Reaction To Clindamycin

[Wendy]

I was put on Clindamycin by an ER Dr to help with facial swelling/rash/infection/cellut itis (brought on by poison ivy?)along with otc benedryl and Prednisone. Didn't realize a side rash was developing until the 6th-7th day...just assumed the original rash must've been poison ivy and it was on its last legs coming out. WOndering how long these new patches will last. Much more annoying that original rash.

[DBK]

I started taking Clinda for possible mastitis. Was shocked when after 8 days on med I broke out in hives from head to toe, I am covered and itch alot. Can only take claritin and topical creams (sometimes Benydryl) as I am nursing. How long will I suffer?

[Barbara]

My hives and itching lasted about 3 to 4 weeks, but the worst of it subsided after 2. Just keep telling yourself it will pass. That's about all you can do, especially if you can't take oral benadryl around the clock. If you haven't advised your physician of the reaction you should do so immediately.

[Tina]

I broke out in a measle-like rash all over my body after a week of taking clindamycin. Its been 5 days since the rash and it's very itchy! I've tried Benadryl, Reactine, and Atarax and none of them really help. My surgeon says to wait it out until my appointment to see him in a few days. I havent been able to sleep well for the last 3 nights. Hope this rash is going away soon! Wondering if i should ask my doctor to prescribe oral steroids for me..anybody think it'll help?

[Jenn]

I have never been alergic to anything in my life! I am on clindamycin for a root canal. Last night my left eye just BAM! swelled up all the sudden. I took some benedryl, which just knocked me out... but my eye is still swollen today. Though the swelling has gone down a bit.

[Barbara]

Tina wrote:

I broke out in a measle-like rash all over my body after a week of taking clindamycin. Its been 5 days since the rash and it's very itchy! I've tried Benadryl, Reactine, and Atarax and none of them really help. My surgeon says to wait it out until my appointment to see him in a few days. I havent been able to sleep well for the last 3 nights. Hope this rash is going away soon! Wondering if i should ask my doctor to prescribe oral steroids for me..anybody think it'll help?

Yes, it will help. I took oral steroids for about 3 weeks. It's up to your doctor to determine the dosage.

[Jessica]

For those of you who are taking this medication and are experiencing hives and a rash, I would consult your doctor before taking any more of the medication. I am on the med 4 times a day for 2 weeks but I can only manage to keep down 3 per day. When I get to the fourth one I want to barf, I have been having nausea and a metallic taste in my mouth. I have also had redness on arms and lots of itching, but I would still rather have these symptoms than have the infection. Hives and a red rash and itching are severe side effects and you should seek a doctors opinion. If they are a good doctor they will tell you to stop taking the meds OR couple it with an allergy prevntion med like benedryl.

[Jessica]

Calamin lotion really helps with hives and a rash. It is that pink stuff that you put on chicken pox, I hope I spelled it right for you. I am allergic to every thing under the sun when it comes to antibiotics so for me to beat an infection I have to have the hives and the rash so try the calamin lotion. IT SHOULD WORK!!!

Tina wrote:

I broke out in a measle-like rash all over my body after a week of taking clindamycin. Its been 5 days since the rash and it's very itchy! I've tried Benadryl, Reactine, and Atarax and none of them really help. My surgeon says to wait it out until my appointment to see him in a few days. I havent been able to sleep well for the last 3 nights. Hope this rash is going away soon! Wondering if i should ask my doctor to prescribe oral steroids for me..anybody think it'll help?

[David Jasinski]

Yeah, I have been taking it for 9 days now. I took a morning dose (day 9) and that will be my last one. I should be taking it 10, but I have a mild rash ever since day 7. When I first started I had severe abdominal pain, that went away though as I started drinking more liquids.

[Jo-Anne]

Jessica wrote:

Calamin lotion really helps with hives and a rash. It is that pink stuff that you put on chicken pox, I hope I spelled it right for you. I am allergic to every thing under the sun when it comes to antibiotics so for me to beat an infection I have to have the hives and the rash so try the calamin lotion. IT SHOULD WORK!!!
<quoted text>

You might also want to try a bath in oatmeal. Really does work - just sprinkle about a half cup in a tub of water and soak. As the oatmeal softens, you can also spread on the itchiest spots! Besides the prednisone and atarax, it got me through my 10 days of rash.

[Krissyb]

I have to have a root canal...I have already taken one full dose of this antibiotic and it helped the infection with no side effects. The infection came back and I've been taking it for over a week and then all of a sudden tonight I have hives all over my arms and legs. I have stopped taking the meds with 10 to go after reading some posts. Can anyone tell me when the hives will go away??

[catkimball]

Krissyb wrote:

I have to have a root canal...I have already taken one full dose of this antibiotic and it helped the infection with no side effects. The infection came back and I've been taking it for over a week and then all of a sudden tonight I have hives all over my arms and legs. I have stopped taking the meds with 10 to go after reading some posts. Can anyone tell me when the hives will go away??

I'm wondering the same thing. I was on Clindamycin 300 mg capsules, 4X/day for 14 days for a staph infection in a dog bite on my leg. All was fine until they put me on a second 14-day prescription (wound not healing) and 3 days later, I am covered in a rash that resembles German measles. It is especially severe around the wound area. I can't take Benedryl, and Prednisone would prevent the wound from healing, so my doctor told me to take Claritin tablets (not Claritin D, not Claritin extended - just the original Claritin tablets) and the itching stopped almost immediately. The rash is still there, but no more itching! No one seems to know when the rash will subside. Can anyone who's already been through this give us a clue?

[michellem]

I had a skin infection, for which I was prescribed Clindamycin. I took it 300mg every 6 hours for seven days. Two days after finishing, I noticed a red rash all over my arms, legs, back, torso and groin area. I thought nothing of it. The skin infection recurred, so I took another Clindamycin last night. Now my red rash is angry and itchy. My lips are swollen. I took Benadryl and am waiting for it to take effect. This sucks.

[BillyBob369]

I was given this antibiotic by my dentist. I took it for four day and started to itch slight, the next two days and I had rashes all over my body. I called my dentist and he told me to stop. I went top the fwamily doc, who prescibed prednesone. I just started it today. No relief from Benadryl or Zirtec. they should take this junk off the market.

[Christine]

I am currently 29 weeks pregnant and had a boil become infected. I spent 7 days in the hospital emitted for the infection and was on an IV drip for Clindamycin. When i came home the second day of being on the pill form my body reacted with a horrible rash. This medication is horrible in Pill form and If there are this many people having the same reaction they should remove it off the drug list of antibiotics! Im now on prednisone, docusate, and diphenhydramine for steroid, ant acid, and allergy pill (generic for benadryl) they have also changed my antibiotic to keflex. This medication should be REMOVED and banned from any USE

[Krissyb]

I have now been off Clyndamycin for over a month and a half and still suffer from hives. Any scratch, heat, stress, brings them on. Some days are better than others, but I had NEVER suffered from hives before taking this drug. I guess the good news is, my tooth is healed. But the hives are ANNOYING! Benadryl helps, but it also puts me to sleep, so not really a good option for a long day at work. I don't want to take a steroid, but I may have to give in.

[Lori]

I started this drug 10-21-09 150mg 3 capsules 2 times a day. after the first week I felt like something was wrong but countinued to take it. I called my Dr. office that subscriped this to me and told them they were making me sick. They didn't tell me what can happen on this drug and I want to tell all that 2 or more weeks off it I had bad watery stools and then got worse they became bloody and the cramping was terrible! I called my regular Dr.s office not the one that gave me this drug and told them I was having bloody watery stools..they sent me to the E.R. It was a life threating reaction. They did stool samples blood and urine tests x rays of my chest and lower back. They put me on a I.V. and gave me moraphine for the terrible cramping. I was diagnosed with pseudomembranous colitis. My colon was full of Bad bacteria. I am now on flaygl day 3 and feeling better but still having mild cramps with less frequent runs to the bathroom. I was going 12 to 15 times a day. I have been through a broken neck and pelvis c-cection and never ever experienced any thing like this. They tell me I may need 2 treatments because it can keep coming back! I own my own business and don't make as much money when I am not there and still off work. Please don't take this medicine there are others out there!

[heather]

I started taking this medication together with percocet, for the pain. The very next night i noticed my back,chest, stomach were covered in a rash. Stopped taking both because i wasn't sure which med was causing the reaction. Im also allergic to penicillin. Well after reading peoples comments, im gonna say it was the antibiotic.