Experiences with

Angioedema

Angioedema is swelling underneath the skin. It's usually a reaction to a trigger, such as a medicine or something you're allergic to.

It is not normally serious, but it can be a recurring problem for some people and can very occasionally be life-threatening if it affects breathing.

Treatment can usually help keep the swelling under control.

Symptoms of angioedema

The swelling most often affects the:

  • hands
  • feet
  • area around the eyes
  • lips and tongue
  • genitals

Many people also have a raised, itchy rash called urticaria (hives).

In more serious cases, angioedema can also cause breathing difficulties, tummy (abdominal) pain and dizziness.

Read more about the symptoms of angioedema.

When to get medical advice

See your GP if you have episodes of swelling that affect your skin or lips and you're not certain of the cause.

You may need to have some tests to determine the cause. Read more about tests for angioedema.

Dial 999 for an ambulance if you, or someone with you, has swelling and:

  • sudden or worsening breathing problems 
  • feels faint or dizzy
  • passes out or collapses 

These are signs of a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). If you, or the person who's ill, have been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector for this, use it while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

Causes of angioedema

There are several different types of angioedema, each of which has a different cause.

It can be caused by:

  • an allergic reaction, such as a food allergy – this is known as allergic angioedema
  • a medicine, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for high blood pressure – this is known as drug-induced angioedema
  • a genetic fault that you inherit from your parents – this is a rare, lifelong condition that usually starts in childhood called hereditary angioedema

But in many cases, it's not clear what causes angioedema. This is known as idiopathic angioedema.

Read more about the causes of angioedema.

Treatments for angioedema

The swelling will usually get better by itself in a few days, but there are treatments that can help it settle faster and reduce the risk of it happening again.

The treatments recommended depend on the type of angioedema you have. For example:

  • allergic and idiopathic angioedema are usually treated with antihistamines or, occasionally, steroid medicine to reduce the swelling
  • drug-induced angioedema will usually resolve if you change to a different medicine – your doctor will advise you about this
  • hereditary angioedema cannot be cured, but medicines can help prevent swelling and quickly treat swelling when it occurs

Angioedema can usually be treated at home, although treatment in hospital may be necessary in serious cases.

Read more about how angioedema is treated.

HealthUnlocked contains information from NHS Digital, licensed under the current version of the Open Government Licence

75 public posts

Cyclosporine

It’s not for my asthma but is for cholinergic urticaria (hives/angioedema). If so I would like to know of your experience as I am scared to take it due to the side effects which sound awful!! Also worried as it’s an immunosuppressant and I might be vulnerable because I am severely asthmatic.
in Asthma UK community forum

Angioedema and Hives

In addition, I’m now getting bouts of angioedema (swollen eyes, lips and tongue) and hives (mainly hands and feet) which are treated within a day with antihistamine, but will return again. So we have now swapped out the Ticagrelor for clopidogrel to see if there is an improvement.
in British Heart Foundation

Graves Disease & Permanent Eyeliner

Two months after the eyeliner I had a surprise outbreak of angioedema on my face, flaming red, very sore & huge fluid bags under my eyes, and urticaria (hives) on my neck that itched like blazes.
in Thyroid UK
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Newbie with possible vasculitis

*waves* this may be a long story, but I'll try to keep it as short as possible! Diagnosed with Autoimmune hepatitis in 2006 aged 15. Plodded along on azathioprine and prednisolone, with a few periods of non compliance and ups and downs with flare ups. Generally though in good health. Around April 20
in Vasculitis UK

Something to try if you suffer from the dreaded MPN itches

For the past 3 days I have been suffering from severe hives and angioedema that I believe may be related to covid-19 since I also was coughing and had a fever. I didn't get tested because I just was too sick to leave the house.
in MPN Voice

Bronchoscopy and biopsy

I have been told to have bronchoscopy but since My reaction to ramipril causing Angioedema of airways my throat is very sensitive causing me to cough.
in Thyroid UK

Advice re Prednisone dosage please.

Angioedema/muscle joint pain and swelling has resulted in spikes from my lowest dose of 9.5 to 75mg. Early March I was on 17.5 and I gradually dropped to 12mg.
in LUPUS UK

Reaction to Xarelto

I’ve had two episodes of angioedema during the month, and ceased Xarelto last Saturday on advice of GP. Cardiologist appointment today, will keep you posted!
in AF Association

Selenium

Ive been reading a lot recently about selenium and using it for thyroid function. Has anyone had any issues while taking it? I purchased some and took one for the first time tonight but have since come out in hives. Has anyone had this or similar problems?
in Thyroid UK

Lupus?

My GP was sure it was angioedema/urticaria, never mentioned lupus at all. The photo here is how I look today (no, I don't like it either but what can you expect at nearly 69!)
in Thyroid UK

Heart symptoms and slurred speech

I also have angioedema.
in Pernicious Anaemia Society

New Sufferer

I also have Angioedema. I reckon they are connected. For me Sweet Syndrome seems to be an auto immune problem. I would like to ask, is it unusual to have on face and hands only. Was it a one off, or will it return? If anyone can answer, I'd be grateful, Regards, John.
in Sweet's Syndrome UK

Potential problem!

Hello, new here :') After suffering with hives and angioedema since November 2018 and seeing a couple GPs and a dermatologist and having multiple blood tests and taking what feels like so many tablets a day (to no avail sometimes) I finally feel like I'm onto something.
in Thyroid UK

severe urticaria with under active thyroid steroids and antihistamines not working

hi im 40 year old male with under active thyroid recently i went to my GP concerned about a rash or hives that seemed to be spreading everywhere all over my body my arm pits/groin/chest/back backside are worst hit it looks like i took a brillo pad to them and im getting a painful pin and needles head
in Thyroid UK

Second opinion,

Been diagnosed with angioedema because of horrible swelling around my face , started having skin rashes like hives and sitting in the sun makes my skin go mad.
in LUPUS UK

Angioedema

I have had Angioedema but haven’t done any tests as yet. I am supposed to do my allergy testing, but I read some stuff online last night and I was so worried. Anyone else has had Angioedema? What was the cause ?
in Anxiety Support

Help with results

But the really odd thing is that I haven’t had any urticaria or angioedema reactions in nearly 7 weeks. This is unheard of. My TSH was 4.4 and my T4 was 11 and now I’ve had my Anti Thyroid Peroxidase level come back at 17.9.
in Thyroid UK

Successful oral desensitization to levothyroxine. Report of one case

There were no incidents such as urticaria, angioedema, or others. On the second day, the patient received a single-full dose of 112 ug on an empty stomach. The medication was successfully tolerated and she was discharged. Thereafter, she tolerates daily Levothyroxine.
helvellaAdministrator
in Thyroid UK

Iron Levels

I went to an immunologist as I also suffer from angioedema. She diagnosed I also have a vitamin D deficiency, so I'm taking a vitamin D supplement. She also noticed my lips as they get really visibly sore when my injection runs down, she said that can be caused by iron deficiency.
in Pernicious Anaemia Society

Angioedema and CLL

Any thoughts on Angioedema and CLL.
in CLL Support
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