Suggest Treatment For Hives On Hands While On Amoxicillin After Tooth Extraction

Posted on Thu, 10 Sep 2015

Question: Hello I was seeing if you could help me.

A year ago, I got my wisdom teeth extraction. I was prescribed the antibiotic amoxicillin for about a week. 3 days later, I developed hives on my hands. It eventually got more and more severe. I was eventually prescribed prednisone to treat the hives. The prednisone helped immensely, but I still had some tolerable hives everyday. Jump a year later, and I still have hives unless I take anti-histamines.

Then recently, my cousin had her wisdom teeth extraction. She was prescribed the same antibiotic, and got the same allergic reaction. She is now in the same situation as me! Even after taking the prednisone.

I am really lost on why we both developed this after taking this drug. I have seen two general doctors, and a naturopathic and they all seemed puzzled. PLEASE help us!

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You are having allergic skin reaction to amoxicillin.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I have seen the picture you have attached.
You are having allergic skin lesions.
Amoxicillin is known to cause similar allergic lesions.
Actually allergy to amoxicillin is Genetically determined and runs in family.
So you and your cousin are Genetically allergic to amoxicillin and hence showed reaction after taking it.
So better to get done drug allergy testing and routine allergy testing. These will tell you about drugs to be avoided. Routine allergy tests will tell you if you have allergy to dust, pollens, smoke, pollution etc.
Along with antihistamines, anti allergic (montelukast) is very useful in this kind of allergies.
So better to consult dermatologist and discuss all these.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (48 minutes later)

Do you have any theory why we are both still itching when then anti-biotic is out of our bodys? Thanks

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This is because of your genetic immune build up.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Penicillin allergy is common in people with other allergies.
So possibility of other allergies like allergy to dust, pollens, mites, animal fur, smoke etc is more in your case.
Amoxicillin actually triggered your immunity for allergic reaction.
And now with other allergen exposure like dust exposure or smoke exposure give you similar kind of reaction.
This is actually due to your genetic immune build up. Your immune system is hyper reactive to allergens. So you are showing reaction.
Please let me know
1. Have you ever undergone allergy testing?
2. Does your symptoms worsens with dust or pollens or smoke exposure?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 minutes later)

1. Yes, I took an IgG Food food test, but have heard it is not completely accurate. I
2. Symptoms worsen at night, I have only one hive per day usually. The picture I sent you was before I took steroids to calm the reaction down. Thank you for your response.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Better to get done complete allergy testing ,not only food.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
Better to get done complete allergy testing including dust,smoke,animal fur,mites,pollens etc.
These are common allergens. And ask for IgE not IgG.
Please let me know
1. In childhood ,did you have any allergic episode?
2. Did you take amoxicillin before 1 year?
Please reply me answers of above asked question so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)

Why should it be IgE?

And I think I had a allergic reaction to something in the air in the summer time because my eyes were itching. And the only time I took amoxicillin was during/after my teeth extraction (1 year ago).

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (19 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Possibility of either dust or pollen allergy is more for your eye symptoms.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
IgE is specific antibody for allergic reaction.
Where as IgG is for long term immunity against infection.
So IgE is marker of allergy.
And hence it should be done if we are suspecting allergic disease.
You are also having to dust or pollen, mostly. This is the reason for your eye symptoms.
Please let me know
1. Is this cousin your real cousin? I mean very close blood relation? This is because allergy runs in family.
2. Have you ever checked for eosinophilia count or total serum IgE level in blood?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar