Anybody else allergic to Antidepressants?

Allergies, blood and immune system
1

I was on fluoxetine last christmas, and had an awful reaction when they started kicking in, I ended up in hospital with rashes and unable to breathe etc: after a few days the steroids helped enough so i could go home, but ever since then my joints have been so painful and my fatigue so bad I'm not classed as disabled. 

I've never known anyone to be allergic to their meds like I was. Has anyone else heard of/experienced this before? I'm asking my doctor soon for an allergy test because i want to be put back on anti depressants, they havent let me since the reaction. 

2

I discovered this post, courtesy of Google, it was [according to Mr Google] posted in 2008  

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/strange-fluoxetine-side-effects-15616?page=1

I haven't read it all, but I rather hoped it might help you.

 

3

ahh just had a quick read through and it just seems like they werent the right meds for them. Thankyou though!!

4

http://www.drugs.com/fluoxetine.html

This lists the side effects and contra-indications

5

Then there's this   https://patient.info/medicine/fluoxetine-oxactin-prozac-prozep

6

This may be relevant because of your fatigue. I started suffering from intense skin itching and they put me on steroids for it. After a while I got ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I can't definitely say it was due to the steroids because other factors are probably involved but I can say they were possibly part of it.

7

Hi I've had an allergic reaction to Mirtazipine. I was just prescribed Lyrica - pregabalin for GAD & pain but having a bad reaction to that also. Went to the GP today who wants me to start yet another drug without taking time off to recover from the last one. I was shocked. Er, what about the shock to my body & adrenal system...? I'm feeling very despondent, frustrated & baffled. He mentioned that I may have chronic urticaria as he wasn't listening to me about the Mirtazipine. Yet another condition I've got to look into. I couldn't see the GP I saw perviously as it was an emergency appointment. I'm trying to find as much information as I can. I asled to be referred to an imunologist but they wont refer me. How many more drugs do I need to take...{big sigh}

8

Hi Celematy

I am in a similar situation to you and I found your post because I am also searching for answers.

I took fluoxetine for 2.5 weeks before I reacted. My face swelled up in a hives like rash. I ceased taking the fluoxetine and took cortisone to abate the reaction. Cortisone is an amazingly effective drug but I only use it in emergencies like when my eyes are swelling shut because it makes me very aggressive.

I have a long history of depression and have taken various anti-depressants, on and off, since about 20 years ago.

3 years ago I was suddenly struck down with debilitating allergy symptoms completely out of the blue. Long story short, I discovered that I am salicylate sensitive. It took over a year to work it out and I couldn't have done it without the help of a research team at the University of Sydney allergy unit. It was a long, dedicated process. Unfortunately, there isn't a simple 'test' like a skin prick test to work out all allergies.

Since that year I have not taken any antidepressants because my doctors and I were all strongly suspicious that I would react to them. I did try a melatonin based drug which I didn't have an allergic reaction to but it simply didn't help the depression at all.

About 1 month ago, out of desperation, we decided to try fluoxetine (chosen because it could be stopped abruptly if required). It seems I am allergic to the ssri group of antidepressants which are the only ones which work for me. Bugger!

It's a big 'Catch 22'. I'm allergic to the antidepressants KNOWN to help me. And my depression is becoming debilitating... again....what to do, what to do??

So, hopefully this is some kind of consolation to you Celematy, at least knowing that you're not alone. I'm sorry I couldn't offer you any answers but perhaps my journey might assist.

Good luck on your journey and I dearly hope that both you and I find something effective to help lift the black cloud. Not just for us but for the other people in our lives.

9

Hi Saly, 

Its been a while since I've actually looked at this thread, and me and my new GP have decided I'm also allergic to SSRI's, so we havent even thought about trying any more. I'm currently on Trazodone, and that helps enough to stop me panicking about deadlines etc. They take a long time getting used to though, it took me like 6-8 weeks and a dosage increase to get them working. I hope you find some that actually help you!! Depression is super not fun, and the reaction I had to fluoxetine actually caused my fibromyalgia (which had been easily managable and i didnt even have a diagnosis until recently) to get a lot worse. Please feel free to message me if you wanna chat more about medications (:

10

Hi Georgia, 

It turns out I have fibromyalgia! so I'm in a similar boat to you. I hope your CFS/ME isn't too bad. 

11

Thanks so much for your kindly and prompt reply! I'll chat to my doc about Trazodone and maybe give it a try.

Best wishes with your fibromyalgia - that's a pretty awful one but you sound like you're managing it well.

I'll post my results in a couple of months - wish me luck!

12

Its a sleeping tablet as well as an anti depressant, they use it for people with anxiety as well because it acts as a sedative. It might be worth a go though! 

Yeah my fibro is still rather mild compared to others that I know, but it still stops me from doing things I wish I could. I'm managing as best I can though, which is all you can do with these things!

Good luck! I hope everything works out for you (:

13

Hi;yes is the simple answer;

jan 2015 started same medication,stopped as severe reaction after 4 weeks

heavy scratching all over body even head,ever since have had this

doctors dont seem to know what it is,but iam convinced its that what started this,iam 67 and never had anything like this,its constant

not as bad as was then,but use antihysamine pills,dont stop but do help.

this tells me is set of some sort of allergy now,,but to what,tried food changes nothing seems to differ it

may be cheese and milk??

how long will this last, have a rash on chest most times,

14

Hey ive just recently started fluoxetine and was wondering how long before you know you wont react ive heard you can get a rash or react with too micj serotonin in you if you overdose or take medication which produce serotonin

15

My daughter was on setrolin in December 2017 in Feb 2018 she started to vomit daily this went on till March 26 2018 I took her of setrolin and she stopped vomiting the doctor changed her med to fluorine she been on it for nearly two weeks now and now vomitting has started again could there be a connection

16

I recently discovered I am allergic to magnesium stearate. It is a common additive put in pills to help them move through the machines without getting stuck.  I think they are phasing magnesium stearate out in Canada. (It was a Canadian friend who made the observation for me.)  

I was crazy with a rash for weeks and swore it was my probiotic. The derm said no.  But the rash was worse after I took it. The probiotic had ms in it. 

Once I took out all the vitamins and things that had magnesium stearate in them, my rash went away. 

17

Hey there. Just another person looking to add to the discussion and also possibly get advice. I have no health insurance, so I have only been to the Health Department in my city.

I was put on prozac and didn't see symptoms until about two months in. I didn't know it was being caused by the new medication because I had been taking it for so long already. I thought it was dust mites from work or something since the rash was most severe on my stomach/chest and arms.

When I put two and two together, my doctor asked why I didn't stop taking it immediately or go to the emergency room if I was that severe (had photos to show her) but I told her I didn't know, and I was scared to stop it immediately because she said I'd have to wean off if it didn't work. I have mental illness in my family, so I kind of understood how doctors like you to wean when you are changing medications.

So, after I weaned off (before I could get another appointment) The hives would be there some days, and not on others. This lead me to believe it was, in fact, the medication causing my hives. Finally during my next appointment, I hadn't had any for about a week. I got them again, that day..

She decided not to do steroids, but instead try me on another drug class of antidepressants. I was so stressed because I'm trying to manage my mental health, but the medication she could get me the cheapest was all on the same drug class. We finally found another type, but I wanted to wait to take my new prescription until the hives were gone completely (since they flared up again). That way I know the new medication isn't causing the same reaction if I'm still getting hives.

Here I am, a month after my appointment, and I'm still getting hives. I've been taking benadryl, but I'm not sure now if that's what is making the hives act up now, since I'm not taking any new meds yet.

I got a hive on my lip last night, but I had already taken two a few hours before because I had a flare up on my legs. So, I took one, broke it in half and let it dissolve under my tongue a bit before I swallowed it. About 20 minutes later, I vomited everything in my stomach. Like, everything... So, figuring the medication didn't get to work, I took the other half in the same way. It stayed down. But, shortly after my chin felt like it was flaring up. I try not to scratch because that makes it worse. I left it alone, but after about 10 minutes, sure enough, there was a hive on my chin.

So, maybe it's the benadryl or overuse of it?? I woke up this morning to a large rash on my back, and some small bumps on my thighs that grew as I scratched (before I realized I was scratching.)

It just feels like my skin is really sensitive now. I get them on my feet and hands even which end up also leaving them numb, or sore after driving or even just using them to walk or handle things.

I'm just a mess. I'm going to give an alternative to the benadryl a try.

I figure some of this sounds ridiculous, like the dosage I'm now taking, but I'm desperate and unsure of what to do. I can't afford a hospital bill, so taking the extra benadryl last night was solely because of the hives being on my mouth and chin. I also had someone looking after me last night, in case anything happened. If there are flare ups after taking the benadryl, I usually power through or use cortisone cream. Which helps.

Sorry this is so long. 😭

18

Hi Celematy!

I had a similar experience with a probiotic. I was not allergic to the bacteria, but to the magnesium stearate used in the industrial manufacturing process. It's used not for the drug's efficacy, but to keep the pills lubricated and moving through the machines in the production line. 

I had taken that probiotic for years with no problem. Then, I started with a bad rash all over my neck and face that didn't go away. 

I would still be puzzling over it now if a friend from Canada hadn't said to me "check to see if there is magnesium stearate in it." Sure enough, in Canada they are phasing the use of it out because of its high allergic potential. 

Now, if I take a tylenol or a stool softener that has magnesium stearate, I get the same rash on my neck because I live in the US and they still use that as an industrial lubricant. 

19

Hi there. I just read your post on allergies to antidepressants that help you! I have battled with anxiety/ depression/ PMDD and other things for many years. Fluoxetine caused an alergic reaction in me as well. I was so sad as this really was effective and I was googling if others were allergic to this as my doctor claimed it was so rare. I am so sorry to hear this and I wonder if you have found something that helped? I know this is an older post but thought I would try as I am so glad to know it os not just me with this issue. Hopefully you have found something that helps and are doing well!

God Bless

20

Hi, I know this is a late reply but I got symptoms after 4-6 weeks when they started kicking in but it may be different for others. If you get any kind of symptoms that are bothering you - go to your doctor!