Mr. Asthma

Question:

Yes. If you’re allergic to amoxicillin, there is about 4% chance you’re also allergic to Keflex and other antibiotics in that class (the cephalosporins). Dr Mark Wong (Australia) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->My 12 year old son recently took amoxicillin and broke out in hives >from it.  This weekend, he needed around of anitbiotics for an >infected toe, and the doctor gave him Keflex.  Within 4 hours of >starting this drug, he began to cough, he has cough varient asthma and >went back to the doctor for a round of prednisone.  We insisted the >antibiotic be changed, but the doc did think that the Keflex caused >the attack. Any one with experience or input here? Does his asthma >necklace need to be re-engraved, again??

Response:

I was taking amoxicillin for many years, and the benefits lessened greatly. I asked my Dr. to prescribe something else, he gave me Klaracid (500)  and I have felt the benefits since. Anything that helps is welcomed ! I am having blood tests at the moment, to try to find out why my toes on the right foot have turned dark mauve, and have swollen up… any thoughts on circulation problems related to asthma meds., or calcium treatments ?  The consultant is sure that it is related to the drugs… but not sure how …  What next, eh ?  Thanks in advance for any help.  Sheila. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My 12 year old son recently took amoxicillin and broke out in hives infected toe, >Change doctors, now!  The chemical relationship between the >cephalasporins [keflex] and the cillans is well-known, >Chris Owens

Response:

I just had to respond to your mesage abot your son’s reaction to the antibiotic amoxicillin.  I break out in hives from it and  my doctor said I should stop taking it.  Worse than that i find I really getsick when taking Biaxin, almost  like  food poisining–diiaharrea and vomitig for as long as 24 hours.  So if that is ever prescribed for your  son, it might be likely is body chemistry will react like mine did.   julie

Response:

> My 12 year old son recently took amoxicillin and broke out in hives > from it.  This weekend, he needed around of anitbiotics for an > infected toe, and the doctor gave him Keflex.  Within 4 hours of > starting this drug, he began to cough, he has cough varient asthma and > went back to the doctor for a round of prednisone.  We insisted the > antibiotic be changed, but the doc did think that the Keflex caused > the attack. Any one with experience or input here? Does his asthma > necklace need to be re-engraved, again??

Change doctors, now!  The chemical relationship between the cephalasporins [keflex] and the cillans is well-known, well-documented, and it is inconcievable that a responsible doctor wouldn’t know it.  The PDR specifically states that keflex should not be given to people who have had an allergic reaction to the penicillan group. Chris Owens

Response:

About 10% of people allergic to penicillin will also be allergic to the cephalosporins, of which Keflex is one. If the reaction to penicillin is non-life threatening, like hives or rash, many doctors will go ahead and use the ceph’s. It was not unreasonable to prescribe Keflex at first but I do agree that he should have been wary of a cross reaction and reacted more suspiciously when your child’s asthma flared while on it. — Good Luck, CBI, M.D. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My 12 year old son recently took amoxicillin and broke out in hives > from it.  This weekend, he needed around of anitbiotics for an > infected toe, and the doctor gave him Keflex.  Within 4 hours of > starting this drug, he began to cough, he has cough varient asthma and > went back to the doctor for a round of prednisone.  We insisted the > antibiotic be changed, but the doc did think that the Keflex caused > the attack. Any one with experience or input here? Does his asthma > necklace need to be re-engraved, again?? >Change doctors, now!  The chemical relationship between the >cephalasporins [keflex] and the cillans is well-known, well-documented, >and it is inconcievable that a responsible doctor wouldn’t know it.  The >PDR specifically states that keflex should not be given to people who >have had an allergic reaction to the penicillan group. >Chris Owens

Response:

My 12 year old son recently took amoxicillin and broke out in hives from it.  This weekend, he needed around of anitbiotics for an infected toe, and the doctor gave him Keflex.  Within 4 hours of starting this drug, he began to cough, he has cough varient asthma and went back to the doctor for a round of prednisone.  We insisted the antibiotic be changed, but the doc did think that the Keflex caused the attack. Any one with experience or input here? Does his asthma necklace need to be re-engraved, again??

Response:

I am not familiar with Keflex directly but I do know that there are certain types of antibiotics that cause my asthma to flare up.  I too have cough variant asthma.  An allergic reaction of course could cause the asthma flare.  My daughter ended up with erythema multiforme at the age of 2 from this med.  So we don’t give it to her anymore.  It is a skin reaction with large donut type rash, her feet and hands swelled up.   http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/cephalex.htm#Table of Contents: I hope the above link is helpful.  I use the www.rxlist.com all the time for med information. Lynn – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My 12 year old son recently took amoxicillin and broke out in hives > from it.  This weekend, he needed around of anitbiotics for an > infected toe, and the doctor gave him Keflex.  Within 4 hours of > starting this drug, he began to cough, he has cough varient asthma and > went back to the doctor for a round of prednisone.  We insisted the > antibiotic be changed, but the doc did think that the Keflex caused > the attack. Any one with experience or input here? Does his asthma > necklace need to be re-engraved, again??

Response:

>My 12 year old son recently took amoxicillin and broke out in hives >from it.  This weekend, he needed around of anitbiotics for an >infected toe, and the doctor gave him Keflex.  Within 4 hours of

I BELIEVE that Keflex is in the class of antibiotics called cephalosporins [though I am not positive].  If it is, there is a certain percent of people who are cross-sensitive to penicillins and cephalosporins. I had an allergic reaction to a cephalosporin antibiotic that I took [Ceclor], and have therefore been banned my my MD from taking any cephaliosporins AND any penicillins because of the cross-sensitivity [as I recall it is something like 20%?? of those allergic to one are allergic to the other as well].  Aparently the compounds are rather similar to each other from an allergy POV. As for the asthma ID; I wear a medica alert breacelet.  When I reacted to the Ceclor, it was the first drug allergy i had, so we added allergic to cephalosporins and pcn? to my medic alert.  well, i now have allergies to some other drugs, so there is no room.  my medic alert now says:         see card         asthma/allergy         to seafood-fish         (carries epipen)         drug allergies and then it has my medic alert ID number.  the wallet card lists my meds and the actual drug and other allergies.  themost important stuff is on the medica alert, and if they can’t find my wallet card, they will know there are drug allergies they need to call about FIRST if they can.  medical personnel will also know that i have asthma, and that i have at least one set of life-threatening allergies [the epipen line, which is for the fish, but i have some other allergies that are now that bad ]. So, it may be an idea to get it updated, even if it is to say drug allergies and then have the wallet card and medic alert have the actual list of allergies. Hope this helps! SW.

Response:

Same here.  I’m allergic to penicillin and therefore my doctors won’t prescribe any drug in the cephalosporin family. Patrice – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->My 12 year old son recently took amoxicillin and broke out in hives >from it.  This weekend, he needed around of anitbiotics for an >infected toe, and the doctor gave him Keflex.  Within 4 hours of >I BELIEVE that Keflex is in the class of antibiotics called >cephalosporins [though I am not positive].  If it is, there is a >certain percent of people who are cross-sensitive to penicillins and >cephalosporins. >I had an allergic reaction to a cephalosporin antibiotic that I took >[Ceclor], and have therefore been banned my my MD from taking any >cephaliosporins AND any penicillins because of the cross-sensitivity >[as I recall it is something like 20%?? of those allergic to one are >allergic to the other as well].  Aparently the compounds are rather >similar to each other from an allergy POV. >As for the asthma ID; I wear a medica alert breacelet.  When I reacted >to the Ceclor, it was the first drug allergy i had, so we added >allergic to cephalosporins and pcn? to my medic alert.  well, i now >have allergies to some other drugs, so there is no room.  my medic >alert now says: > see card > asthma/allergy > to seafood-fish > (carries epipen) > drug allergies >and then it has my medic alert ID number.  the wallet card lists my >meds and the actual drug and other allergies.  themost important stuff >is on the medica alert, and if they can’t find my wallet card, they >will know there are drug allergies they need to call about FIRST if >they can.  medical personnel will also know that i have asthma, and >that i have at least one set of life-threatening allergies [the epipen >line, which is for the fish, but i have some other allergies that are >now that bad ]. >So, it may be an idea to get it updated, even if it is to say drug >allergies and then have the wallet card and medic alert have the >actual list of allergies. >Hope this helps! >SW.

Response: