Could this be an allergic reaction?

[angela515]

I started taking a new pain medicine last Friday. It's called Kadian (morphine sulfate extended release) 30mg once in the morning.

I don't remember the exact day I started noticing a rash on my right hand, but it was a few days after I started this medicine. Figured it was dry skin at first because when you touched it, it felt kind of like dry skin only red. As the days go by, it gets more redder and actually burns and is now on both hands in the same location. As the days go by it get's more visible and brighter red and burns worse.

First thought when I look at it is, "Oh no, is my Lupus coming out of remission?!". This was also my mom's first thought as well. Then when I sent a picture of it to my sister-in-law, she came up with the thought of maybe it's an allergic reaction. The more I think about it, the more I am thinking that maybe it is. Any time I have had an allergic reaction to a medicine in the past, I have gotten hives all over my body or a red rash with severe itching all over my body. I've never had a reaction in just 1 area of my body, so it never crossed my mind. Thinking more towards allergic reaction makes me notice that my feet and arms have been itching a lot more than usual lately.

I plan on calling my pain doctor in the morning without taking my Kadian and telling her I think I may be having an allergic reaction to it. Hopefully she won't want me to come in because I have no ride.

In the meantime though, I wanted to see what y'all think of the rash by looking at the pictures. Yes, I know your not doctors. 

Angie

[tyefly]

    Interesting.......   oh both hands.... very symentary....   I certainly would talk to someone about the possiblitiy of a allergy......   keep us up to date....   I have a rash like that on my lower part of my calfs....

[okarol]

Rash and itching are possible side effects
http://www.kadian.com/pages/getfile.aspx?id=1C6197AB-8F83-43E7-B239-D4615293989B
..............
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Kadian Extended-Release Capsules:

    Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); confusion; difficulty urinating; emotional or mood changes; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; hallucination; incoordination; seizures; severe or persistent drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting; slow, shallow, or difficult breathing; slurred speech; swelling of the arms or legs; unusual tiredness or weakness; vision changes.

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/kadian-side-effects.html

[angela515]

Karol- Thanks hun. Even though I looked that all up the day I started taking the medicine. 

So, I called my pain doctor this morning and she says it's not an allergic reaction. I wouldn't have a rash just on my hands (in the same spot on each hand) if it was an allergic reaction, it would be all over my body, or most of my body.

So, guess it's a good thing I called my doctor and asked him to add lab tests to check and see if my Lupus is still in remission or not. I'm going to be calling him back after they are back from lunch and make sure they have added it so I can get my labs drawn tomorrow morning.

If it shows my Lupus is still in remission (PLEASE BE IN REMISSION STILL) then I will make a doctor appt. and find out what this is.

Angie

[angela515]

I'm very upset right now.

My kidney doctor isn't going to add the Lupus tests to the lab orders, and based off the description of my rash over the phone she wants to sit there and tell me 100% it's not Lupus. If it's not Lupus, great, however, I have dealt with Lupus since I was 12. I have SLE, but I also have a tiny bit of Discoid Lupus as well, and have had rashes from it before and not just the "butterfly" rash on the face. I have a right to be concerned and ask for a test to be done, but I guess it's too much work to add that to the orders and it's easier just to make a dx over the phone.

So, anyways, they will be calling me later today or Monday with an appt date and time with a Dermatologist.

Angie