Allergic reaction

[maxd]

My mum is having the allergic reaction from hell at the minute after a course of antibiotics.  The itch is driving her insane, it's so bad she didn't sleep at all last night and she was in the shower at 4.00 a.m.  She's taking Piriton but it doesn't seem to be doing much to help.  Does anyone have any ideas what else she could try to relieve the itch?

Thanks 

[Ward-Minter]

a camomile bath perhaps?

[manathu]

Your mother needs to contact her doctor .  She may need an injection of antihistamine to combat the allergy.

[maxd]

Thanks to both of you for your advice.  Manathu, she spoke to her doctor this morning and he told her to keep taking the Piriton and that the itching should ease in two or three days!  Not much help when she's tearing her skin off.

[nicola_red]

In the meantime she could try a cream like Lanacane or maybe some calamine lotion. 

[Lindylou]

She needs to SEE her GP.  This sounds like an allergic reaction to - possibly- penicillin.  This could be dangerous and as there are many different antibiotics around today her GP could give her something that doesn't cause a reaction. 

[woofgang]

oh been there as a teenager. Tell her to get back to the doc and DEMAND a different antihistamine, there are stronger ones that will help, they will also make her very sleepy which will take the edge off the itching.

For those who have never experienced it, its terrific fun, you get the rash everywhere, yes really, also on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet. I looked like a lifesize model made of radishes and tomatoes, just red and lumpy all over.

Give your mum a virtual hug from me and loads of sympathy

[bracknell]

She is probably taking Amoxycillin and a lot of people are allergic to this.  It makes you itch and you come up in raised rashes/whelts.  She needs to stop the antiboitic, contact her Dr or if it is really bad her Dr's Out of Hours - the other number other than NHS Direct on the answerphone when shut.  She also needs to consider that if she starts to get swellings around the eyes and throat, then she may need to go to hospital for an adrenalin injection to counteract the allergic reaction.  If she cannot stand it go to a Walk In Centre and they can advise or redirect as appropriate.