Anaphylaxis symptoms and conditions

I have had life-threatening spasmodic breathing episodes for the last year. My GP attributed it to asthma, because that's what it looked like, and they have given me prednisone shots and later on, antibiotic shots, to control it (for about 6 weeks at a time). I have well-controlled type II diabetes, so predisone can cause it to go out of control fairly quickly. Prednisone also caused some occasional pain in my feet, probably because of the elevated blood sugar. All the asthma drugs they gave me actually made me sicker, like Advair, etc. Lo and behold, I was able to talk my doctor into a referral to an allergist, and my allergy numbers are off the charts! All grasses, most trees, and many animals were high enough to cause anaphylaxis, especially when surrounded by more than one. Anaphylaxis can cause the labored breathing I suffered. Meanwhile, I have the lung capacity of an Olympic swimmer. I have an elderly friend who has gone to the hospital several times this year with the same problem. After I found out my results, I talked to his wife, and they discussed the allergy and infection aspect with the doctor. Turns out he had fairly severe allergies and infections that made his life-long asthma go way out of control. With a medicine for infection, he is 10 times better - the asthma is under control because it is not being jump-started by the low-level infections he suffered. I don't even have asthma, it just looks like asthma. I will begin years of allergy shots, just like in my 20's. (I am 55). The upshoot? Some people are suffering severe asthma symptoms. Others have a combo of problems which are exacerbating the asthma-like problems. Doctors who think you only have asthma tend to only treat asthma. Prednisone greatly reduces inflammation, which is a common factor in all the above diseases. So, calming the symptom doesn't mean treating the source. You long-term asthmatics should also look inot taking allergy tests if it is considered safe (they DO inject a small amount of allergens in your skin), and not spend 100% of your time with the pulmonary specialist who is only looking at your lungs. Also, you really need to do some cause and effect testing with antibiotics or similar to see if you have some type of infection. My friend and I are both on our way to better health because we went beyond treating the symptoms.

At thirty-two, active, healthy and slender I developed unexplained Hypertension. I was put on Lopressor.
I relocated to the Southwest. My new doctor changed my blood pressure medication to Lisinopril. I balked at changing what had been working well for me (14 years). I pointed out my history of allergies and drug sensitivities. I told her I had gone into Anaphylaxis from bee venom and another prescription drug. She told me that she was the doctor and I was not. She said that Lopressor, a Beta Blocker was a poor choice of medicine for me because I am an Asthmatic. I began the Lisinopril the following day. My second day on it I had a severe headache, the next day this was accompanied by tightness in my chest and a feeling of suffocation. By day three I also had edema in my face, hands, feet and was very short of breath and mildly dizzy. I was weak and could barely get out of bed. I called the doctor and she was unavailable but I spoke to the RN who listened carefully. She said she would speak with the doctor and call me back. Several hours later the RN called and told me that the doctor said these were not unusual symptoms when you first start Lisinopril. She said they would go away in a few days. I was to continue the medication. With trepidation I followed her instructions. Within an hour my face was numb, I had severe pain going down my arm, I felt like my chest was in a vice, I was gasping for breath and wheezing. The pain was excruciating. I was certain I was having a heart attack. I was taken to the ER. They immediately did an EKG and started an IV line. The EKG indicated I was apparently having a heart attack. They began all sorts of heart protocols, medication into the IV, blood work, etc. They tested me for Pulmonary Embolism. Still waiting for the blood results, they injected me with a radioactive isotope and began an MRI of my heart . By this time I broke out in hives all over my body, was itching like crazy and my eyes swelled shut and I felt my throat closing. I was immediately taken out of the MRI and given an injection. I began to get better. I was admitted to the hospital, a non- ER doctor came to see me the next day. After reviewing my entire chart and talking with me extensively he determined that I had had an anaphylactic reaction to the Lisinopril. He told me that Lisinopril is contraindicated in persons who are allergic to bees.

ive only been using the proair inhaler for a few days and my chest pains are increasing to the point where it hurts to even breathe. im sick also, so i cant cough or anything. it hurts so bad that i cant lay down to sleep because the pain is worse when i lay down. i don't know why. its 430am and im up because of the pain this inhaler is causing me. i recommend it not be given to patients.

I believe that objective sources of information should be posted periodically so that they are not missed.

Adverse Reactions
(As reported in adults)
>10%: Central nervous system: Headache (18%)

1% to 10%:

Central nervous system: Dizziness (2%), fatigue (2%), fever (2%)

Dermatologic: Rash (2%)

Gastrointestinal: Dyspepsia (2%), dental pain (2%), gastroenteritis (2%), abdominal pain (3%)

Neuromuscular & skeletal: Weakness (2%)

Respiratory: Cough (3%), nasal congestion (2%), upper respiratory infection (2%)

Miscellaneous: Flu-like symptoms (4%), trauma (1%)

Postmarketing and/or case reports: Agitation, anaphylaxis, angioedema, arthralgia, bleeding tendency, bruising, cholestasis (rare), diarrhea, dream abnormalities, drowsiness, edema, eosinophilia, hallucinations, hepatic eosinophilic infiltration (rare), hepatitis, hypoesthesia, insomnia, irritability, muscle cramps, myalgia, nausea, palpitation, pancreatitis, paresthesia, pruritus, restlessness, seizure, urticaria, vasculitis, vomiting

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/drugs/montelukast-088375.htm

Oh my gosh, I am just shocked after reading these posts. I am taking my son off of Singulair immediatedly!!!! I knew I wasn't crazy!! My son was on Singulair for over 2 years and it was awful. He was so hyper and uncontrollable. He couldn't control his temper. He had headaches everyday. He was put on it due to severe allergies and asthma. He is on other medications as well as allergy shots. I kept telling the doctor that I think the singulair was causing his bad behavior problems. He was just so hard to handle. He couldn't sit still for anything. The teacher couldn't get him to sit still in his chair. It just wasn't normal behavior for him. The teacher even thought he had ADD!! I didn't accept that however. The doctor just thought I was crazy and told me that Singulair wouldn't cause those symptoms. She said it actually would work opposit that and cause him to be sleepy. Well I took him off of it anyways and he did get pretty sick. His asthma acted up ect. But he eventually felt better and his behavior improved drastically. He wasn't so hyper and he could actually sleep at night and wasn't so scared at night. Just within the last week he has been pretty sick due to allergy season, his asthma has been bad and the doctor told me to put him back on the Singulair. So I did he has been on it for four days now and he is HORRIBLE.. It was an instant change. My husband and I can't control him and he can't sleep at night and has headaches every day. I am so glad I found this sight. I am taking him off immediately.
Thank you all so much for your comments. This medicine should be outlawed. I don't care what the doctors say. By the way my son is 9 years old. I certainly had no idea that it has caused suicide. I am so sorry to you all that have experienced such horrible things. Come to think of it my son used to say he hated himself all of the time when he was on this medicine.
God Bless You All

I am 47-years-old and have been on Singulair and Zyrtec daily for at least 10 years. I have to say I have never had a single side effect or episode of depression from these drugs. I have a condition known as idiopathic anaphylaxis, and these drugs have been literally a "life saver" for me.

Here’s a little update from my last post, I hope it may be useful. The reference to snake venom set me thinking, as around six years ago I suffered anaphylaxis after being stung by a wasp on the end of my tongue. I was rushed to casualty as my head and ears swelled up. I was coved in a red spotty rash and although the major symptoms subsided after a day or so after treatment , it after several weeks before I was back to normal. I now carry adrenaline in case of a similar incident. Many of the symptoms were similar to what I have experienced over the last month, the shortness of breath, the red spotty rash ( forgot to put that in the last post. I still have the spots on my arm and back!) , painful joints, blurred vision etc….

So it got me thinking, is there a connection? It would be interesting to note if any of those posting here have similar intolerance to insect venom.

A quick Google brought up a reference to a paper by Janice L Stumpf, Nadine Shehab and Anish Patel in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy Vol 40 No 4 p699-703 titled ‘Safety of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in Patients with Insect Venom Allergies’

In the conclusions it states ‘….it seems prudent that patients with document allergic reactions to insect venom avoid ACE inhibitor therapy, if possible..’

I’m convinced that I was slowly going into a form of anaphylaxis brought on due to allergic reaction to linisopril, I now know what I will be telling my GP, as I’m sure many doctors will be unaware of this link. Make sure that if you suffer from the same intolerance that your doctor is made aware.

Hope this helps.

I feel like my heart flutters on it and the first time I took it, I couldn't sleep for 2 days. I am giving it another try due to cedar fever.

I found this information from another site.

Post-Marketing Experience

The following additional adverse reactions have been reported in post-marketing use: hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylaxis, angioedema, pruritus, urticaria, and very rarely, hepatic eosinophilic infiltration); dream abnormalities and hallucinations, drowsiness, irritability, agitation including aggressive behavior, restlessness, insomnia, paraesthesia/hypoesthesia, and very rarely seizures; arthralgia, myalgia including muscle cramps; increased bleeding tendency, bruising; palpitations; edema; nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, diarrhea, and very rarely pancreatitis. Rare cases of cholestatic hepatitis, hepatocellular liver-injury, and mixed-pattern liver injury have been reported in patients treated with SINGULAIR. Most of these occurred in combination with other confounding factors, such as use of other medications, or when SINGULAIR was administered to patients who had underlying potential for liver disease such as alcohol use or other forms of hepatitis

It looks like it has many side effects.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR ALLERGIES!

I have been on and off of prednisone for the last 3 years- very high doses starting at 120 mg a day- the side effects are nightmarish- extreme weight gain, rashes, infections, moon face, mood swings- if there is a side effect i have had it. The good news is though the side effects are temporary and eventually the weight does come off. I have idiopathic anaphylaxis- also with known allergies to medicines, food and the enviroment. As much as I hate being on the drug- it has saved my life everytime- have faith things will get better- just surround yourself with a good support team-

well this is the exhaustive list of the possible side effects triggered by montelukast sodium given in the leaflet of this medicine....i am so grateful to the distributors of this medicine in my country for keeping the users of this medicine informed. I am stating the side effects as it is for every ones notice here

1. Body as whole: asthenia, fatigue, malaise, oedema, hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, angioedema, urticaria, pruritus, rash and one isolated report of hepatic eosinophilic infiltration.
2. Digestive system: thirst(pediatric patients), abdominal pain.
3. Nervous system/psychiatric: headache, dizziness, dream abnormalities including nightmares, hallucinations, drowsiness, insomnia, paraesthesia/hypesthesia, irritability, agitation including aggressive behaviour, restlessness, seizure.
4. Musculo skeletal disorders: arthralgia, myalgia including muscle cramps.
5. Hepato biliary disorders: elevated levels of serum transaminases(ALT,AST), cholestatic hepatitis.
6. Digestive system disorders: diarrhea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting.
7. Cardiovascular disorders: increased bleeding tendency, bruising, palpitations. Very rare cases of Churg-Strauss Syndrome CSS have been reported during montelukast treatment in asthmatic patients.
8. Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity: No evidence of this have been reported in montelukast treatment.
9. Pregnancy and lactation: no evidence of tratogenicity and there is no suffiecient prove for the excretion of the montelukast in the human milk as many drugs are excreted in the human milk.

To my fan fare;

"U have to be an idiot to write things like that to people like us who r really suffering because of pred. Obviously u have found the wrong website. Now go find yourself a SHRINK. "

Thank you, your blatent insults obviously indicates superior intelligence and mental stability. Far be it that anyone poses a theoretical question or thought based on their own experiences.......

'So Jules, 5 mg a day for a few weks and you're the expert ?'

Just so you know, I've taken doses as high as 60 mgs a day many times in my life.
My daughter, who was on life support for a month, was given 500 mgs a day. I owe a higher power and the prednisone, my sincere gratitude for her survival.

I never stated that "anyone" has psychosomatic side-effects or "the placebo" effect here. Did anyone bother to notice the ? at the end? Did anyone stop to think that I might be posting a serious question/concern I had?

To those that are suffering from the horrific side-effects and I offended...my sincere apologies. I wasn't trying to dismiss your suffering, only trying to point out the positive side of the drug, and to open some peoples eyes to the reality of "possible" placebo effects.

Where I was coming from:

During my 3rd year in Pre-med, several of us students began suffering from chest pains, arrythmias, perfuse sweating, etc...guess what we were studying at the time?

I could list thousands of studies showing the reality of psychosomatic/placebo effects. I could also post harvard/mayo etc. studies that show the ultimate power of mind and the positive/negative effects that peoples suggestions have on our healing, side-effects and survival.

Posting the horrific side effects of ANY DRUG might offer reassurance that were not alone in our side-effect suffering but it can also have some really negative psychological effects on certain people and ultimately affect their decision in taking it...ie...my mother had penicillian anaphylaxis, and none of us would touch it with a ten foot pole for years.

Some of the posts here are terrifying and I personally feel that people should think about the impact it is/could have on people just beginning drug therapy.

In my opinion, when taking any drug, the bottom line is weighing the risk versus benefit, ...ie...chemo has terrible side-effects, but does the disease it's treating have any less profound effects?????

(23 year old female) I was prescribed Ciloxan for a bilateral stapf infection that was invading my corneas. In the drug insert they do mention the possibility of anaphylaxis shock after administering these eye drops however, they make it appear as if it is a very minmal and rare occurance. Within minutes of administering my first dosage I started having difficulty breathing. I am an asthmatic, so my automatic response was to take my inhaler. After a few more minutes I started experiencing, dizziness, headache, tingling in my head, and addominal pain. My mother rushed me over to the fire station ( I was getting worse during the drive to the hospital) Once there things started to calm down. The paramedic told me that the only thing that saved me from having a more severe reaction than what I had was my inhaler. They administer epinephrine to counteract an allergic reaction, and the effects of the inhaler act in the same manner as epinephrine. Anaphylaxis is a serious side effect, just because the insert says that it is a rare occurance, be prepared for anything. It can happen.

Anaphylaxis. While under general anesthesia, the patient developed truncal erythema, bronchospasm, and hypotension (BPsys 50-60s) within minutes of lymphazurin administration. The patient recovered after being treated with a 2 L. I.V. fluid bolus, epinephrine, SoluMedrol, Benadryl, and neosynephrine.

Went on June 6 for a medical test and was given an IV dose of Levaquin as a precaution. I did not know I was being given this antibiotic. Within a few minutes I was in anaphylaxis. Also had very high blood pressure and heart rate. Muscle spasms throughout my body including my diaphram. I had two major "attacks" and one minor. I was given losts of drugs to counteract the symptoms. Had my procedure done and went home. Did not sleep that night and heart problems started up again. Ended up in the ER and in hospital for four days. Sleeplessness continues to be a problem 9 days later. No sleep again tonight. Lots of aching joints and muscles. Can't do much yet and can not concentrate enough to read a book. I had no problems like these prior to being given this ONE dose of Levaquin. I previously fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.
I looked up this drug on the Web when I got home and found this site. I am very angry to have been given this drug without my knowledge and approval.

I was put on 80mg of Zocor with Lopid in 1999. That great decision by the cardiologist resulted in rhabdomyolysis in 2001 and three episodes of anaphylaxis shock! In addition, I had a cardiolite stress test in 1999 prior to going on the high doses of Zocor that reflected a left ventricular ejection fraction of 70. One month after my episode of rhabdo, a cardiolite stress test revealed my heart had enlarged and weakened and I had a left ventricular ejection fraction of 37! That is what that wonderful drug and doctors that believe the propaganda released by the drug companies can do for you.