[carrielynn]

Our son tested positive for celiac and has been gluten-free since mid July. We think he has the DH version because he was breaking out with little sores on his skin and those are gone. But he still has red and inflamed and itchy skin. My husband took him to the doctor's office because of swollen lymph nodes and the doctor thinks our son has a skin infection, so he prescribed an antibiotic. About 2 days after starting to take this my son started itching really badly and has been scratching like crazy. It occurred to me that the antibiotic might not be gluten-free, but I can't find any information on the Internet about this. There's no ingredient list with our bottle. One would hope that a warning would be included on the bottle if it contained gluten, but maybe I'm too trusting. The itching also conincided with an increase in ragweed pollens in our area, so that could also be a cause. We are controlling our son's diet very well and do not believe he ingested gluten through any of the food he's eating.

He's on 600 mg of Augmentin/Amoxicillin and the only company that's listed on the bottle is IVAX Pharmaceuticals. Any information is very appreciated. We will try contacting the company, but anticipate that they'll be closed until Tuesday due to the Labor Day holiday.

Thanks,

CarrieLynn

[SueC]

Hi Carrielynn,
They are both on the list of drugs at glutenfreedrugs.com so I think you are safe with the gluten thing.... he might be allergic to the antibiotics themselves. I would call your pharmacist and talk to them about it!! You just might need a different antibiotic that your pediatrician on call could call in for you.

Hope this helps!

[carrielynn]

SueC, on Sep 4 2005, 11:08 AM, said:

Hi Carrielynn,
They are both on the list of drugs at glutenfreedrugs.com so I think you are safe with the gluten thing.... he might be allergic to the antibiotics themselves. I would call your pharmacist and talk to them about it!! You just might need a different antibiotic that your pediatrician on call could call in for you.

Hope this helps!
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

SueC,

Thank so much for the info. Interesting that he might be allergic to the antibiotic! He itches and scratches a lot anyway, but started doing it much more two nights ago. Ragweed is starting to be high, so that might have something to do with it.

--CarrieLynn

[mouse]

Is your son taking the ACTUAL drug or a GENERIC. Many times a generic drug has gluten. You would have to check the drug list for the generic name if that is what he is using. My insurance provider and my doctor do not send me a generic, because too many are not gluten free. Good Luck. Armetta

[grantschoep]

If its itching and a rash/hives, you could try taking some Benadryl for it. I have another problem that causes me to break out pretty heavy into hives. I know both Walgreens and Safeway brand generic Benedryl caplets are gluten-free.

[carrielynn]

grantschoep, on Sep 5 2005, 12:11 AM, said:

If its itching and a rash/hives, you could try taking some Benadryl for it. I have another problem that causes me to break out pretty heavy into hives. I know both Walgreens and Safeway brand generic Benedryl caplets are gluten-free.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We have the little guy on so many different antihistamines. He is a walking antihistamine. He loves the chewable benedryl, but has been able to swallow the pills since age 4. He's also been on Zyrtec, Claritin, Allegra and others I can't remember. Some of them seem to take a little of the edge off, but they never stop the itching. I think he's in a viscious cycle that will take some time to subside.

We've also tried just about every lotion, cream, etc. out there. Nothing has worked well. We've all gotten used the itching and the little guy doesn't know anything different. But strangers are pretty taken aback by it. We're hoping continued gluten-free adherence will provide some relief for him... and us...

Just FYI regarding the antibiotic from IVAX -- amoxicillian/augmentin -- my husband called the company and they told them the antibiotic was indeed gluten free. Whew.

So the increased itching may have been due to ragweed.

Carrie

[grantschoep]

carrielynn, on Sep 7 2005, 11:10 AM, said:

We have the little guy on so many different antihistamines.  He is a walking antihistamine.  He loves the chewable benedryl, but has been able to swallow the pills since age 4.  He's also been on Zyrtec, Claritin, Allegra and others I can't remember.  Some of them seem to take a little of the edge off, but they never stop the itching.  I think he's in a viscious cycle that will take some time to subside.

Carrie
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll bet I know how he feels. Until I started treatment for the real problem I was having(called Hyper-Eosinophilia, side effect was really horrible hives). I would have days where I was just covered in hives. Literally, like about 80 percent of my arms,chest were "hived" Those bad days, the Benedryl + Zyrtec + heavy coatings of Cortizone 10 made it just bareable Was still pretty awful.