I just recently was on the antibiotic 'bactrim' for a bladder infection. I finished the last dose on Saturday morning. Last night I was itching my elbow but ignored it. This morning (Monday @ 5:30 am), I had a rash all over my elbows and knees. Currently it has spread to my neck, chest, stomach, legs, arms, hands (10:00 am). I talked to the doctor and pharmacist and they both said it wasn't normal to develop an allergy after I finished the medication. I don't believe I did anything nor ate anything that was not normal to develop a rash (I'm not allergic to anything but I've had reactions to antibiotics before). The only logical explanation would be the antibiotic. Anyone else know about this?
I agree! This morning the rash/hives are much better (although not gone completely) and the benadryl helped me sleep. I will definitely add sulfa products to my list! Thanks everyone.
I had that same reaction to Bactrim many years ago and it was detemined that I have an allergy to sulfa drugs. The rash only lasted a day or so and I took Benedryl, which helped.
Hi C.,
That reaction most likely is from your antibiotics. I had the same thing happen. Make sure they document this in your file, so they know not to proscribe this kind for you again (or any other in the same family). C.
You very well could be allergic to the medication and it took that long to kick in. It sounds like hives to me. I am allergic to penecillin. If I ever take it, I break out in hives and one time my throat even closed up. You should take some benedryl and the rash should go away. You need to let your dr know so they can take note of it and never give you that medication again. They may want you to come in as well.
I could be wrong, but I think I have heard of a person having a reaction to a medication after having it in their system for several days. I'm assuming that you took it for 7 or 10 days. I would take some benadryl to clear up the rash and if you definitely can't find any other source of the rash, you might want to avoid that antibiotic. I would probably discuss it with your doc again at your next visit. Good luck!
I am allergic to Bactrim and Ceclor. The last time that I was on Bactrim (which I had taken with no problems at least a half dozen times - frequent sinus infections) I broke out in hives halfway through my course of medication.
The hives started and about 4 hours after that I had the first symptoms of anaphylactic shock. I was treated with multiple doses of adrenaline in the emergency room.
I would say it's totally possible that your body is reacting to the Bactrim, even at a late date. Besides that, why take chances!
That is exactly how it happened with me. I took my meds for the full course and the day after I took my last dose I was covered in hives. I was miserable!
Antibiotics stay in your system for more than one day! It is very possible that it could be from the antibiotic. A friend of mine broke out in a rash from a sulfa antibiotic and her doctor said it could take 1-2 weeks to leave her system. Just use benadryl to control itching and keep that drug in your list of "allergic to"
That is a common side effect with alot of antibiotics, but i would call your dr and let him/her know so it can be documented on your file and they can prescribe something else if needed to help with the symptons.
I also had a bad reaction to Bactrim. I took the antibiotic for thirteenth days and also got hives right on the thirteenth day. I started benadryl right away but the hives only got worse, I had them from head to toe. I landed up in the Emergency room and they prescribed a higher dose of benadryl and also prescribed a steroid, which later caused rectal bleeding. Right now Dr. is running test to determine whether all the medication I took caused and infection that is causing the rectal bleeding. Just would like to know if anyone else has had the same reaction as far as the bleeding?
