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What Causes Urticaria While On Carbidopa-Levodopa?

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Posted on Thu, 1 Jun 2017
Question: Yes, can this medication cause urticaria? Recently dx with Parkinson's 1yr ago. dosage. increased to q3-4 hrs during day with a XXXXXXX of 6 . XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (17 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Questions so that I can help:

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

1.What medication are you referring to?

2.Also, when was your medication dose increased?

3.Have you had any new foods, used any new products, or any other new exposures?

4.Do you have a history of allergies?

5.How long have you been having urticaria?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (50 minutes later)
Dear Dr. XXXXXXX not used to this system. Hard for U to answer when no med listed!! Dah Im on Carbidopa-levodopa 10-100. Dose increased 6wk ago about same time urticaria started. No to other questions. Hope this helps. Thank-you for your time & help.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (23 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Given that the urticaria came on around the same time as the medication increase, I strongly recommend that you call and discuss this with the neurologist who prescribed it for you. People can have reactions to any medication and it can happen with carbidopa/levodopa.

Urticaria can come on for other reasons too, often unexplainable. But if there was a correlation with it coming on with a medication increase, and it has lasted 6 weeks, then it is less likely to be from a virus or other immunological causes.

So...call your doctor ASAP and tell him or her what is going on. If it is severe (mouth/throat swelling, difficulty breathing) then go directly to the ER.

In the meantime, continue to take antihistamines. I see that you are taking Benadryl 25 mg BID. (Are you a nurse or doctor? You seem to have medical knowledge!). While 25 mg may be adequate for respiratory allergies, sometimes for the skin we need larger doses. If the Benadryl is not keeping you comfortable, you can increase it to 50 mg every 6-8 hours. You can also use (instead): Zyrtec 10 mg once a day, and if it is not adequate, you can increase it to twice a day.

I hope this information helps. Urticaria is awful - I know, I've had it. I hope you are better soon!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)
Dear Doctor, I will follow up tomorrow. Thank-you. I am a retired RN & CPNP. I still tend to think in child doses. Zytrec sounds like a better option.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (30 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Following up tomorrow sounds good.

Just so you know, for persistent recalcitrant urticaria, allergists sometime use 6 times the dose of Zyrtec! I would not recommend starting off that way, but doubling the dose will be fine if you need it.

Wishing you well.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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What Causes Urticaria While On Carbidopa-Levodopa?

Brief Answer: Questions so that I can help: Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, 1.What medication are you referring to? 2.Also, when was your medication dose increased? 3.Have you had any new foods, used any new products, or any other new exposures? 4.Do you have a history of allergies? 5.How long have you been having urticaria?