Question re: stopping a med - ThinnerTimes

coptergirl · 04-16-2006, 08:04 AM

Hi everyone -

On 4/6, I went into the doc for my 4 week check up, which was great. Whenever I go I bring my little list of questions, however silly. Well one of my questions that week was...why am I itching so badly? Like psychotically (like my hands, feet, and eyebrows?!)? I can't get to sleep at night and am afraid that if I miss a spot with the itching creme that I will never get to sleep...and it is usually at night.

My NP said that it could be the Allopurinol they have me on (prevents kidney stones and gout) may be causing the itching, but that they would most likely take me off of it at my 6 week check up (4/24).

Well folks...MY personal April 24th came last night!!!!! I checked out Web MD, and this is what is says: "This drug may rarely cause very serious (possibly fatal) allergic reactions. Stop taling allipurinol and seek immediate medical attention if any of these allergic reaction symptoms occur: skin rash, hives, itching, swelling....." Got the skin rash and itching, so I didn't take it last night and slept really well (except that my mind was all over the place, but that is a whole different story).

SO - all this to ask - will I be okay not taking this til I can talk to the doc tomorrow (Monday)? I am drinking between 67 and 80 ounces of fluids daily (including my beloved s/f popsicles), so I should be flushing my kidneys pretty well...

Any advice would be appreciated

Dyann · 04-16-2006, 07:25 PM

With the usual cyberspace disclaimer of I don't know your medical history...missing a dose or two won't hurt. Were you on it preop?? If it is an allergic reaction, benedryl will help with the itching...again...read the label and make sure there is nothing in there that works against any of your medical issues. Be well.

Charlotte · 04-17-2006, 01:48 AM

Whitney,
I have no advice except that alergic reactions can be very very serious. I actually get them on occasion (Im not sure why) and I have injections on hand incase I have one. They always start out with slight nausia and sleepiness about 15 minutes or so before the itching starts. Itching everywhere. Then add red, hot itchy hands and welts showing up everywhere I itch. If its a bad reaction, it will then go into a hoarse voice, trouble breathing, lathargic, oh so sleepy and quickly to a very serious state where the air ways swell shut.
Dont be afraid to ask the questions and be very cautious with reactions to medications.
Take care and hope you get this figured out quickly.

coptergirl · 04-17-2006, 10:02 AM

Thanks, Dyann and Charlotte, for your replies.

Dyann -

I wasn't taking the Allopurinol prior to surgery, and hae been taking it from 3/12-4/14/06 (a little over a month). When I am done checking posts (my morning ritual that i cannot seem to break), I will call my doctor.

Charlotte - I don't react as severely as that...just enough itching to drive me batty