Penicillin Allergy and MS

[Comfortably_Numb]

I've been browsing the forum (which is brilliant), and I read on a thread that there is a suspected increased likelihood of people with MS also being allergic to penicillin. This caught my eye as I am allergic to penicillin. I thought it would be interesting to see how many people here are also allergic to penicillin. I hope that I have started this thread correctly with a working poll.. Thanks!

Edited 24 Sep 2013, 8:32 am by Comfortably_Numb

[Marina]

Very interesting poll to start!

 

I've started the voting off for you as I'm allergic to penicillin and ampicillin (penicillin's sister). It was first discovered in me when I had ... glandular fever, which is sometimes suspected of being a possible cause of MS. Whether I was ever given it before then, I don't recall.

 

I was given ampicillin. I came out in the most horrific rash, weals on weals all over, not a millimetre of my body wasn't affected, even up my nose and in my ears. It was so bad they even wondered if I had scarlet fever, but I didn't. I kept jumping into cold water baths or being covered in calamine lotion, but nothing helped. I just had to wait it out. It is said that one should never give penicillin/ampicillin to people with glandular fever, but I forget why - other than maybe as it risks causing this horrendous rash!

 

After that, any time I was accidentally given penicillin or ampicillin, I'd have a rash but much much milder and not all over, maybe just on my legs for instance.

[Crafty Cow]

Me too! How interesting! X

[Comfortably_Numb]

Very interesting results so far. I wonder what percentage of the population has an allergy to penicillin? I also come out in a horrid red rash that lasts for weeks. It's just meh!

[Rama]

I'm not allergic to penicillin - or anything that I'm aware of.

 

Gill

[Scully]

Hello,

 

I'm not allergic to penicillin but I do have severe allergy to all fish, not just shell fish, and fish by products. It's anaphylactic shock and I carry an Epi-pen.

 

I've also developed an allergy to one of the meds since diagnosis.

 

I did question a Neuro about it once on the basis that if MS is a mistaken attack on the nervous system. And, an allergy is also a mistake made by our own bodies.......then aren't the two linked in some way??? He replied that they may well be, but we don't know for sure as yet.

 

Interesting , thanks for starting the poll

 

Scully

x

[Hanoge]

hi! just thought that i would stick my oar in. I have been allergic to penicillin since childhood - rash reaction like the others who have repllied. I am also allergic to elastoplast - nothing else to my knowledge. This is an interesting poll.

 

Annie xx

[Comfortably_Numb]

hi! just thought that i would stick my oar in. I have been allergic to penicillin since childhood - rash reaction like the others who have repllied. I am also allergic to elastoplast - nothing else to my knowledge. This is an interesting poll.

 

Annie xx

 

I am also allergic to Elastoplast!! Lol! Did you vote in the poll?

 

 

[Skylark]

I'm awaiting a diagnosis (first neuro appointment in a month). I've been allergic to penicillen since childhood, as well as perfume and cobalt! I wonder if allergies are common in ' MSers'?