Rash! Elmiron? Nortriptyline? vesicare?

[cmclien]

I went shopping for some clothes today...lifted up my shirt in the dressing room and had round shaped clusters of hives on the sides of my upper abdomen. It freaked me out so much I couldn't shop anymore :(

I don't know what its from because the problem is I've started 3 different meds this month and it can take weeks for an allergy to start:

started elmiron 2 weeks ago
nortriptyline on and off for the last month though I went off for 10 days and back on it a few nights ago
vesicare - have been on it for about a month

Now not sure what to do, I took a claritin when I got home. I think I will have to stop all three because I have no idea which one is the culprit. The whole thing makes me feel down as this is not the first time I have had allergic reactions to meds.

Just wondering if any of you have developed an allergic rash to any of these meds?

[sailawaygrl]

Just my opinion but I would think if you were going to have a reaction to any of those you would have already had one. Why don't you call the pharmacy and ask them if something like that could turn up that far into treatment? Was it a new shirt, new lotion, ate something new? Had you been trying on other clothes pryor to that? If so, it could have been something in the other clothing. I wouldn't stop my treatment until you know something more. Unless it continues, is it better now?

Just curious, why off and on the nortriptyline?

[cmclien]

Thanks for your input and questions -

The last time I had an allergic reaction to a med (plaquenil) I was on it for 3 weeks before I developed it and it spread all over my body, thank god it wasn't itchy!

I have no food allergies but I was actually wearing a new t-shirt that I hadn't washed yet....and no I hadn't tried on any new clothes prior to that.

Yes, its still there and very itchy but no worse. I put some cortizone ointment on it and hopefully the claritin will help. If it spreads then I'll suspect the meds even more so but I guess its possible its something in the shirt.

I took my elmiron tonight, I don't need to take another vesicare until tomorrow as I only take those about every 36-48 hrs because they are so drying though I could put that off depending on what goes on tomorrow.

I didn't take the nori will wait on that one as its not as important. The reason I went on and off of it this month is because I thought it gave me heart palpitations but figured out it was the prednisone 6 day dose pack my doc put me on in combination with the nori that had caused the palpitaitons. I went back on it a few days ago to see if it would cause them again and it didn't.

[sailawaygrl]

New clothes typically have formaldahyde in them so that might have been the problem> I hope it clears up soon.

[ICNDonna]

If the rash was confined to a specific body area, you should probably look at the possibility of it being a contact allergy. There are a lot of allergies in my family so I do have quite a bit of experience with them. It can take time to develop an allergy to a specific substance. I had been given penicillin and sulfa from the time I was a child for various illnesses --- and I developed allergies to both as an adult. I also ate tomatoes for many years before developing an allergic reaction to them.

I do suspect the new t-shirt could be the culprit. If the rash hasn't spread to other parts of your body, that increases the possibility.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[cmclien]

Hi guys,
Thanks for the replies. It was SO itchy last night even with taking the claritin. It had spread by this morning down towards my pubic area and a little patch on my ankle. I went to my doctor today as they have added wonderful Sat and Sun morning hours.

She said it is a "classic" medicine allergy (individual bullseye looking nickle size circles). I have been told to keep taking the claritin and stop ALL THREE of the new meds: vesicare, elmiron and nortriptyline. She said it will get worse before it gets better and they can't give me a prednizone pack because its been too soon since the last one. Once its gone she said to start each med a week apart so I can figure out which one is the culprit. I am hoping its NOT the elmiron but time will tell. I think it was already helping.....a little depressing.

Donna Same thing happened to me both with sulpha and penicillin. I didn't develop an allergy to sulpha drugs until I was in my early 40's!

On a happier note went out and celebrated my 27th wedding anniversary last night and for some reason I think the claritin kept my bladder quiet even though I had chardonnay. Anyone experience this?

[bob04951]

Bob too had an allergic reaction to Elmiron. His hands, under his arms, his ankles, large round under the skin rash that almost looked like ringworm. It was induced by Elmiron. Drug induced rashes (not saying it WAS elmiron) sometimes take a year or two to clear up, and our NP said sometimes they never go away. His were not itchy, just there and annoying to look at. He gave him some prescription cortisone cream, but it did nothing. Once he stopped Elmiron, the larger ones faded a bit. Are you really itchy or just itching because they are there? Also be careful with skin care products including soap, shampoo, laundry det, etc. Try to stay as hypoallergenic and natural as you can. And always wash new clothes, make believe you are a newborn baby and treat your skin as you would for one. Hope it goes away! Jill, wife of Bob

[cmclien]

Bob too had an allergic reaction to Elmiron. His hands, under his arms, his ankles, large round under the skin rash that almost looked like ringworm. It was induced by Elmiron. Drug induced rashes (not saying it WAS elmiron) sometimes take a year or two to clear up, and our NP said sometimes they never go away. His were not itchy, just there and annoying to look at. He gave him some prescription cortisone cream, but it did nothing. Once he stopped Elmiron, the larger ones faded a bit. Are you really itchy or just itching because they are there? Also be careful with skin care products including soap, shampoo, laundry det, etc. Try to stay as hypoallergenic and natural as you can. And always wash new clothes, make believe you are a newborn baby and treat your skin as you would for one. Hope it goes away! Jill, wife of Bob

Thats funny because when I first saw them I thought what the heck, do I have ringworm!!! But when the doc saw them she called them bullseye and said allergy to med. I've had many allergies to meds and they always go away for me, usually within a couple of weeks or faster. If they are super bad they'll give me a 6 day prednisone pack which will get rid of it all the way. This is such a bummer. Any I'll have to try at least one or two to figure out who is the culprit.
The rash itself was itchy, much better today as it has faded quite a bit but definitely still there. I've had other med allergies that had no itch at all, weird.
I really am bummed because I am sure the elmiron was already starting to work. Hope its not that drug. Will know soon enough....

[cmclien]

UPDATE -

I decided to go back onto the vesicare because the frequency was getting pretty bad without it and I don't think its the bad culprit. Took it yesterday and rash no worse, its slowly fading so I can rule that one out. I didn't think it would be a problem as I took ditropan (oxybutynin) for 2 years and never had a problem.

So now I'll wait a few days and try the elmiron..... really hope its not that one and is the nortriptyline!

[sailawaygrl]

I am glad to know what a medicine reaction hive looks like. I know that isn't a sure way to know but it might be helpful in the future. I am allergic to pennicillin but my allergy was found when I was young with swelling and hives. I have had Drs tell me that many outgrow those allergies but I am not willing to take that chance, especially since everytime that comes up I am already sick and need meds. Not particularly interested in having hives and sick at the same time! Glad you are getting better.

[cmclien]

This reaction appeared like circles but my last reaction to a drug were not circular but welts. I think any rash on your skin after being on a medication for a couple of weeks is most likely allergic. I have no idea why they sometimes are circular and sometimes are more like welts.....maybe just the histamine reaction.

[cmclien]

UPDATE -
I decided to go back onto the vesicare because the frequency was getting pretty bad without it and I don't think its the bad culprit. Took it yesterday and rash no worse, its slowly fading so I can rule that one out. I didn't think it would be a problem as I took ditropan (oxybutynin) for 2 years and never had a problem.
So now I'll wait a few days and try the elmiron..... really hope its not that one and is the nortriptyline!

So started back on the elmiron today and so far no problem, took it about 9 hours ago. I would think I'd have a response pretty quick to whatever I'm allergic too. That only leaves the nortriptyline. My doctor told me if you're allergic one of them then you can't take any of them in the same class i.e., tri-cyclics. It makes me VERY HAPPY that it doesn't appear to be the elmiron :)

She offered me flexeril? any insights? I don't need it for IC pain, its more for TMJ and bursitis (hip). I started a new thread on this but if you have thoughts while reading this feel free to post! I don't know if I should be pushing for a different low dose antidepressant or if the flexeril is ok.

[Itsme]

I initially got a rash and itching that lasted over two months. I went to the dermatologist and she said it was eczema. I got the rash after starting Nortriptyline. The rx for the rash/itching improved it some. I also lowered the dosage from 50 mg to 25 mg due to urinary retention. Well, two days ago, I decided to try the 50 mg dose again. I've had rashes and itching all over my body. Now, I know for sure it's an allergic reaction to Nortriptyline. I plan to call the doctor tomorrow. I'm not taking any tonight.

[curlycue]

Has anyone tried Visicare with out a problem?