Yikes, my APAP seems to be giving me HIVES!!!

JohnBob · Post by **JohnBob** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:53 am

I got my APAP machine Friday afternoon. I used it Friday night and had a few small hives pop up on Saturday around mid-day. I thought they were mosquito bites or some sort of other insect bites. The hives were really small, about 1/4 inch in diameter. I treated them topically with 1% cortisone cream. I used my APAP again Saturday night and the hives were about the same Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon, my lower lip started swelling right after I applied some Blistex lip balm...later that night I noticed more hives. I used the APAP again last night and this morning both lips are swollen with the swelling regressing on the lower lip and with the upper lip getting bigger all day. Mick Jagger and any high fashion model would be jealous of my lips! The hives are worse than ever and some are 2 inches in diameter. I take Allegra daily for minor allergic rhinitis and April/May are my worst months, but I have never had hives before, am not really allergic to anything that I know of including silicone and I just don't get it. There is no inflammation at all anywhere on my face where the mask silicone touches...just my lips. I have hives all over my body, but especially my arms and waist. This is a heck of price to pay for a decent night's sleep! Has anyone every heard of something like this...it all seems to be precipitated by the APAP use and has gotten worse with continued use.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:05 pm

I think I'd be calling my doctor if I were you.

Good luck,

Den

JohnBob · Post by **JohnBob** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:12 pm

Oh I already have...he is supposed to get back to me soon. I called him first thing this morning. I am pretty stable right now...just as itchy as can be. I have never before had any overt allergies that I know of...never have had allergy problems other than allergic rhinitis which is not really bothering me now more than usual...congested nasal passages...that's it. I did take a round of Bactrim DS about two weeks ago for an infection, but have never had any antibiotic allergies before. On the other hand, I like my APAP and have had three great nights of sleep in a row.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:18 pm

JB,

I just did a search on "hives" and came up with 9 other threads. You might take a look at them and see if there's anything in them that will be of any help.

Best wishes,

Den

Born Tired · Post by **Born Tired** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:36 pm

JB,
My husband had never had any reaction to antibiotics before either, but in Jan this year he developed hives after being on penicillin for 7 or 8 days. Don't rule it out just because it has not happened before.

Hope you can resolve this quickly. Good to hear that you are sleeping well.

Esther
__

JohnBob · Post by **JohnBob** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:10 pm

Thanks Dan...I have read a few...one search on hives gave a thread where "hives" was actually a typo for "gives"! LOL

I think the antibiotic (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) is as likely a suspect as the APAP. Allergic skin reactions are a very common side effect with this antibiotic...maybe it is just coincidence that it hit me the morning after I started APAP? I am pretty sure I am not allergic to either silicone or latex as I have frequently been in contact with both for over 25 years.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:25 pm

http://www.drugs.com/MTM/sulfamethoxazo ... oprim.html

What are the possible side effects of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim?
• Stop taking sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim and seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of the following serious side effects:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· unusual bleeding or bruising; or
· yellow skin or eyes.

JohnBob · Post by **JohnBob** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:55 pm

Thanks oz, I already saw that...it is too late, I finished the last dose of a 10 day regimen last Thursday evening...I guess it sensitized me the first week or so I was taking it, then whammy! I have popped out all over my body!

JohnBob · Post by **JohnBob** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:37 pm

Well, I am getting a steroid pack to calm things down! Hpoefully I shall be all better really soon. I won't be able to sleep like this...AAAAaaaarrrrrrrrgh!

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 7:20 pm

Sorry, I'm late to this thread, but when I took a sulfa drug about ten years ago, I got a severe reaction of hives and fever. That was the one and only time I took a sulfa drug. Hives weren't anything new to me though. Four or five other common medications give me hives too, including aspirin. When I was young I took benadryl frequently to remedy the hives.

Regards,
Bill

MissAmethyst2U · Post by **MissAmethyst2U** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:15 pm

I woud bet its the Bactrim(Sulfa drugs are famous for this kind of reaction), I took that and broke out in horrible hives and was taken to the ER! Also I took Penicillin after my wisdom teeth surgery and I was fine at first but a few days into it I had a horrible itchy reaction and started breaking out...

RestInSeattle · Post by **RestInSeattle** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:38 am

JohnBob wrote:Thanks oz, I already saw that...it is too late, I finished the last dose of a 10 day regimen last Thursday evening...I guess it sensitized me the first week or so I was taking it, then whammy! I have popped out all over my body!

Yep, sounds familiar. I was treated for an infection with the same "sulfa" based antibiotic you mention above. Turns out I'm not allegeric to most "antibiotics", but turns out I have a "Sulfa" allergy.

Took ten days, and then I ended up in ER with anaphylactic shock, yikes!

So if anyone encounters "allergy" type reactions to medications, even if days latter, it's very important to follow up with the physician. A reaction without help could be fatal if similar to mine. Fortunately my spouse wrapped my neck in ice compresses and gave me a large dose of benadryl that helped to withmy swelling of the airway while awaiting medical assistance. Even then I wheezed something terrible, like someone was choking me to death (except it was my own body).

JohnBob · Post by **JohnBob** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:33 pm

Well, it is the conclusion of my doctor that the antibiotic is the most likely culprit. I have taken Bactrim once or twice before in the past, but as someone already posted and I noted in the website Oz added, allergic reactions are the primary side effect of this drug. My pharmacist has placed an alert in my file so I won't be getting anymore of that antibiotic...at least from them. Anyhow, I got a steroid pack yesterday and the itching started to subside within 3 hours of taking the first three tablets with dinner and I took three more at bedtime before gearing up for my night flight with my APAP. This morning, almost all the hives were gone and except for the steroid-induced headache, I am feeling fine. Thanks for your input and I am greatly relieved that I will be able to continue sleeping with my new buddy!

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:37 pm

Glad to hear that, JB.
Thanks for the update.

Best wishes,

Den

Hivesman · Post by **Hivesman** » Fri Aug 09, 2019 6:10 am

I seem to be suffering the same problem. I've been using my cpap for years and had no problems. Suddenly in the last several weeks, I've broken out with a severe case of hives. I haven't been able to isolate a cause except that they get very bad at night when I'm using my cpap. Over the course of the day they disappear and then come back the next night when I use my cpap. When I haven't used my cpap they mostly go away and don't reappear during the night. Has anyone heard of a cpap doing this before? The hives aren't on my face where the cushion is. They're all over my body. I clean the tubing but not as often as I should. Could it be caused by bacteria in unclean tubing? Thanks in advance for any suggestions or experiences you might have.

Yikes, my APAP seems to be giving me HIVES!!!

Yikes, my APAP seems to be giving me HIVES!!!

Re: Yikes, my APAP seems to be giving me HIVES!!!