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Can A Non-itchy And Red Rash Be The Side Effect Of Medicine?

Posted on Tue, 4 Aug 2015

Question: Is it possible to get a non itchy red rash all over my body two weeks after starting a new med? Thanks

Answered by Dr. Ilyas Patel (40 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Non itchy drug rash is possible

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome to HCM...

You have given very short history. Your photo shows macular erythematous lesions. It may be called Morbilliform drug eruptions.

Such lesions can after taking certain drugs. I would like to know what is the disease you have and what drug you have taken. Kindly give detailed history of your disease and the medicines you took.

However,I would like to give you some knowledge about such drug induced rash....

Morbilliform drug rash is the most common drug rash occurs due to hypersensitivity reaction. Many drugs can trigger such reaction, among them antibiotics are the most common group. The eruption may resemble rashes or exanthems caused by viral and bacterial infections.

It is also called maculopapular drug eruption or morbilliform exanthem.

Morbilliform drug eruptions are very common, comprising 95% of all drug-induced skin reactions.

-Beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins),
-antibiotic sulfonamides,
-allopurinol,
-anti-epileptic drugs
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) ...commonly taken, and are the most common drugs to cause this.

However the list is very long and includes herbal drugs and natural therapies.

In this type of drug rash,the skin rash usually appears 1-2 weeks after starting the drug, but sometimes may occur up to 1 week after stopping the medicine. However on re-exposure to the culprit drug, skin lesions appear fast...within 1-3 days.

Remember..... a morbilliform skin rash in an adult is usually due to a drug, but in a child is more likely to be viral.

I hope you got my answer.

Thanks.

Dr. Ilyas Patel MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Ilyas Patel (1 hour later)

My only symptom is the rash - have felt fine!! Rash is flat, does not itch but is all over my body except my hands. Looks sort of vascular on legs. Never oozes or scabs, other then site on skin, i am fine. Dr put me on varapamil ER 120mg low dose two weeks ago. Only thing different in my life.

Answered by Dr. Ilyas Patel (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Drug induced rash

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome back...

The red Morbilliform rash on whole body except hands is more likely due to the drug verapamil you are taking. You consult your physician. He would change your medicine. There is no need to take treatment for the rash, but I prefer you seek physicians help and discuss about changing verapamil. The rash should disappear after discontinuing the verapamil.

I hope this would help you.

Thanks.

Dr. Ilyas Patel MD

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad