Doxycline and protopic -- both are making me ill!
Joined: 20 Jan 2008
| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 3:23 am Post subject: Doxycline and protopic -- both are making me ill! | |
| Hi. Well, I have now been on 300 mg Doxyclcyine for 10 days and was told to start protopic yesterday (for steroid rosacea). Both have opened up a can of worms, I fear. I have been feeling progressively more dizzy and nauseous whiel being on the Doxycycline. Today, I felt so ill after taking it that I felt I might just vomit (and I NEVER ever vomit even when terribly sick). Additionally, all the skin around my eye sockets is just burning. If I touch it, it hurts as if I have a bad sunburn. However it (and my cheekbones) just burn terribly. While my eye socket skin looks fine, it if really h ot if you touch it (and no, I did not apply any protopic or any cream to the skin around my eyes).
I am getting especially worried because I have a rare mast cell disease, and it becomes difficult to determine if these symptoms are side effects of the med or new symptoms from my mast cell disease that I don't recognize. (My disease is a wierd one in which new symptoms can pop up anytime). I will be so upset if these meds have caused my other disease to get worse., as I try so hard to keep that one at bay. So, is it possible to get rid of steroid rosacea without any antibiotics or topical creams? I suppose the doc could try different meds, but my problem is that so many meds already trigger my disease, and so I get hesitant to try anything. It is surprising that I triged this one, but I guess I was desparate to get rid of the itchy face bumps. Anyone know of anythink else to try? Thanks!! |
|
Joined: 28 Aug 2006
| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 3:34 am Post subject: | |
| Just thinking out loud hear....but you describe your skin as itchy with bumps....do you think you may possibly have seb derm? I say this as taking antibiotics kills off bacteria and may cause yeast to flourish.
Also, 300mg Doxy sounds rather high....I think most folks take 200mg per day or even 100mg. I have never taken this med so I can't comment on it's side effects...maybe other users will help you out. Taking an oral anitfungal med maybe something you could bring up to your doc to try....if it's seb derm just by taking 1 diflucan at 100mg will give you relief...kind of an easy test to see. HTH _________________ Dx 1998 Many IPL TX's Tried just about everything |
|
Joined: 03 Aug 2007
| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:14 am Post subject: | |
| Have you tried taking the doxy with food? that's one of the advantages of this particular antibiotic; you can take it with food. I know if i take it on an empty stomach I feel terribly sick for about half an hour afterwards. Can't remember why that is... should read my textbooks more. | |
Joined: 11 Nov 2007
Location: Netherlands
| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:36 pm Post subject: | |
| Hi,
Sorry to hear you're going through this. The doxy did the same thing for me when I first took it - caused an eczema-like rash around my eyes. Strange enough this doesn't happen now I am on my second course. As for the rash you might want to try sinc ointment (10% zinc in vaseline). I second the advice of taking the doxy after your meal, preferably after breakfast, to prevent getting nauseous. I really think the dose is way too high for you and I would go down to 100 mg or even 50 mg if I were you. Allright so what I would do is stop using the protopic and only use a moisturizer you can tolerate, and go down on the doxy. If the rash around your eyes doesn't clear try zinc ointment. My guess is steroid rosacea will clear if you just give it time. So if you HAVE to stop the antibiotics, it will clear eventually, but will take a while longer. Good luck and all the best! Angela _________________ Currently on Finacea, doxy and nasalcrom (topically) |
|
Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Jan 2007
Location: new york
| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:47 pm Post subject: | |
| Hi Lilyian,
Some people have success with calendula gel for soothing their itchy red bumps. It can be very cooling and soothing. If you try it do a patch test as some people can have a reaction to it as with anything of course. I would also recommend for you to try my moisturizer if you haven't already as I find it so calming to my skin. I really love it but as with any topical, oral etc it is an individual preference. I use Eucerin original moisturizing creme and lotion. When my skin is inflamed it calms it down. Taking the Oracea with food is a good idea for reducing the nausea but make sure you don't have any calcium in your food. That is, don't take it with milk or yogurt as that makes the doxy less effective. I hope you are feeling better soon! Best wishes, Melissa |
|
Joined: 07 Jan 2008
| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:51 pm Post subject: | |
| Hi Lilyian,
I guess the only way to know if they are making you ill is to stop taking them! I believe flu-like symptoms, maybe nausea are listed on the side effects for Protopic. You could try lowering your doxy dosage and see if that helps, too. Also, about a week after I stopped Prednisone (two weeks after stopping topical steroids) parts of my face that were never touched with steroids started reacting. I think it might just be part of the healing process. My eyes had never been a problem, but the started getting red and rashy and itchy. For about 10 days I woke up with some level of swelling. My entire face is pretty itchy now, off and on throughout the day, even parts that look normal. My eyes are not as red/rashy, and the swelling has pretty much stopped, but they do still itch from time to time. It might be that your reaction might just be part of the lovely steroid rosacea healing process, sucky as it is! When I called my doctor to tell her, she told me to stop taking the doxy, just in case. I'd give you derm a call and tell her what's happening. She might want to change up your meds or she may tell you that it's totally normal! Good luck. Keep us posted! ~J |
|
Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:49 am Post subject: | |
| I cannot take minocycline due to the same thing. I use elidel for my eczema and when I had steroid induced Rosacea.
I know about the dizzy feeling all too well and one time thought I had meneires disease. Then another point in life it was like living with agoraphobia. Although with a face plagued with E and R and having two kids with autism why even bother leaving the house? People stare and sometimes my kid scratches my face when he is told not to touch something at a store. Like the time he squeezed the meat at Ralphs and the guy went up to him and my son jumped on my face and the marks were bleeding and we just walked right out the door and left the cart there. We then went to our regular Vons store and my son screamed bloody murder as we entered, but I just went on shopping and ignored him and the stares. Bonnie Sayers |
|
 |
Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Location: BC
| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:18 am Post subject: | |
| I had terrible burning from Protopic. I would sleep on my back otherwise I would awake at night from the searing heat from my cheek heat reflecting off my pillow. It never relented even though I persevered and continued using it for months because I was assured the side effect symptoms were transient. They were not. I was desperate to have something other than steroid work for me. It was hell and I would sometimes have 3 baths a day in a desperate attempt for relief. I can't stress it enough -- it was hell.
So, if you are having these side effects stop the protopic. The dizziness and nausea were also side effect I had with doxy but I stuck with it and within a few weeks was side effect free. I found taking it at bed time really helped. And staying the course was extremely beneficial to me. So in this case, if you are taking the doxy during the day switch to taking it at night. Say if you took one this morning take the next one tomorrow night (not the same night you took a morning dose) and then take it at bed time from then on. However, it is extremely important to drink sufficient water when you take your doxy. Drink at minimum 6oz with the medication. And if you feel that it may have stuck in your throat, eat something. Doxy can cause esophageal burns. Once it hits your stomach acids all's good. Dropping down to 200mg may be as effective as 300mg, so I would do that as well. Good luck. TP _________________ Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't. – Eleanor Roosevelt |
|
Joined: 28 Aug 2006
| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:34 pm Post subject: | |
| Just remember if you take it at night do it several hours before you lay down! You must be upright sitting or standing for at least 2hrs before laying down...be careful and I hope it starts working well for you. _________________ Dx 1998 Many IPL TX's Tried just about everything |
|
Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Location: BC
| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 4:26 pm Post subject: | |
| I took mine at bedtime, and went right to bed. I did this for 3 months with no problem. Just followed the precautions I mentioned. _________________ Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't. – Eleanor Roosevelt |
|
Joined: 09 Jan 2008
| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject: | |
Sorry to hear about what is going on! It must be horrible!! 
I don't know how long you have been off steriods, but I came off topical steriods and about a month later was prescribed protopic (my derm thinks its the best thing ever!) I on the otherhand do not. I put the cream on about 9:30 at night and by 11 I felt like my face was on fire. From 11 until 2 in the morning I ran cold water over my face.....Nothing felt good. I couldnt even put ice on my face because it was just melting. Long story short, I ended up in the ER with a first degree chemical burn on my face from the protopic. Since I peeled so much through the steriod withdrawl, I didnt have the protective layer of skin you need....or something like that. I am super nervous about using it again. Good luck with everything. I hope you find something that works for you! XOXO Melissa |
|
Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Location: BC
| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 4:55 pm Post subject: | |||
 Oh my! I hope you are okay and that you healed without lasting consequences!_________________ Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't. – Eleanor Roosevelt |
|||
Joined: 09 Jan 2008
| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:02 pm Post subject: | |
| Everything is fine now. I just had to be extra careful for a couple days. They didnt want me to get and blisters or infections. They gave me vicodin for the pain and jacked my prednisone up to 60 mg. The pain didnt last long after that. | |
|