Doozlygirl
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Donna, Welcome to the site. Sorry you are dealing with all of this. Keep reading, as these posts shold help you connect the dots in sorting out your issues.
I was in your boat about 10 months ago, reacting to nearly every med. Once I learned there are meds that are known degranulators, this explained alot. Then I learned that several of the meds I reacted to contain sulfa, and cross react with a my known sulfa allergy. Then I connected dots with my severe reactions and yellow dyes. In case you are intereseted in readin gmore, I have many posts on here about my medicaiton journey. Azo dyes are known degranulators, and in the US are FD&C or D&C dyes (color and number). I go into anaphylaxis from Yellow 5 and 6 (6 is made from 5) and have symptoms triggered from Red 40 and Blue 1.
Many react from the source of the inactive ingredients, such as gluten or corn (look for starch), or lactose, sulfites, methylparabens, Sodium lauryl sulfates, or other ingredients. Many choose to have their meds compounded minus these inactive ingredients.
As Pam was saying, many of us have been able to figure out which meds/inactive ingredients we can't tolerate. Many of us have several meds we take, but it is important to start with a H1 and H2 antihistamine, if at all possible.
Benedryl and Walgreens diphenhydramine (generic Benedryl) both comes in dye free liquid capsules. I can't tolerate the pink or blue versions.
Cetirizine (generic Zyrtec) come with Blue 1, even though the pills are white. Brand Zyrtec has no dyes.
Claritin ready tabs have dyes and if my memory serves me correctly also contains artificial sweetners, which triggers many of us. I don't have brand Claritin on hand, so can't recall, but I know I looked at it one time. I do have Walmart loratidine on hand, and this version does not have dyes.
Of the H2's, Zantac is generally tolerated by many of us. Brand Zantac does not contain those azo dyes, but generic versions do. Several of us can tolerate any of the oxine dyes, which are from the earth, unless they are specified as synthetic. Pepcid is the other recommended first line H2. I can take the Walmart famotidine, as there no dyes. Tagamet interferes with several meds that a mast cell patient may take and also interferes with the body's ability to break down histamine, so it is NOT on the recommended list.
Best wishes, Lyn
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