drug allergy, hives help

[texaspeach]

DS was on abx (amoxicillin) recently, on the 7th day we noticed a pink rash that looked like heat rash - went to dr (not our usual ped) on the 8th day who heard the word amoxicillin and jumped straight to the conclusion that it was a nonallergic rash. However, I could tell ds was itchy and the nonallergic rash isn't supposed to be itchy. the next day (yesterday) ds was covered in hives. I did NOT give him his morning dose and we went to the dr that afternoon who confirmed that it was a likely drug allergy. we'd already finished most of the abx so we did not get a substitution and the condition that was being treated has resolved.

She said we could give 1.5ml of benadryl every 4-6 hrs, which we've been doing. Last night I double checked the dosage and on the dr sears website it says a dose for his weight (18.5lb) should be 3.75ml. I'm ok with giving a half dose, but poor ds is itchy after just a couple of hrs with the half dose. we're also doing oatmeal baths

He hasn't had any abx in 42 hrs and still has hives (as the benadryl wears off the hives appear). anyone have any experience with this? should they be gone by now? I'm trying to decide if I should call for an appointment tomorrow or if we should just keep waiting. this stuff always happens on the weekend doesn't it? I have had a drug reaction, not to abx, myself but I can't remember how long it took for the rash to go away.

any experience?

ftr we are dairy and peanut free and I checked with the pharmacist that the medicine we got was dairy and peanut free.

[sbgrace]

Hives can take a while to resolve. Timing depends. I won't say how long it took my son because it's discouraging and I don't think typical.

Zyrtec is better with hives as you don't have to dose it so often and it stays in the system longer/suppresses better. I'd switch to that. It's OTC and dosages for his age will be listed.

[gigismom]

my daughter had a similar experience with abx at around that age. her hives were very itchy and lasted a few days i think. i had to keep her dosed with antihistamine or they would come back really bad. eventually, they would come back less and less severe until not at all. sorry you are dealing with this too! we have a pic of her in an oatmeal bath just covered head to toe with red blotches. i think we used benadryl at the time too but i would second the suggestion for zyrtec. it definitely lasts longer

jen

[balancedmama]

I know that when i had an allergic reaction to sulfa, it took 3-4 days for the hives/swelling to completely go away. I think I took benadryl for at least 3 (after the initial epinephrine in the ER )

[blessedmum]

I have countless allergies and so does my son we have had much better luck with using a homeopathic remedy for hives than anything else. Hyland's kids has a hives remedy that is easy to find in stores -takes care of all symptoms within apx 24 hrs for us. good luck hope he feels better soon!