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What Causes Hives And Severe Chest Pain After Taking Wellbutrin?

Posted on Fri, 17 Jul 2015

Question: my husband had a strange allergic reaction after 14 days on Wellbutrin, we think. he broke out in hives and was itching & had severe chest pain. we spent the night in the night in the ER. THEY gave him a shot of prednisone, zantac & benadryl. they did a full heart workup & they said the chest pain was from the reaction, not his heart. so now we are 2 days after all that, the ER gave him prednisone pill form, zantac & benadryl. now his hands swelled up so large and his fingers are huge! they itch and look like they are filled with fluid. we called the Dr. and he says stay on the prednisone & the rest of the meds....could the prednisone be making this worse??... should he just stay on the meds for a week and see how it goes? he goes back to see the Dr. on July 6th

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Upload photograph

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome to HealthcareMagic,
I have gone through your query and understand your concern.

Allergic reaction can be Allergic contact dermatitis, Irritant contact dermatitis, Urticaria etc
It needs a clear photograph to diagnose a dermatological condition.
Please upload the same.
Fluid filled blisters are more in favor of irritant contact dermatitis.
Prednisolone usually helps in these condition and does not deteriorate it.

Hope this will help you.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shahid Hassan (5 hours later)

this is not contact dermatitis. but a medication reaction, he was not exposed to anything or new soap or laundry detergent. just the Wellbutrin for 14 days.

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
clinical photograph needed

Detailed Answer:
Hi. Welcome again,

It may be drug reaction.
Even after this we need a clinical photograph for diagnosis.

Thanlks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shahid Hassan (27 minutes later)

swollen, no knuckles

Answered by Dr. Shahid Hassan (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Allergic reaction

Detailed Answer:
Hi, welcome again,

It seems to be allergic reaction due to bupropion (wellbutrin).
It causes skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads. The only thing is most common site is face and upper body.

Consult your psychiatrist for the change of drug.
Prednisolone will improve the condition.

Thanks

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar