bc my missed Metformin dose was totally disregarded, and they had no intention of dosing me with insulin to substitute. Empty stomach, unable to produce urine, dehydrated from diarrhea, and they're guessing I have an infection. I sat in that ER for twelve hours while the saline did its job, my B.P. slowly came down, my heart rate went up, they gave me the Metoprolol and Losartan, and I was released with B.P. of 164/85, heart rate of 62. Good enough! And you can bet they now have updated and corrected info about which drugs I can have and which I'l refuse. And my brand new Gastro M.D., who I saw just once, a week before this ER visit, will have alot more to do and look at than just the colonoscopy and EGD in December. Thanks for letting me vent, and for dipping your toes into the PCN allergy arena. Antibiotics are probably the most overprescribed, and most dangerous drugs out there.
This is so important and I thank you for this video. I have a penicillin allergy on my chart as well as an allergy to Biaxin This causes immense problems for me as I also have mitral valve prolapse so my dentist requires antibiotics to do any procedures. Because I don’t want to take too many broad spectrum antibiotics I have avoided all but necessary procedures. I really need several appointments to address my dental problems. I would love to be able to take penicillin. I 😂as also diagnosed with an allergy to aspirin which means I must suffer through pain that could be relieved. Thank you I will explore this topic with an allergist.
I’m allergic to Augmentin so I was told that I should stay away from all penicillin. But I can take Amoxicillin and it doesn’t affect me as an allergic reaction.
I am allergic to a lot of antibiotics, especially penicillin. After I told a doctor that, he gave me a penicillin shot while pretending it was something else. I had capillaries break in my face later and extreme diarrhea when he said nobody was allergic. The last operation I had , my present doctor had to give me antibiotics but told me to eat yogurt or take acidophilus. Worked like a charm since I had to have the antibiotic. Any time I have to take a narcotic, it really messes me up.
My long list of allergic medications include: Clindamycin, Cephalexin, Sulfamethoxazole, Amoxicillin & Doxycycline. I am so worried about getting another infection because I can’t take any of the above. Would I just die from the infection? What are your thoughts? What do you recommend I tell my doctor to try next time? My reaction would be hives and an extremely itchy all over body rash.
I was told as a child that I had a PCN allergy. Had both knees replaced this year and in between the surgeries I went to an allergist and was tested and tested negative. The allergist told me I may not have had an allergy but may have “grown out of it.” I wanted to know for sure since the best prophylaxis for dental and other invasive procedures is PCN after joint replacement. I didn’t want to put myself or my new joints at risk. Now I know.
My surgeon sent me to an infectious disease physician after my TKR. She said that I could take Keflex instead. But you will note above, I was tested by an allergist yesterday after the Doc's video last week. After 53 years, I'm no longer allergic. Now a rash is possible but the anaphylactic shock is what they were really worried about. WHEW
Definitely a sign you're allergic! 🥴 I had an anaphylactic reaction after taking (Tylenol w/)Codeine after getting sun poisoning in '91 right after having my firstborn son. My throat closed up COMPLETELY, and I prayed like nobody's business 🙏🙏🙏 and it slowly started opening up again. But, that was absolutely TERRIFYING! 😱 😟
In Iran we did not need prescription for antibiotics so my mom and aunt and everyone that I knew would order penicillin when anyone would cough or had a bad day so I think most Iranians are not allergic to penicillin.
I'm a primary care provider, and I've had a number of patients who claimed as many as fifteen medications they were allergic to. I try to clear off as many of these 'allergies' as possible, and of course, the first question I ask is "What reaction did this medication cause?" More often than not, it's not an allergy, but an expected (and rarely harmful) side effect of the medication itself. I point that out to the patient. Sometimes, the reaction is not an allergy or a side effect, but the medication working the way it's supposed to, like getting diarrhea from metformin, for example. Every once in a while, a patient will simply level with me and say "I just didn't like the way it made me feel." Not an allergy, and it doesn't have to be an obstacle to treatment if it's the best medication for the condition. So, patients: not everything is an 'allergy'. Let us do our jobs.
Conversely, doctors need to trust their patients. Ask questions to gather info, fine. But we aren’t stupid. I’ve had 19 surgeries. I know my allergies, and my adverse reactions. But some doctors just HAVE to know better, HAVE to be right. HAVE to feel like the smartest person in the room. And I’ve unfortunately experienced anaphylaxis because a doctor didn’t believe me when I said I was allergic.
I do have a penicillin allergy, and I am over being questioned about it every time I see a new medical person. Perhaps I should just say okay give me the penicillin and they can attend my funeral safe in the knowledge they saved a few bucks on giving me the appropriate antibiotic...
I thought I had a penicillin reaction because it made me feel terrible but later reasoned that I was dehydrated. Drinking a lot of liquids lessens the tiredness, heart palpitations, and brain fog considerably. Antibiotics are chemotherapy, and almost all chemotherapy makes you feel bad.
I had SCFE surgery 60 years ago and was given a skin test for pencillin and tested positive for a reaction. To this day I asked about my allergy, I suppose they are wondering if the the allergy is genuine or a self diagnosis.
I’ve been told that I am allergic to penicillin and the other derivatives…I developed this many, many years ago after a bout of pneumonia which put me in the hospital for three or four days ( I think, I was nine or ten) so for seventy years, I have said I was allergic to penicillin per the hospital and our doctor…so yes, it is in my medical history which means I am always prescribed a lessor medication to resolve my issue (s)…how do I address this now to verify whether or not this is still applicable? Primary doctor for tests? Please let me know and thanks for this information…
I am 74 and supposedly had some type of reaction to penicillin when I was 4 years old. I had meningitis and I remember being in the hospital for weeks. But I have no memory of the reaction I had to penicillin. It has been on my chart all my life. About 10 years ago I took some amoxicillin and had no reaction. I have since taken various penicillin related medications with no adverse reactions. So, I asked to have it removed from my chart.
All I know is I was 4 years old and wound up in the emergency room when the doctor gave me Penicillin… My parents told me I had broke out in hives all over and wasn’t a pretty site.. I think it’s safe to say I need to stay away from it.. lol
My mother told me that a doctor determined that I was allergic to penicillin, so that's what I have told doctors for 60 years. Not sure how to figure out if I am really allergic.
I broke out in hives to a derivative of penicillin when I was two. I asked my current doctor if I should be tested for a penicillin allergy and she said she thought it was a waste of time becuase they are so many other options.
40 years ago (in my early 20s) I had tonsillitis and was prescribed penicillin but I ended up with strep throat, a yeast infection, and something else. (I think it may have been a rash but I’m not 100% sure.) I was told I was allergic to penicillin at that point, but I’ve never been tested. I know it wasn’t just a simple rash that I got, though. It was several reactions.
Several years ago I had what doctors said was a textbook allergic rash after taking amoxicillin. I am afraid of having an anaphylactic shock reaction if I try penicillin or amoxicillin now that I am a senior citizen with aFib.
Get that AFIB fixed. Two years after diagnosis, I had a stroke! I had a cryo ablation (NOT HEAT!!). I've had no issues 10 years hence and got my flight medical back!
My penicillin allergy developed in my late 30s. I had an infected tooth and the first pill from the prescription caused anaphylaxis. I swelled like the Michelin man , got light headed and tried to drive to the hospital. I fell out of my car in the parking lot and the car kept going slowly with the door open. I came too on a gurney with someone sticking a giant needle in my chest. I was freezing and shaking the whole thing the suddely i vomited all over the place. My bowels had evacuated. I kept trying to apologise but they kept saying its ok, it just means you are back. So yep. My allergy is real.
I was always ok to take penicillin and amoxicillin but some years ago I was give amoxicillin and on the last 2 days (day 8) I broke out in a rash on my arm. Dr. said I was allergic and since then when I tell any medical person what happened they say that I am allergic to all Cillins. I would like to be sure and did ask about being tested and the nurse said it wasn't worth it since there are so many antibiotics around now. I also broke out in a rash taking Clindamycin on last several days of taking it for infection in one of my teeth.
As many others, I was told by my mother that I was allergic to penicillin due to a reaction of hives when I was a young child. I think I'll just stick with allergy on my chart, though.
I found out I was allergic to Penicillin when after getting a shot when I was young. The condition makes my hands and legs swell not trying that again.
Someone gave Benzathine penicillin intravenous to a patience last year June 2023 and now it seems the individual is experiencing the side effects. What’s your advice for this kind of situation?
I was prescribed amoxicillin a couple of years ago for a minor infection in a finger joint and broke out in hives. I'd never reacted like that before and had taken amoxicillin several years earlier for celluitis with no side effects. A short course of steroid knocked down the reaction, but now I can't use what is a very effective antibiotic.
It seems like doctors aren't prescribing penicillin as much as they did in decades past. I seem to get amoxicillin more than anything, occasionally very broad spectrum antibiotics for more severe problems. My father was told he was allergic to penicillin by his doctor after a close call. My brother is also allergic as well as one of his sons. My mom, sister and I have never had a reaction to penicillin. I've also had incidents when I was put on multiple antibiotics at the same time. But I've shown no reaction to any of them. I've had a couple of medications that had no effect on me or seemed to have an adverse effect and I let doctors know so they won't prescribe them. I really don't want to waste the time by taking something that doesn't work. But I've had no real allergies from any medication, just a couple of times of no reaction at all. I can see where this could be a problem if penicillin was taken out of the equation. I think a lot of doctors started prescribing other antibiotics for a while with so many people claiming to being allergic to penicillin. But it's easy to tell for sure with a test and people can know if they are really allergic. National Penicillin Day! That's a real thing?🤔 Too bad we missed it but I'll probably remember it next year since it's also one of my nephew's birthday!(not the one allergic to penicillin) Thanks for sharing another very informative video!👍
I’ve been given amoxicillin a few times in my adult life without incident. However the last time I was given amoxicillin I broke out in a flat red rash that covered my torso and thighs after the first few days. I was subsequently tested and told I had a sensitivity to amoxicillin, and that the drug could still be prescribed to me if needed. I’m nervous though. What is he difference between a sensitivity and an allergy? Can sensitivity lead to allergy? Should I avoid amoxicillin altogether I.e, say I have an allergy?
See my reply above. My allergist said yesterday that I might develop a rash but the anaphylactic shock is what they would really be worried about. Take the antibiotic with food and plenty of water.
My dad caught TB in the 1950's _(primary school)_ the hospital prescribed the full dosage and almost killed him! Now he has to use *Streptomycin instead!* I've heard, today, they administer around 2.5-7.5mg at first to see if the patient is allergic to penicillin, is this correct? The amounts may be incorrect, as I can take penicillin _(amoxicillin)_ with no ill effect, however I restrict the about per year as I believe the little buggers adapt!
My mom was sure she was allergic to penicillin, for years she wouldn't take it. The she went into the hospital and they tested for it and no, she wasn't allergic to it. Or to any of the other antibiotics she was convinced she was allergic to. ( She always wanted doctors to give her cipro as she thought that was the only one she could tolerate. )
I am allergic to penicillin. When I was a small child, I took it, and my body blew up into a large red hive. What I find interesting is that my grandfather (dads' side), my dad, me, my ex-husb, my son and my daughter in law are all allergic we all turn into a large hive. My daughter in law won't let my grandkids take it.
I had a reaction to Amoxicillin about 40 years ago so it’s been on my notes for all that time - the back of my head and neck looked like I’d had a pot of boiling water tipped over it and I also got big red Weals on my elbows, knees and feet. A few years later I had a reaction to Septrin. That time my face looked a bit like the surface of the moon - not a good look!! Luckily I rarely need antibiotics.
When I took Bactrim in my late 20s, my vision went completely dark and I had tinnitus so bad that I couldn't hear. Does that sound like an allergic reaction? I've avoided sulfa antibiotics since then.
I was bon with that allergy The hospital had it written in bold red letters ( very, very, very allergic to penicillin). I had other allergies and I received weekly shots from 2 to 12 years old with test throw out the years.
Yeah, I was diagnosed with that allergy when I was 3.... _45 years_ ago. I've always wondered if it was even legitimate or not. So basically I should ask my doctor for an exam, or is there a specific allergy test they can do for it now?
I had a terrible outbreak of hives after being on amoxicillin years ago. I wasn't tested to see if I did indeed have an allergic reaction to it, but it was assumed that I did. I had it listed on my chart as an allergen for years, but about a year or so ago, I was tested by an allergist, and the tests showed that I was not allergic to it. I haven't been put on it since then, but if at some point I am, it will be interesting to see if I have a reaction to it.
Long story..my DDS gave me penicillin for root canal,10 min my forehead broke out..she then gave me benadryl..looking back I think it was her latex gloves...which I found out years ago I am reactive to latex..for 25 + years I administered penicillin to our animal paients..I jab myself ,I ate some,( vet medicine we take caps off with our mouth, lol,)...never had a reaction..so I think it was her gloves..however I always say I have penicillin allergies...last year my doctor gave me cefalexin..another drug i handled for years...30 min..I had hives...go figure Maybe it's my old age?
When i was a baby i went to the doctor because i had an ear infection (still having them 24 years later 😅) the doctor gave me antibiotics (penicillin) and my throat closed right up and ever since then i was told by my grandma, my dad and my mom that i dont take penicillin because im allergic and everytime i go to the hospital and say im allergic they give a look like they dont believe me and ask "so what happens when you do take it" oh ya know just start the process of dying
When I was 5 I broke out with hives, and my face went numb, and it felt like ants crawling all over me right after getting a penicillin shot. The doctor told my mother I went into penicillin shock. Should I get tested for penicillin to see if I am really allergic to it or not?
Erythromycin; Not sure if it's an actual "allergy" but I was pucking to dehydration, and delirium after some dental work till 12 hrs after I stopped. I won't take that antibiotic cause the effects are worse than the "cure".
I was diagnosed penicillin allergic when I was 25 - a long time ago. It's never become a problem as far as I am aware - should I try to have this taken out of my records...?
Being on a person's medical record _(if true or false)_ that they are allergic to penicillin, is interesting. Someone in 1990 told my doctor _(in Auckland)_ said I was allergic to penicillin, I told the doctor I was not allergic to penicillin and he took it of my medical record! This must may depend which country a person lives in that doctors _(or medical centres/hospitals)_ can remove such? Or is this an American idea, that _"so called medical"_ experts claim that they know more than the patients?
It sounds like there should be a box for allergy and a box for adverse events. A rash or diarrhea would go in the adverse events box and only check the allergy box when it meets the real meaning of allergy
The last time I took penicillin I was 19 (52 now) and my face swelled up like a small balloon and so I’ve never taken since and I wear a medic alert bracelet. Am I still allergic or is it possible to outgrow the allergy? Or do you not classify it as a true allergy to begin with?
My mother told me I was allergic to penicillin. When I was in my 30's and living in France, my doctor told me it probably wasn't true and gave me amoxicillin. I broke out in hives. Now I have both penicillin and amoxicillin on my list of allergens.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Anything with ‘cillin’ in the name of the medicine is going to have penicillin in it because there’s a family of medicines that have similar ingredients in it.
Yeah, if you're allergic to amoxicillin then that is a penicillin allergy.
Suggested to have prevent tablet 500 mg from my orthro hours later rashes bruises and hives along with that there was another medicine 100 mg n m not sure which one caused that brutal hive
The doctors tell me I have a Medication Sensitivity. I cannot take strong meds. Penicillin and other meds, like opiates, make me so utterly sick that I can't get well from the original illness. So I just tell the doctors and the pharmacists to list them in my records. The pharmacists always ask me about the prescriptions before they issue them!!! Thank goodness. Thank you Docs for the video!!
Interesting that this subject comes up because for years I was told I was allergic to penicillin and I never believed I was.
In 1986 I was taken penicillin for some kind of illness and on the 2nd last day of a 10 or 7 day treatment I broke out in hives all over my face and body. After being treated for the hives my family doctor deemed I was allergic. I asked to be tested to be sure and was denied for some reason I don't remember. So for years I told Healthcare personnel that I was allergic and not truly believing it.
I had my gallbladder removed in 2013 as an out patient and of course told them I had a penicillin allergy. In recovery the nurse asked me what my reaction to penicillin. I told her that it was hives and then asked her why she was asking, she told me because the doctor gave me a shot of penicillin.
From that day forward I just stopped telling doctors that I had a penicillin allergy.
I had no reaction to that shot of penicillin.
I'm in a new province not with new files and no mention of any penicillin allergies.
Now weather I did the right thing remains to be seen.
Just thought I'd share my story.
Thank you for sharing.
Please, how can I book for knee replacement in your hospital
Same story as many others. I broke out in hives once while taking penicillin and was told to avoid it. I recently was convinced to take it for a stubborn post surgical infection. The doctors had tried many antibiotics including IV ones for 2 out of the 5 weeks I was on them. I was very anxious when I took the first pill. Hubby and daughter waited with me in case. I was fine! I had been told that even if I did react it would be mild. So penicillin is back in my arsenal.
Exactly as you suggest, I had tonsilitis every 5 minutes when I was a kid, was repeatedly dosed with penicillin and was eventually told I was allergic to it, I can't remember the details. As an adult I had myself checked by an allergy specialist who told me that there was no evidence that that was in fact true
I am allergic to clindamycin. But one or both of my brothers say they are allergic to penicillin. I will forward this video to them.
💯….Just had the tests and was found not allergic to penicillin. That allergy was removed FROM MY CHART after a 15 yr posting. Thanks a lot Drs!
WOO HOO! Thanks for this video. I was told that I was allergic to penicillin back in 1973! I am also very allergic to sulfa drugs...that WE DO know. This limits antibiotics for me a lot! Per your suggestion, I saw an allergist today. I spent three hours (nothing else to do!). I had the skin pricks then a 30% dosage of oral penicillin. After 15 minutes, they gave me the 70% remaining dose. 45 minutes later...I'm doing fine! He asked me how I found out the information that prompted me to get tested. I mentioned your videos. The doctor will notify my primary care physician and get this allergy removed from my record! As you say at the end of every video, I am "...in charge of my own health!" I gave the two extra books, "Good Night Humans" to two well deserving friends. Please thank Ms. Maalf again! WW
My husband is allergic to penicillin, or so we think! He was also allergic to Azulfidine, but since it was the drug of choice for his condition back in the day, the doctor insisted that we do systematic desensitization. That worked! I'm intrigued by your video and I'm going to think hard about next steps.
Hello docs! Mike from you Marlin Perkins reference
I wanted to let you know that your videos helped enormously with the pre op anxiety I was torturing myself with.
I had my RTHR on September 25. Posterior approach using the MAKO robot and striker components. Walking with walker and home on 36 hours .
I won't sugarcoat anything, I had significant pain for the first three weeks. Taking meds on a regular schedule kept the pain from becoming overwhelming. Each week I can get by with less of the opiate, my kidneys aren't playing well with others so I'm trying to wean off the opiate onto Tylenol and a muscle relaxer.
The PT ( Physical Terrorism) have my best interest in heart, but I really need the strong stuff prior and after.
The trouble sleeping you discussed is absolutely accurate, and miserable! I believe sincerely that I get real, restful sleep twice a week.
Anyway, the information you kind orthopods up in the mysterious white land to the North had been very helpful and reassuring for me.
Thanks so very much for your work, and sense of humor!
Mike Wong
Old enough to remember all the good shows.
get what
Wow, who knew? I was the kid with the rash! I don't remember what illness I had (very ancient history), do remember cold baths and calamine lotion for the rash so it must have been a significant one. Years later I was told it was specifically "penicillin G" I was allergic to (by a medical person, not an allergist). Wondering the significance of the G? Love this channel, you guys come up with the most interesting stuff!
Currently on amoxicillin for infected tooth. I have nausea and depression, which are side effects that can happen. That doesn’t mean I’m allergic to it, just that my body doesn’t like drugs.
So great that you brought this up. If anyone isn’t sure, I think it’s worth it to get tested and find out. I was told all of my life that I was allergic to Penicillin. My younger brother was told this as well. He decided to try taking it as an adult, and had no reaction. I was getting allergy shots at the time but hoped that like my brother, maybe I wasn’t really allergic either. My Doctor did a allergy test to see if I was still allergic, unfortunately I am allergic.
I fell into a yellow jacket nest when I was about 5 and got stung over 100 times. I got penicillin and broke out in itchy hives at my joints. I’ve been telling doctors I’m allergic ever since but I don’t really know. I’ve explained it to every doctor but none cared enough to find out.
When I am asked, I say that I have a "sensitivity* to penicillin class. I get severe headaches, & generally feel "off" for a couple of days, but it's not life-threatening. Penicillin isn't the only thing that causes it; for a long time it happened nearly every time I ate yeast bread. Now I can eat some yeast bread as long as I don't overdo, but sourdough still gives me a headache. So do some cheeses, e.g. sharp cheddar or bleu, which i haven't tried in a very long time. My conclusion is that the cause is some metabolite of eukaryotic fermentation.
The other big allergy that we don't know if we really have is Sulfa. I had a breakout with sulfa when I was a teenager. At age 74 now, I still list that as my allergy!
Me too! Being allergic to penicillin AND sulfa isn't good when one has an infection. I wrote, yesterday, that I was tested yesterday and, after 53 years...no allergy. The allergist did say that there's always a possibility of a mild case of hives BUT the anaphylactic reaction is the one they would worry about. I got no reaction at all. I took sulfa antibiotics about 10 years ago and developed a mild rash on my lower extremities. So, I'm allergic to sulfa. Earlier this year, an ENT wanted to treat an ear infection but was limited due to my penicillin AND sulfa allergy. I suggested that the worst case with sulfa would be a rash. Well, the next morning, I looked like I had measles on my lower extremities. That didn't work! Plan B. Now, the penicillin allergy will be removed from my records. WHEW!
@@winwhitmire2387 sulfa is an old drug that can easily be bypassed.
When I was six I had a bad reaction to tetracycline in which I collapsed. A couple days later they gave me penicillin and I had another reaction but not as severe, but it went down on my records as a reaction to both. Many years later like 25, my doctor questioned the reactions and I went to the sensitivity clinic in Hamilton where we slowly tested penicillin. Turns out I was likely allergic to the coatings they used way back when and I was fine with penicillin but still allergic to tetracycline. I am now 65 and have only had penicillin about 5 times and it works good.
I always list penicillin as an allergy issue even without true anaphylaxis. Here's why. Doctors used penicillin for everything during my childhood. It was the magic pill/shot when they had very little in the medicine chest. At a certain point my body said 'no' and my gut still automatically goes on vomit decades later. But not true anaphylaxis. On the rare occasion I do allow use of antibiotics, I can work with a modest dose of one of the relatives as long as I can take it with food. Even then, I labor to get my gut microbiota back in shape. Good piece. Thanks again.
I was 5 or 6 and was sick . The family doctor came to the house (yes correct) and gave me penicillin. From what i remember, my moms no longer alive, it didn't take long i broke out in a rash. Thats all i remember. Im 71 and still would like to get tested , just in case....do you think it is a good idea?
Had a situation where one kid, had an allergy to a class of antibiotic drugs then the siblings were told they shouldn’t have it either. Sounds like a good reason for my kids to be tested. Good food for thought in the video. Thank you.
My mother told me as a child that I had a reaction to penicillin. It’s noted in my chart. When I had a TKR, cefazolin was administered during surgery. I wound up with jaundice (a liver injury is what I was told). I was told it is in a family of drugs, cephalosporins, and I should never ever have a drug in that family. I was also told that penicillin falls in that drug family.
Unlike so many people who commented, I had no problems with penicillin as a child or young adult. Then, several decades ago, I was given ampicillin. I broke out into an extremely itchy, red rash all over my chest. I stopped taking it immediately and went back to the Dr. the next day. He looked at the rash and immediately said I was allergic to Ampicillin. Most Doctors do list it that way but some list it as a "Penicillin and derivatives" allergy.
The only other allergy I have is to bandage adhesive. I can tolerate it for an hour or so. Then I develope itchy, swollen, red rash where adhesive touched the skin. Again, this developed a few decades ago. I am now 75.
I had a reaction on penicillin at age 18. Was told by my pediatrician after describing my reaction that I was allergic. Realized later that I really needed to know for sure so went for cillin testing at an allergists office and, yep, I was and am allergic to penicillin as well as amoxicillin and ampicillin.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. You guys are a great team.
NOT this time.
As a child, I often had strep throat in the winter. Every time I took PCN.
In college, I worked full time and carried a full load of classes.
My immune system became compromised, and I ended up in the hospital with double pneumonia.
There, I was pumped full of PCN via IV. One day, I became covered in hives and was given IV benadryl (or something similar).
The symptoms quickly resolved, and the doctor told me never to take PCN again as I may have an anaphylactic response, so I never have.
Huh. Who knew? Thanks for the video. You described my "allergy" perfectly. I'll bring it up to my primary doc. Thanks
Extreme facial swelling as a teenager for me 🥹. Very scary!
I was diagnosed with a Penicillin allergy at aged 11 after having stomach bleeding while taking it. In retrospect, I have a theory that I may have self medicated with chewable baby aspirin, which was widely available and never mentioned to me as being harmful to your stomach. I don’t remember for sure, but I know we had it in our home and I used it at times without permission. Fast forward to Four years ago, after a procedure, I was coming out of sedation and heard 2 people talking about me (at least I thought they were). One apparently had accidentally administered a penicillin based antibiotic and the other person said “her chart says she’s allergic to Penicillin.” I can’t remember anything after that, but I had no reaction to whatever they gave me, leading me to suspect I really have never had an allergy to it.
That is some seriously good advice Docs. Thanks
I am allergic to penicillin. It started with a mild rash. Another dr said I probably wasn’t truly allergic, and gave me Augmentin. I broke out in an itchy, dark rash all over and had trouble breathing. I’m also allergic to Cephalosporins (last time had pretty significant breathing trouble after I was mistakenly given IV Rocephin. Thankfully I was in the ER, and they were able to administer IV Benadryl and stuff to help). I also had an anaphylactic reaction to two non antibiotic medications.
Well, the last time i had it, i itched for 10 hours, ripping my skin off. Then i started getting MRSA infections due to skin scraps and usually end up in ICU for 7 days on Vancomycin, which is a violent drug. This has happened three times since 2007 six months after my heart stroke Cardiac ICU. One doctor at the VA (i know i hate them too) said a few years ago i was a MRSA carrier, and should never help or be around people with open wounds. Good job guys.
Mother said., I was allergic to penicillin around age 5 over 50 years ago. I did previously receive Rochephin via IV.
Exactly as you suggest, I had tonsilitis a child and told I was allergic. As an adult that needed surgery I was told let's give it a try and have not reaction. Since then I have had it several times.
When I was about 10 yrs old I got blood poisoning in my leg. I was taken to the ER and the doctor gave me, what he called a super duper shot of Penicillin. After I got home, I started vomiting yellow bile, and developed welts on my body. My parents took me back to the ER and the doctor said I was allergic to the Penicillin. About 12 or 13 yrs ago I had to have a tooth extracted surgically. After the surgery the dentist gave me a prescription for an antibiotic. I went to the pharmacy and got the script filled and went home. I took the recommended dose and went about my day. I didn't look at the name of the drug for a couple of days. When I did I saw that it was Amoxicillin. I had not had any reaction to it, but to be on the safe side, I called the dentist and asked why he gave me a drug that was related to Penicillin when it says right on my chart I am allergic. He then gave me a different prescription . Since I did not have any reaction to the Amoxicillin, I have wondered if I am actually allergic to Penicillin.
In my mid 20's, my family doctor gave me a shot of penicillin. While driving home, my left arm began to swell with some associated pain. I returned to his office and he gave me another shot that almost immediately put me to sleep. After my "nap", I woke to a normally sized arm and no pain. The doctor told me that I had an allergic reaction to the penicillin and should never take it again. I'm now 76 and still have the allergy on my medical records. Question: Should I be retested? Thanks.
Diagnosed with very severe aplastic anemia with concurrent pulmonary actinomycosis. Was on amoxicillin for six months. Eight years later was ill with relapse and bad tooth infection. Was given penicillin type drug, tazocin, and turned bright red with edema as well. I am also allergic to sulpha drugs. Also to some cephalosporins. But I like the idea of doing an allergy test to confirm. Will try and find somewhere to do that.
Penicillin saved my life. That was long ago when only penicillin was used-not any of the derivatives. Lots of penicillin. Turned allergic, tested many decades later-couple of years ago. Still allergic. Always have to remind current providers I’m allergic when they come up with some derivative they want to prescribe.
I had a bad reaction to Pen-Vee-K 😊when I was 8. Swollen tongue, hard to breathe, etc. So now, at 63, I've been going through several years of UTIs and sinus infections, indiscriminately treated with Keflex, which made me vomit horribly, and a nasty group known as the flouroquinolones (Cipro, Levaquin and others), which caused the most painful tendinitis in my legs. My feet turned inward as I tried to walk on the outside edges, and I swore never again. When I say these were Rx'd indiscriminately, I mean the M.D.s prescribed these drugs without culture lab tests, so they didn't really know which pathogen(s) we were fighting. At my insistence, my nasal secretions and sinus cavities were tested and swabbed with my last sinus infection, and I've been confirmed with MRSA in my sinus cavities. Permanent colonization, I'm told. And I'm looking at major dental work and TMJ involvement with possible reconstruction within the next year. So then I caught another UTI, likely from unavoidable exposure to stool in bouts of diarrhea caused by the antibiotics Rx'd repeatedly for the UTIs. A vicious cycle. My current uro-gyn M.D. will Rx only Bactrim or Macrobid for the UTIs, and only after confirmed lab cultures of my urine. Mostly E. coli, Enterococcus, some Pseudomonas, and a surprise with Brucellosis pathogens causing the UTIs. So I've been tested, again at my insistence, for penicillin allergy. Allergies can be outgrown, and I hoped for a miracle. Turns out, I can have amoxicillin that they tested me with. But I'm hypervigilant and vehemently refuse all antibiotics without a damned good explanation as to why they're needed and the actual lab tests that prove it. Just last week, a nurse tried to add Flagyl to my I.V. when I went to the ER for what turned out to be a gallbladder attack, my first. I told her I'd sue her personally and the hospital, and I wanted to talk to the prescribing M.D. BEFORE she added that piggyback to my saline-morphine-Zofran drip. I had no fever or chills and no sweating, though my B.P. shot up to 206/102 with a heart rate of 48, so they wouldn't give my regular Metoprolol and Losartan doses, which I missed during my 12-hour stay in the ER. I was dehydrated and on the verge of DKA bc my missed Metformin dose was totally disregarded, and they had no intention of dosing me with insulin to substitute. Empty stomach, unable to produce urine, dehydrated from diarrhea, and they're guessing I have an infection. I sat in that ER for twelve hours while the saline did its job, my B.P. slowly came down, my heart rate went up, they gave me the Metoprolol and Losartan, and I was released with B.P. of 164/85, heart rate of 62. Good enough! And you can bet they now have updated and corrected info about which drugs I can have and which I'l refuse. And my brand new Gastro M.D., who I saw just once, a week before this ER visit, will have alot more to do and look at than just the colonoscopy and EGD in December. Thanks for letting me vent, and for dipping your toes into the PCN allergy arena. Antibiotics are probably the most overprescribed, and most dangerous drugs out there.
I love you guys. I watch you both for info & when I want a reason to smile
This is so important and I thank you for this video. I have a penicillin allergy on my chart as well as an allergy to Biaxin This causes immense problems for me as I also have mitral valve prolapse so my dentist requires antibiotics to do any procedures. Because I don’t want to take too many broad spectrum antibiotics I have avoided all but necessary procedures. I really need several appointments to address my dental problems. I would love to be able to take penicillin. I 😂as also diagnosed with an allergy to aspirin which means I must suffer through pain that could be relieved. Thank you I will explore this topic with an allergist.
Very welcome! Good luck
I’m allergic to Augmentin so I was told that I should stay away from all penicillin. But I can take Amoxicillin and it doesn’t affect me as an allergic reaction.
I am allergic to a lot of antibiotics, especially penicillin. After I told a doctor that, he gave me a penicillin shot while pretending it was something else. I had capillaries break in my face later and extreme diarrhea when he said nobody was allergic. The last operation I had , my present doctor had to give me antibiotics but told me to eat yogurt or take acidophilus. Worked like a charm since I had to have the antibiotic. Any time I have to take a narcotic, it really messes me up.
My long list of allergic medications include: Clindamycin, Cephalexin, Sulfamethoxazole, Amoxicillin & Doxycycline. I am so worried about getting another infection because I can’t take any of the above. Would I just die from the infection? What are your thoughts? What do you recommend I tell my doctor to try next time?
My reaction would be hives and an extremely itchy all over body rash.
I was told as a child that I had a PCN allergy. Had both knees replaced this year and in between the surgeries I went to an allergist and was tested and tested negative. The allergist told me I may not have had an allergy but may have “grown out of it.” I wanted to know for sure since the best prophylaxis for dental and other invasive procedures is PCN after joint replacement. I didn’t want to put myself or my new joints at risk. Now I know.
My surgeon sent me to an infectious disease physician after my TKR. She said that I could take Keflex instead. But you will note above, I was tested by an allergist yesterday after the Doc's video last week. After 53 years, I'm no longer allergic. Now a rash is possible but the anaphylactic shock is what they were really worried about. WHEW
Definitely allergic. I become covered in hives and anaphylactic
That's no good.
Definitely a sign you're allergic! 🥴 I had an anaphylactic reaction after taking (Tylenol w/)Codeine after getting sun poisoning in '91 right after having my firstborn son. My throat closed up COMPLETELY, and I prayed like nobody's business 🙏🙏🙏 and it slowly started opening up again. But, that was absolutely TERRIFYING! 😱 😟
As a kid, the doctor gave me a shot of pennicillin and I passed out. My dr. said to always tell medical professionals that I was allergic.
In Iran we did not need prescription for antibiotics so my mom and aunt and everyone that I knew would order penicillin when anyone would cough or had a bad day so I think most Iranians are not allergic to penicillin.
Fair enough
I'm a primary care provider, and I've had a number of patients who claimed as many as fifteen medications they were allergic to. I try to clear off as many of these 'allergies' as possible, and of course, the first question I ask is "What reaction did this medication cause?" More often than not, it's not an allergy, but an expected (and rarely harmful) side effect of the medication itself. I point that out to the patient. Sometimes, the reaction is not an allergy or a side effect, but the medication working the way it's supposed to, like getting diarrhea from metformin, for example. Every once in a while, a patient will simply level with me and say "I just didn't like the way it made me feel." Not an allergy, and it doesn't have to be an obstacle to treatment if it's the best medication for the condition. So, patients: not everything is an 'allergy'. Let us do our jobs.
Conversely, doctors need to trust their patients. Ask questions to gather info, fine. But we aren’t stupid. I’ve had 19 surgeries. I know my allergies, and my adverse reactions. But some doctors just HAVE to know better, HAVE to be right. HAVE to feel like the smartest person in the room. And I’ve unfortunately experienced anaphylaxis because a doctor didn’t believe me when I said I was allergic.
I do have a penicillin allergy, and I am over being questioned about it every time I see a new medical person. Perhaps I should just say okay give me the penicillin and they can attend my funeral safe in the knowledge they saved a few bucks on giving me the appropriate antibiotic...
I thought I had a penicillin reaction because it made me feel terrible but later reasoned that I was dehydrated. Drinking a lot of liquids lessens the tiredness, heart palpitations, and brain fog considerably. Antibiotics are chemotherapy, and almost all chemotherapy makes you feel bad.
I had SCFE surgery 60 years ago and was given a skin test for pencillin and tested positive for a reaction. To this day I asked about my allergy, I suppose they are wondering if the the allergy is genuine or a self diagnosis.
Please, how can I book for knee replacement in your hospital
I’ve been told that I am allergic to penicillin and the other derivatives…I developed this many, many years ago after a bout of pneumonia which put me in the hospital for three or four days ( I think, I was nine or ten) so for seventy years, I have said I was allergic to penicillin per the hospital and our doctor…so yes, it is in my medical history which means I am always prescribed a lessor medication to resolve my issue (s)…how do I address this now to verify whether or not this is still applicable? Primary doctor for tests? Please let me know and thanks for this information…
Often referral to an allergist for testing
I am 74 and supposedly had some type of reaction to penicillin when I was 4 years old. I had meningitis and I remember being in the hospital for weeks. But I have no memory of the reaction I had to penicillin. It has been on my chart all my life. About 10 years ago I took some amoxicillin and had no reaction. I have since taken various penicillin related medications with no adverse reactions. So, I asked to have it removed from my chart.
All I know is I was 4 years old and wound up in the emergency room when the doctor gave me Penicillin… My parents told me I had broke out in hives all over and wasn’t a pretty site.. I think it’s safe to say I need to stay away from it.. lol
My mother told me that a doctor determined that I was allergic to penicillin, so that's what I have told doctors for 60 years. Not sure how to figure out if I am really allergic.
I broke out in hives to a derivative of penicillin when I was two. I asked my current doctor if I should be tested for a penicillin allergy and she said she thought it was a waste of time becuase they are so many other options.
Was this video re-uploaded or am I tripping?
I was wondering the same.
I was always giving penicillin when I was young I never had any problems with it
40 years ago (in my early 20s) I had tonsillitis and was prescribed penicillin but I ended up with strep throat, a yeast infection, and something else. (I think it may have been a rash but I’m not 100% sure.) I was told I was allergic to penicillin at that point, but I’ve never been tested. I know it wasn’t just a simple rash that I got, though. It was several reactions.
Several years ago I
had what doctors said was a textbook allergic rash after taking amoxicillin. I am afraid of having an anaphylactic shock reaction if I try penicillin or amoxicillin now that I am a senior citizen with aFib.
Get that AFIB fixed. Two years after diagnosis, I had a stroke! I had a cryo ablation (NOT HEAT!!). I've had no issues 10 years hence and got my flight medical back!
My penicillin allergy developed in my late 30s. I had an infected tooth and the first pill from the prescription caused anaphylaxis. I swelled like the Michelin man , got light headed and tried to drive to the hospital. I fell out of my car in the parking lot and the car kept going slowly with the door open. I came too on a gurney with someone sticking a giant needle in my chest. I was freezing and shaking the whole thing the suddely i vomited all over the place. My bowels had evacuated. I kept trying to apologise but they kept saying its ok, it just means you are back. So yep. My allergy is real.
I was always ok to take penicillin and amoxicillin but some years ago I was give amoxicillin and on the last 2 days (day 8) I broke out in a rash on my arm. Dr. said I was allergic and since then when I tell any medical person what happened they say that I am allergic to all Cillins. I would like to be sure and did ask about being tested and the nurse said it wasn't worth it since there are so many antibiotics around now. I also broke out in a rash taking Clindamycin on last several days of taking it for infection in one of my teeth.
Yes I have penicilin allergy
As many others, I was told by my mother that I was allergic to penicillin due to a reaction of hives when I was a young child. I think I'll just stick with allergy on my chart, though.
I was told I was allergic since I was very young, before I can remember actually. I don't recall ever having a reaction.
I found out I was allergic to Penicillin when after getting a shot when I was young. The condition makes my hands and legs swell not trying that again.
Someone gave Benzathine penicillin intravenous to a patience last year June 2023 and now it seems the individual is experiencing the side effects. What’s your advice for this kind of situation?
I was prescribed amoxicillin a couple of years ago for a minor infection in a finger joint and broke out in hives. I'd never reacted like that before and had taken amoxicillin several years earlier for celluitis with no side effects. A short course of steroid knocked down the reaction, but now I can't use what is a very effective antibiotic.
It seems like doctors aren't prescribing penicillin as much as they did in decades past.
I seem to get amoxicillin more than anything, occasionally very broad spectrum antibiotics for more severe problems.
My father was told he was allergic to penicillin by his doctor after a close call. My brother is also allergic as well as one of his sons.
My mom, sister and I have never had a reaction to penicillin.
I've also had incidents when I was put on multiple antibiotics at the same time. But I've shown no reaction to any of them.
I've had a couple of medications that had no effect on me or seemed to have an adverse effect and I let doctors know so they won't prescribe them. I really don't want to waste the time by taking something that doesn't work.
But I've had no real allergies from any medication, just a couple of times of no reaction at all.
I can see where this could be a problem if penicillin was taken out of the equation.
I think a lot of doctors started prescribing other antibiotics for a while with so many people claiming to being allergic to penicillin. But it's easy to tell for sure with a test and people can know if they are really allergic.
National Penicillin Day! That's a real thing?🤔 Too bad we missed it but I'll probably remember it next year since it's also one of my nephew's birthday!(not the one allergic to penicillin)
Thanks for sharing another very informative video!👍
I’ve been given amoxicillin a few times in my adult life without incident. However the last time I was given amoxicillin I broke out in a flat red rash that covered my torso and thighs after the first few days. I was subsequently tested and told I had a sensitivity to amoxicillin, and that the drug could still be prescribed to me if needed. I’m nervous though. What is he difference between a sensitivity and an allergy? Can sensitivity lead to allergy? Should I avoid amoxicillin altogether I.e, say I have an allergy?
See my reply above. My allergist said yesterday that I might develop a rash but the anaphylactic shock is what they would really be worried about. Take the antibiotic with food and plenty of water.
My dad caught TB in the 1950's _(primary school)_ the hospital prescribed the full dosage and almost killed him! Now he has to use *Streptomycin instead!*
I've heard, today, they administer around 2.5-7.5mg at first to see if the patient is allergic to penicillin, is this correct?
The amounts may be incorrect, as I can take penicillin _(amoxicillin)_ with no ill effect, however I restrict the about per year as I believe the little buggers adapt!
My mom was sure she was allergic to penicillin, for years she wouldn't take it. The she went into the hospital and they tested for it and no, she wasn't allergic to it. Or to any of the other antibiotics she was convinced she was allergic to. ( She always wanted doctors to give her cipro as she thought that was the only one she could tolerate. )
I am allergic to penicillin. When I was a small child, I took it, and my body blew up into a large red hive. What I find interesting is that my grandfather (dads' side), my dad, me, my ex-husb, my son and my daughter in law are all allergic we all turn into a large hive. My daughter in law won't let my grandkids take it.
I had a reaction to Amoxicillin about 40 years ago so it’s been on my notes for all that time - the back of my head and neck looked like I’d had a pot of boiling water tipped over it and I also got big red Weals on my elbows, knees and feet. A few years later I had a reaction to Septrin. That time my face looked a bit like the surface of the moon - not a good look!! Luckily I rarely need antibiotics.
When I took Bactrim in my late 20s, my vision went completely dark and I had tinnitus so bad that I couldn't hear. Does that sound like an allergic reaction? I've avoided sulfa antibiotics since then.
I was given amoxicillin and my lungs swelled up my throat closed
Oh no!
When I was in middle school hives appeared after taking penicillin. I was able to take a derivative of penicillin without issues.
I was bon with that allergy
The hospital had it written in bold red letters ( very, very, very allergic to penicillin). I had other allergies and I received weekly shots from 2 to 12 years old with test throw out the years.
Yeah, I was diagnosed with that allergy when I was 3.... _45 years_ ago. I've always wondered if it was even legitimate or not. So basically I should ask my doctor for an exam, or is there a specific allergy test they can do for it now?
I had a terrible outbreak of hives after being on amoxicillin years ago. I wasn't tested to see if I did indeed have an allergic reaction to it, but it was assumed that I did. I had it listed on my chart as an allergen for years, but about a year or so ago, I was tested by an allergist, and the tests showed that I was not allergic to it. I haven't been put on it since then, but if at some point I am, it will be interesting to see if I have a reaction to it.
Long story..my DDS gave me penicillin for root canal,10 min my forehead broke out..she then gave me benadryl..looking back I think it was her latex gloves...which I found out years ago I am reactive to latex..for 25 + years I administered penicillin to our animal paients..I jab myself ,I ate some,( vet medicine we take caps off with our mouth, lol,)...never had a reaction..so I think it was her gloves..however I always say I have penicillin allergies...last year my doctor gave me cefalexin..another drug i handled for years...30 min..I had hives...go figure
Maybe it's my old age?
I am, break out in hives, a 12 year old, and at 64 years old, I'm still
No I don’t have one…
When i was a baby i went to the doctor because i had an ear infection (still having them 24 years later 😅) the doctor gave me antibiotics (penicillin) and my throat closed right up and ever since then i was told by my grandma, my dad and my mom that i dont take penicillin because im allergic and everytime i go to the hospital and say im allergic they give a look like they dont believe me and ask "so what happens when you do take it" oh ya know just start the process of dying
When I was 5 I broke out with hives, and my face went numb, and it felt like ants crawling all over me right after getting a penicillin shot. The doctor told my mother I went into penicillin shock. Should I get tested for penicillin to see if I am really allergic to it or not?
Erythromycin; Not sure if it's an actual "allergy" but I was pucking to dehydration, and delirium after some dental work till 12 hrs after I stopped. I won't take that antibiotic cause the effects are worse than the "cure".
My mother told me I was allergic to penicillin. I really don’t know. I am very allergic to clindamycin.
I was diagnosed penicillin allergic when I was 25 - a long time ago. It's never become a problem as far as I am aware - should I try to have this taken out of my records...?
Last time I took penicillin, my feet doubled in size… I took it a lot due to TB spots when I was a child
Those are some big feet!
@@TalkingWithDocs Yeah… when I called a nurse, she urged me to go to the ER - “You’re very lucky it was your feet and not your throat ”
I had an anaphylactic reaction to Amoxicillin . Nearly died. I "saw the light." No penicillin for me.
Being on a person's medical record _(if true or false)_ that they are allergic to penicillin, is interesting. Someone in 1990 told my doctor _(in Auckland)_ said I was allergic to penicillin, I told the doctor I was not allergic to penicillin and he took it of my medical record!
This must may depend which country a person lives in that doctors _(or medical centres/hospitals)_ can remove such? Or is this an American idea, that _"so called medical"_ experts claim that they know more than the patients?
It sounds like there should be a box for allergy and a box for adverse events. A rash or diarrhea would go in the adverse events box and only check the allergy box when it meets the real meaning of allergy
I break out with hives! It is just one of the many meds that i am allergic to I have severe reactions.
I’m not allergic, but I projectile vomit it for hours until my ribs hurt so it’s going to stay on the chart.
My daughter broke out in full body rash after day 6
Hmmm. I took penicillin for years with no problem. Then I was 60 and took it and broke out in hives. So I might not be allergic after all?
Are you Rider fans-the green caps!
The last time I took penicillin I was 19 (52 now) and my face swelled up like a small balloon and so I’ve never taken since and I wear a medic alert bracelet.
Am I still allergic or is it possible to outgrow the allergy? Or do you not classify it as a true allergy to begin with?
It’s on my chart why not quite sure. Was told hives