Was this an allergic reaction to Amoxicillin?

[TrixtersMomma]

Hello, everyone. About 5 years or so ago, I was prescribed Amoxicillin for an infected tooth. A couple days into treatment, I was at a friends house and we stepped outside into their patio area to play pool. I was fine as far as can remember, until I was standing next to the pool table and suddenly felt very faint. I remember holding onto the edge of the pool table and kinda guiding myself to the ground. After that, all I remember is my brother and a friend of ours saying my name over and over and looking down at me on the floor, one of them holding my head. They told me that I had passed out and shook for a few seconds. They said it wasn't violent shaking, as in convulsions, but like a minor twitch, and that I was only out for a matter of seconds. This experience scared me REALLY badly. To this day, I do not know if I had a rare allergic reaction (I looked it up online and found that a very rare allergic reaction to Amoxi can be black outs and/or seizure) or if there were other factors involved, such as dehydration, malnourishment, infection, etc, because I had a pretty bad infected tooth at the time and was in a lot of pain, not wanting to eat, etc. When the dentist then prescribed Erythramycin (spelling?) I could not hold it down at all. I was unable to stop vomiting until I discontinued the meds.

Years later, I have yet another bad tooth and I am in quite a bit of pain, but I am in between jobs right now, and have no health insurance, and cannot afford to see a dr or dentist. A friend of mine just had gotten a prescription for Amoxicillin, and I talked her into letting me have them because she wasn't using them, but then I remembered about my last experience taking it. Now I am afraid to take them in fear that i will pass out or have convulsions if it was indeed a reaction to the Amoxicillin that caused me to pass out before.

Does anyone have any advice to give me? Several people have told me that it wouldn't make me pass out, I would get a rash or swelling of airways if I was actually allergic, and that it was likely the combination of everything else that caused that to happen, but I am scared and really don't want to have a seizure, etc. At the same time, though, I don't know what else to do about my tooth right now.

Any advice is appreciated but please keep in mind that I am a hypochondriac, so be gentle. lol

Thanks so much for listening.

[WildChild]

It's hard to say what might have happened. I understand how difficult it can be without insurance or the finances to easily get medical care; I have the same situation. I have a neighbor who actually pulled her own tooth when it was infected, don't know that I would recomend that. Have you checked with your county health services or is there a dental school you might be able to go to? They should be much less expensive.

[TrixtersMomma]

Thanks, WildChild. I took my first Amoxicillin pill this morning at around 10:15. It's 5:15 now, and so far so good. If I was going to have a bad reaction, would it have manifested by now?

[WildChild]

It's been a few days, I assume you know if it's caused a reaction or not. Do get on the phone Monday morning and see if you can locate a dental school or someplace you can get this checked for a reasonable cost.

[Joan]

No. From what you have described, it wasn't a reaction due to Amoxicillin. It was rather due to dehydration and you being eating less due to your tooth-ache. Amoxicillin causes airway inflammation, skin rashes or similar stuff if someone is allergic to it. I am not saying that it can't cause a blackout, but that is very rare, and usually occurs along with the other reactions that should happen in an allergic person.

Take care!