UCTD and penicillin allergy and use of hydroxychloroquine

[RainKing]

Hi all - I’ve just been diagnosed with UCTD (after many years of symptoms!☹️ ) and have been prescribed Hydroxychloroquine. Consultant gave me a leaflet where it says macrolide antibiotics, such as erythromycin, are contraindicated. I’m allergic to penicillin, so my go-to if I do get an infection is usually a macrolide. Does anyone else take hydroxychloroquine and have a penicillin allergy and has it been an issue? Very interested to learn from your experience. Will talk to a pharmacist too. Thank you! 😀

[Turquoise-1]

Hi RainKing

I’m allergic to Penicillin & had a severe reaction to Hydroxychloroquine. It’s awful stuff (for me), I will never take it again.

NB - I 100% know I’m allergic to Penicillin, as I was an adult when the allergy occurred. Sometimes people incorrectly assume they’re allergic to Penicillin because they’d been told it as children.

I have allergies to various medications.

Hope all goes well for you 🙂

[Happykins]

Hi RainKing,

That's very interesting & I've not heard anything about this before.

I have a penicillin allergy , was diagnosed with uctd nearly 10 years ago.

I tried hydroxychloroquine back then but had a severe skin reaction to it, with a rash and peeling skin which lasted for a couple of months.

Since then, I've taken mepacrine with no problems.

[CecilyParsley]

Hi Rainking, I have taken Hydroxychloroquine since 2009 with a two year gap due to eye issues and although I can take penicillin, the only antibiotic that treats my UTI`s is Macrobid. I have to take it several times a year. The only issue I get with it is that my gut is affected.

[Beeswax15]

Hi Rainking

I was diagnosed with a penicillin allergy as a kid after anaphylactic shock. I’ve not had it since! I am allergic to most used antibiotics and only seem to tolerate doxycycline.

I take hydroxychloroquine and have been fine. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[DMM01]

I'm allergic to penicillin and have taken Hydroxychloroquine for 25+ years without issue. We are all so different though, I would recommend trying, it made such a improvement to my symptoms.

[Chris21]

Hi Rainking, i cant have penicillin, i was shocked the first time i was unwell and the GP said I couldn’t have eythrimycin, as that was my go to and its now on my records saying I'm not to have it! since then depending on the medical illness, they tend to give doxycycline or clarithromycin if you look those up the docycyclone is supposed to clash with hydroxychloroquine, while I think the clarithromycin is the same as eythrimycin 🤷🏼‍♀️ they both work and help fix the lurgies. otherwise its a week or two of steroids.

im sure the GP or pharmacist will advise whats best. 😉

[dg70]

Yes I have developed in the last two years an allergy to all anti biotic I've been prescribed so far including penicillin based. I had taken some of these antibiotics for years before with no reaction. The only two new medications I have taken since having this reaction is hydroxy and the covid jabs. It starts with tingling lips then they swell up, then mouth and nose sores, peeing blood, feeling rough for over a week. Its always the same pattern and seems to have to run its course. Antihistamine doesn't work. Last time I had prednisolone which seemed to speed up recovery but I was many days in before I got it. I think if I start it straight away it may really help. I also have allergic reaction to fluconazole for thrush which was out of the blue too as I'd taken that for years previous to hydroxy/covid jab. I must say I'm scared like you, what if I need antibiotic for infection? Will these reactions get worse (so far after 5 reactions they have all been the same pattern of reaction). i get UTIs and only have one kidney so i need to clear infections. I go through this pain every time though and whats this reaction doing to my organs?? I have lip scars from the sores. I saw the gp and they have referred me to an allergy clinic so I have to see what they say. I'm so glad I have found someone who has found this happening. So sorry for you and thanks for posting this as I'm at least not alone. Let's hope someone is further down the line with this and has some answers.

[marypw]

I take hydroxychloroquine and I’m allergic to almost all antibiotics. I’m ok on trimethoprim and metronidazole.

Last time I was in hospital i reacted to I.v. ciprofloxacin and then ended up on i.v. gentamycin which seemed to be ok.

The reaction between erythromycin and hydroxychloroquine seems to be quite rare (just checked on drugs.com) but you will need to discuss with the prescriber before taking any antibiotics. Sulfamethoxazole is also a no-no for lupus, so it’s all a bit of a minefield!

[Potatoheat]

mild penicillin allergy, had Nitrofurantoin for UTI, no problems apart from a dodgy tum for a day. When i had pericarditis and pleural effusion they pumped 3 different ABs into me , no noticable reactions. Mind you i felt so much better for them i probably wouldnt have noticed.

[BK47]

I take hydroxychloroquine but am only allergic to aspirin so can’t advise on the antibiotic question. But there are alternatives to the one you are sensitive to so I would give hydroxychloroquine a go. It has helped me.