Chest inhailers and hives

[Alice70]

This is probably a question for my skin community, before I go on that site I am trying to find out what is causing theses horrendous hive I have suffered for some years ,they are probably not caused by chest inhailers ,but that is the only thing I've taken different in the last number of years ,my question is has anyone else ever suffered hives through chest inhailers ,appreciate any comments

[RoadRunner44]

Hi Alice, I'm on nebulized colomycin and the side effects are dry, itchy skin. Look on line and check if your medication have those side effects too. I have also got peripheral neuropathy which apparently is also a side effect for some people. I am seeing a neurologist in the new year to find out what's going on. I really believe we as patients have to research our medication to find out as much as possible about it. Doctors nowadays don't have the time to link these things so it's up to us as we only have one life. Let's make the most of it. Take care. Chrys

[Alice70 in reply to RoadRunner44]

So true about looking after our selves chrys ,on the information on my inhail and my past inhail mentions side effect hives is one but comes under uncommon, hope things turn out good for you in the new year

[Boudica1]

Maybe tell your doctor about your concerns if you haven't already, maybe some antihistamines could help.

But if the hives/urticaria last more than 24 hours it needs further investigations as that is not normal and may be due to a different problem. Persistent skin problems should be referred to a dermatologist who can help you find out what the rashes are and if it's a reaction to the drugs, allergic reaction to something else or something different entirely.

My rash and skin problems turned out not related to the meds I'm on.

Good luck with finding out one way or another.

X

[Alice70 in reply to Boudica1]

I have taken lots of different antihistamines ,none work for me ,although it never leaves me ,but some flare ups are worse than others ,I've had to use dernavate to calm things down ,I only use dermavate if really necessary, thank you for your reply

[Boudica1 in reply to Alice70]

I have a steroid cream for the flare ups and creams and ointments for the other rashes and xerotic skin. I also have to take Hydroxychloroquine 400 to help keep things under control.

Keep well.

X

[Hidden]

There’s some information missing to really help with this one, like do you only get the hives after having had your inhaler or is it throughout the day? Do they come up once and go away after a short period or are they on and off for hours? Are they transient e.g. coming up in one place but within a couple of minutes those ones disappear and you’ve got new ones somewhere else?

I know a little bit about urticaria (hives) and histamine response as my small person has auto-immune driven chronic spontaneous urticaria and dermographism (means hives come up if you put pressure on her skin, so you can write her name on her back with your finger and it welts in that shape). Regardless of the cause, treatment/prevention of hives would be antihistamines and these can be very effective, but if it’s not the inhaler then you need to identify the cause - mild allergies can get worse to become serious, potentially life-threatening anaphylaxsis, so you want to know a) whether it is an allergy, and b) what it’s an allergy to.

[Alice70 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply Charlie, it has been suggested it is probably autoimmune mine are pressure hives were my under cloths go ,not the same pressure that you have mentioned ,read my reply to lovejoyliz explains more ,when you say your small person I take it it is a child ,I hope that urticaria will leave them as they get older bless

[lovejoyliz]

Hi Alice70

Here is what I found thru my search........

Types of Hives

The types of hives include the following:

Drug-Induced – Drugs such as penicillin, aspirin, clotrimazole, suphonylurea, dextramphetamine, and sulfonamides can cause allergic reactions. Anti-diabetic and anti-convulsive drugs can also cause this type of reaction. Drug-induced hives can also affect those suffering from severe cardio-respiratory failure.

Stress (Cholinergic) – This type of hives happens during sweat, but can also happen with other hives conditions after sweating and exercising (it is commonly called cholinergic urticaria). It can also happen when people perform activities that warm the body’s core temperature (ex. showers or hot baths). People with this type of hives may experience tingling, itching, heating-up, or burning or the skin. Hives remain for 60 to 90 minutes on average and appear as multiple, small, red hives that measure 2 to 3 mm. This type of hives is smaller in appearance than classic hives. Stress hives generally appear on the arms and upper trunk but can also appear on the thighs and neck.

Physical – This type of hives is the most common type of chronic hives. Physical urticaria also goes by the name dermographism or dermagraphism. This type of hives appears on the skin in the form of welts or weals that are the result of firm stroking, scratching, or itching of the skin. The skin reaction becomes apparent very quickly, usually after the itching starts. The welts normally disappear within 30 minutes. Some call this physical form of hives skin writing. Approximately 5% of the people who have hives have this form. The cause of physical hives is unknown in most cases, but it can be caused by antibiotic therapy, emotional onset, and viral infection.

Cold – This type of hives comes from exposing the skin to extreme cold. Specifically, people get cold urticaria in the areas of their skin exposed to damp, windy, cold conditions. The cold type of hives comes in two forms. The most common form occurs on the face, hands, and neck upon exposure to cold temperatures and the onset is rapid. This form of cold hives can last 5 to 6 years. The other form is hereditary. Although this form is rare, it can cover the entire body within 9 to 18 hours of cold exposure. Those who suffer from cold hives may also suffer from stress or physical hives.

Pressure– This type of hives happens after the skin sustains pressure or it may occur as a delayed response to pressure. The delayed form occurs after six hours of applying pressure to the skin. This form of hives is slightly different from most forms of hives. The affected area is more spread out, and the hives can last from 8 hours to 3 days. The cause of this type of hives comes from skin pressure caused by belts, hard surfaces, tight clothing straps, standing, leaning against objects, tight clothing, etc. The hands, trunk, buttocks, face, legs, and feet are the most commonly affected areas. The swelling lasts longer and does not become visible quickly with pressure hives. This is not to be confused with a type of reaction known as dermatographism.

Heat – Continuously applying heat to the skin can cause this type of heat hives. Although this type of hives is rare, it begins to occur within 2 to 5 minutes of heat exposure. The episode of hives does not last longer than one hour in most cases.

Water– People who have this type of hives are affected upon contact with water (aquagenic urticaria). This form of hives is rare, and the onset resembles the appearance of stress hives. Within 1 to 15 minutes of exposure to water, the hives appear. The onset can least from 10 minutes to 2 hours. Histamine discharge does not seem to be the cause of water hives. It is believed that water additives such as chlorine are the actual cause of the sensitivity to skin. This form of hives is treated by administering a cream to the affected area.

Solar-This form of hives is onset by exposure to sunlight. Within minutes, the areas of the skin exposed to the sun are covered in hives. The condition usually does not last longer than 24 hours. Once the skin is no longer exposed to sunlight, the conditions begin to improve within a few minutes or a few hours. There are 6 types of solar hives that exist. The wavelength of light is the determining factor of what type of solar urticaria people have. Glass protects those suffering from solar hives because it absorbs the wavelengths of the sun.

Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis – This type of hives was discovered a few decades ago, and it becomes apparent after a few minutes of exercise. Those who have this type of hives will experience itching, hives, low blood pressure, and shortness of breath within 5 to 30 minutes of exercising. The symptoms have been known to cause shock and death in some individuals. Exercise-Induced hives is most commonly caused by jogging. Unlike stress hives, people do not get exercised induced hives from fevers, hot baths, or warm showers.

Vibratory Angioedema – This painful form of hives occurs after coming in contact with vibration. Although this type of hives is rare, the onset is within 2 to 5 minutes of making contact with vibration. Within one hour, the hives are no longer visible. This type of hives causes speedy swelling of the area that encounters vibration.

[Boudica1 in reply to lovejoyliz]

Well researched, there is also Urticarial Vasculitis and another one that looks identical called Jessners Lymphocytic infiltration. They come up and last for days or weeks. I have these two lovelies and other rashes. Had to have a punch biopsy to diagnose what my hive/Urticarial rashes were.

[Alice70 in reply to Boudica1]

Hi boudica, sorry to hear you also suffer with these dreadful hives ,if you read my reply to Lovejoyliz ,you will see mine are different to your I think ,I am better at the moment after using dermavate ,hope you are not suffering to much ,thank you for your replies

[Boudica1 in reply to Alice70]

Thanks for your really nice reply. I always have some rash or another going on and itching can be a bugbare and drive me crazy, although I do try not to scratch at times it's impossible.

Doctors are still testing as they not sure if it's just one of those things, connected to the Sjogren's or a type of skin based Lupus.

I've given up wanting to know so long as the treatment works then fantastic. Trouble is some of the treatment that is used I can't have as they are not recommended for those with lung conditions.

Catch 22.

At least the Lungs are back under control after a nasty virus.

Hope you are doing well and keeping away from the bugs that go around at this time of year.

X

[Alice70 in reply to lovejoyliz]

Thank you so much liz for this reply ,it has enlightened me so much,I have chronic idiopathic pressure and heat hives ,after suffering for eight years I was only diagnosed a few months ago ,to get a diagnoses I had to see a private dermatolagist, over the years I've done all the things like changing washing powder cotton under cloths ect not even four antihistamin a day work ,my hives effect me just were my under cloths go ,and my back were we lean on the back rest of chair ,car seat ,I've always got a rash sometimes I can only feel it under skin ,when I wear my under cloths especially my bra I start itching ,burning ,and stinging ,the begining of last week it was so bad I couldnt get dress I staid in my loose nighty for three days ,I eventually put dermavate on my skin ,it was such a relief, dermavate is the only thing that works for me ,I do no it thins the skin so I am very careful with it ,my dermatologist said that because I have hypothyriod and pernicious anemia that it maybe another autoimmune desease, he also said copd wont help the condition, the reason why I asked if anyone got hives urticaria with the inhailers is ,I developed hives about the same time as I started on chest inhailer ,I asked my gp were they related to my thyriod, he said no as I am treated for hypothyriod ,thank you once agian for taking the time for this most informative reply

[lovejoyliz]

You are very welcome Alice70, I hope that you can soon get this issue sorted out.

Side effects of some medications can cause distress and I always aim to search the

internet for answers where ever I can.

Good luck

XX