Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Reddened Lips And Swelling
Question: I am trying to determine if Vitamin D, 50,000 units, is causing my lips to redden and swell. The first time I took it (I am to take it once a week), I was fine. Week #2, I woke up at 0300 the next morning with severe redness, swelling and tenderness of my lips and the tip of my tongue (no swelling, but red, tender and roughened). I skipped it last week because I worried that perhaps it was a food-related allergy but I had a battery of skin and blood tests and I do not have any food allegies. Yesterday, I took the Vitamin D at approximately 1230 and woke up to tingling, burning and redness of my lips. Not as much swelling as previously. Could I be reacting to this medication?
Brief Answer:
possible, but it could be other ingredients also...
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HCM.
I went through your history and would like to make suggestions for you as follows:
1. From your history, I would first think that you might be reacting to vitamin D or its other ingredients.
I have mainly three reasons to believe this: a. You have only two episodes and both were within a few hours of taking vitamin D. b. You have not any episode without consumption of vitamin D. c. You already have been tested for other common food allergens.
2. Of course, I must say that allergic reaction to vitamin D is not very commonly seen. But this does not definitely mean that you are reacting to vitamin D. It is possible that you could be reacting to some other "innocent" or "inert" ingredients of the vitamin D formulation such as preservative, flavoring agent, or such other chemical. In that case, you might not react to other formulation or other brand of vitamin D that does not contain that particular ingredient.
3. However, it is practically difficult to determine whether you are reacting to vitamin D or its co-ingredient as there are no specific tests available that could predict such reactions.
4. I would also suggest you to remember in detail if any other particular drug/food/substance you had been exposed within 4-6 hours before reaction.
Hope above suggestions will be helpful to you.
Should you have any further query, please feel free to ask on follow-up.
Wish you the best of the health ahead.
Thank you & Regards,
Dr Parin N Parmar
possible, but it could be other ingredients also...
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HCM.
I went through your history and would like to make suggestions for you as follows:
1. From your history, I would first think that you might be reacting to vitamin D or its other ingredients.
I have mainly three reasons to believe this: a. You have only two episodes and both were within a few hours of taking vitamin D. b. You have not any episode without consumption of vitamin D. c. You already have been tested for other common food allergens.
2. Of course, I must say that allergic reaction to vitamin D is not very commonly seen. But this does not definitely mean that you are reacting to vitamin D. It is possible that you could be reacting to some other "innocent" or "inert" ingredients of the vitamin D formulation such as preservative, flavoring agent, or such other chemical. In that case, you might not react to other formulation or other brand of vitamin D that does not contain that particular ingredient.
3. However, it is practically difficult to determine whether you are reacting to vitamin D or its co-ingredient as there are no specific tests available that could predict such reactions.
4. I would also suggest you to remember in detail if any other particular drug/food/substance you had been exposed within 4-6 hours before reaction.
Hope above suggestions will be helpful to you.
Should you have any further query, please feel free to ask on follow-up.
Wish you the best of the health ahead.
Thank you & Regards,
Dr Parin N Parmar
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you for your reply!
I am especially puzzled by the time lapse between taking the Vit D and my reaction....it was about 15 hours. This was the case each time, as I would have taken my dose in the late morning and reacted in the middle of the night...0300-0400.
Your thoughts on this length of delay?
I am especially puzzled by the time lapse between taking the Vit D and my reaction....it was about 15 hours. This was the case each time, as I would have taken my dose in the late morning and reacted in the middle of the night...0300-0400.
Your thoughts on this length of delay?
Brief Answer:
Delayed reactions can occur
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for your follow-up.
Usually "classical" allergic reactions occur immediately after taking any drug.
But there some known as "delayed" reactions, which can occur upto 24 hours after consumption of particular substance.
So I am not surprised as both of the times the duration between intake of vitamin D and reaction is same, around 15 hours. So it is possible.
But I would also specifically suggest you to try to remember any other substance that you might have exposed to, the same evening/night, following which reaction might have occurred.
In future, if you develop such reaction again, even without taking vitamin D, then I would suggest you to think of other possibilities.
Hope above suggestions will be helpful to you.
Should you have any further query, please feel free to ask on follow-up.
Wish you the best of the health ahead.
Thank you & Regards,
Dr Parin N Parmar
Delayed reactions can occur
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for your follow-up.
Usually "classical" allergic reactions occur immediately after taking any drug.
But there some known as "delayed" reactions, which can occur upto 24 hours after consumption of particular substance.
So I am not surprised as both of the times the duration between intake of vitamin D and reaction is same, around 15 hours. So it is possible.
But I would also specifically suggest you to try to remember any other substance that you might have exposed to, the same evening/night, following which reaction might have occurred.
In future, if you develop such reaction again, even without taking vitamin D, then I would suggest you to think of other possibilities.
Hope above suggestions will be helpful to you.
Should you have any further query, please feel free to ask on follow-up.
Wish you the best of the health ahead.
Thank you & Regards,
Dr Parin N Parmar
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. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
