Question:
I recently had, what has been 'deemed' an allergic reaction to Tapazole.
5 days after commencing the medication I broke out in hives from head to
toe.
(I have sucessfully taken Tapazole into remission in the past)
15 after discontinuing medication I am still getting large 'patches' of
hives all over.
They last for about 20 mins - to and hour then 'shift' to somewhere else
(mainly back of hands
top of feet, lower back, throat).
Questions:
1.Has anyone who's had a hive allergic reaction, had what allergists call
a 'challenge'
(apparently there are not many 'allergy tests' when it comes to medication
so they do this 'challenge' thing in a hospital - it sounds like they give
you the medication you are
allergic to in increasing doses - kinda curious what kinda effect that'll
have on the old thyroid hehehe)
2. How long do these damn hives LAST!?
Part of me is praying I've 'reacted' to something else - since PTU isn't an
option and
I don't want the RAI - although - I've not changed anything else - ie:
shampoo, soap, food etc.
Answer:
Wow, everything I've read says if you have an allergic reaction to a medication
you never take it again. Maybe there's something else you can take! The problem is I want to *know* its the drug that caused it. 15+ days seems
to be a pretty long time
to still be errupting in hives from a medication that has a supposedly
short life.
I'm willing to be told my assumption is off ...hehe ...that's why I'm
asking.
(Probably why they do this 'challenge' thing in a hospital) I know even a few drops of skin contact with liquid penicillin can cause me
a very rude reaction. Initially I had a rosea-like reaction to penicillin
at 9-10 yrs old within 3 hrs of taking it - I broke out in a really ugly
rash from skin contact a few years ago when I had to give the 'banana
flavoured' stuff to my kid and accidentally spilled a drop on my hand.
I had a rosea-like reaction to PTU - I stopped taking the drug - the rash
was fading in a few days
This 'hive' thing is not something I've encountered before.
The only other 'allergy' I've encountered is Euchlyptus of all things
within 3 seconds of exposure: onion peeling eyes, instant headache,
coughing, wheezing, inability to breath with extended exposure, running
nose (makes xmas shopping fun since it seems every store around loads up
on the stuff) hehe.
I'm 100% sure of the allergy to PTU. Tapazole is the only 'alternative'
left besides surgery or RAI neither of which I'm willing to entertain atm
(the endo is trying to shove RAI down my throat)
Production of Iopanoic acid has been discontinued in Canada - the last
'batch' available expires in June.
so - hey if there's another alterntive - I'll look into it but I've not
found one yet :) - not in this country. I remember you were skeptical of the Iodides because of
toxicity, but hey RAI is at least as toxic as non-radioactive
Iodine ;) - I know you don't have to take it as often but it is
worth bearing in mind. The doses of Iodine aren't so fantastic
compared to what is consumed where sea cucumber is part of the
staple diet.
www.thyroidmanager.org discusses Iodide treatment in
considerable depth, as the metabolism of Iodine is of interest
in all thyroid treatments. It has honest, down to earth,
figures, it don't work for everyone.
Faced with discussing it with my doctor or deliberately
destroying my thyroid (again) I know what I'd try first. Indeed
I may discuss it with my doctor anyway as it looks to be the
only way I'll ever get to drink red wine again ;(
The AACE were lobbying for resumption of a minimal production of
Iopanoic acid for people such as yourself, if you give up to
easily it'll never happen for others. Perhaps we should write a
letter to Amersham International, sounds like you spoke to
someone sympathetic, perhaps we could get the name of the "man
in charge" from them, I dare say they could get some good
publicity out of not completely stopping production with the
right PR angle, must be worth a penny on the share price ;)
