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What Causes Itchy Bumps On The Neck After Taking Cipro?
Question: I was put on Cipro to treat a urinary tract infection five days ago. Yesterday I noticed a few raised bumps on my neck that itch. Today i am itchy all over though I don't see any raised bumps anywhere except a small area on my neck. Could this be an allergic reaction to the Cipro? Should I report it to my doctor? I am reluctant to stop the drug on my own due to the possibility of the urinary tract infection spreading to the kidneys. I had this happen two years ago when I let an infection go on too long and ended up in the hospital with a kidney infection that had spread into the bloodstream. Does widespread itching all over indicate an allergic reaction? The area on my neck where the itchy red bumps are is relatively small. I can't think of anything I've come into contact with that would cause the bumps or the itching except being put on Cipro. What should I do?
Brief Answer:
Information.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes, this is most likely an allergic reaction to the Cipro. I recommend stopping the Cipro tonight, taking Benadryl, and calling your doctor first thing tomorrow to discuss the possibility of taking a different antibiotic versus no antibiotic. I've noted that you wrote you had pyelonephritis when a UTI was left untreated. You and your doctor will know best whether you need to continue on an antibiotic based on the culture and sensitivity report from your urine test, and your past history of UTIs. For an uncomplicated UTI in a non-elderly person without risk factors that increase the chance of it getting worse and ascending into the kidneys, usually, 5 days is enough.
You definitely should report your itching to your doctor so that Cipro can be registered under allergies in your record.
You can take diphenhydramine (Benadryl) until this clears up. If the allergic reaction gets worse, swelling mouth, tongue, or throat, then go to the ER at once. If the overall itching gets intolerable even with Benadryl, you may need to go in to be seen and given a short course of oral corticosteroids (such as prednisone or solumedrol).
I'm sorry you are having this trouble. Most likely the antibiotic has taken care of the infection, but again, check with your doctor on whether you need a different antibiotic for the rest of the treatment course.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Information.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes, this is most likely an allergic reaction to the Cipro. I recommend stopping the Cipro tonight, taking Benadryl, and calling your doctor first thing tomorrow to discuss the possibility of taking a different antibiotic versus no antibiotic. I've noted that you wrote you had pyelonephritis when a UTI was left untreated. You and your doctor will know best whether you need to continue on an antibiotic based on the culture and sensitivity report from your urine test, and your past history of UTIs. For an uncomplicated UTI in a non-elderly person without risk factors that increase the chance of it getting worse and ascending into the kidneys, usually, 5 days is enough.
You definitely should report your itching to your doctor so that Cipro can be registered under allergies in your record.
You can take diphenhydramine (Benadryl) until this clears up. If the allergic reaction gets worse, swelling mouth, tongue, or throat, then go to the ER at once. If the overall itching gets intolerable even with Benadryl, you may need to go in to be seen and given a short course of oral corticosteroids (such as prednisone or solumedrol).
I'm sorry you are having this trouble. Most likely the antibiotic has taken care of the infection, but again, check with your doctor on whether you need a different antibiotic for the rest of the treatment course.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you so much for your answer and suggestions. I don't know if I've ever taken Cipro in the past but I think I have taken antibiotics in this same drug family and I don't think I ever had any problems with rash or itching. Should I avoid drugs similar to Cipro from now on? It's kind of the same experience I had with Augmentin. I had never had a reaction to any antibiotics until I experienced swelling in my lips after taking Augmentin. It seems very odd to me that I have experienced these reactions to these specific drugs but have had no problem with others. Is this common? Thanks again!
Brief Answer:
Information...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Yes, it is fairly common for people to have reactions to specific antibiotics or antibiotic families. Most people are not allergic to all antibiotics but many are allergic to a few specific ones, and it can be any of them (sulfa-type, penicillin family, cephalosporins, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, etc).
Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone, as is Levaquin (levofloxacin), Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin. When a person is allergic to one, it's generally recommended to avoid others in that family.
Augmentin (penicillin family) allergies are more common than allergies to the fluoroquinolones, and if you wanted to confirm, you can consult an allergist for testing (such as RAST blood test, cellular and skin testing). But an itchy rash or hives is pretty classic for a drug allergy.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Information...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Yes, it is fairly common for people to have reactions to specific antibiotics or antibiotic families. Most people are not allergic to all antibiotics but many are allergic to a few specific ones, and it can be any of them (sulfa-type, penicillin family, cephalosporins, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, etc).
Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone, as is Levaquin (levofloxacin), Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin. When a person is allergic to one, it's generally recommended to avoid others in that family.
Augmentin (penicillin family) allergies are more common than allergies to the fluoroquinolones, and if you wanted to confirm, you can consult an allergist for testing (such as RAST blood test, cellular and skin testing). But an itchy rash or hives is pretty classic for a drug allergy.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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