[Natalie8]

Has anyone taken provigil and gotten a rash from it? I have a rash all over my face and body and can't tell if it's from the provigil or antibiotics I'm on. I got a pedicure and my heel and later the whole foot got infected. Yuck. I'm on vacation so went to ER. Took Bactrim for a couple of days but foot got worse. I also got a slight rash when I went back to the ER for a second time. They gave me a round of IV antibiotics and then switched me to clindamycin but I've only taken it 4 times.

2 days later after second ER visit I have the rash again but much worse. The only thing I can think of is the 2 days that I got the rash I took Provigil....but then again there were so many antibiotics. Now I'm set up to get 5 days of IV antibiotics.

Of course I read scary things on line about Stevens Johnson syndrome where provigil and antibiotics can cause a rash that makes all of your skin to fall off and kill you.

And if it's the provigil I'll cry because it works miracles for me.

[Jules A]

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is very rare but as you know very serious. Please call the prescribing physician immediately.

[SallyC]

Stop the Provigil immediately as the combo may be the problem. You may also be allergic to the AB. I got a rash all over with Bactrim and other sulfa type ABs.

I hope you are better soon.

[Kitty]

I'd say it was the combo of meds. Although you're on a lot of antibiotics.

Sadly, I have stopped getting pedicures at nail salons. There were way too many stories on the news and that I heard from friends of infections that were very resistant to antibiotics. Some of these folks lost hands, feet and limbs. Apparently, even though the salons cleaned the foot bath tubs they weren't killing the germs that could get into your bloodstream through just a tiny nick in the skin. Scary!

[Natalie8]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I only take provigil on an as needed basis but I won't be taking it again until I talk to my neurologist. The rash has gotten much better but I still feel itchy and there are patches of light red left. I took Benadryl every 4 hours and while I can barely stay awake I think it helped. Now I'm on Claritin. I had the first day of the 5 day IV antibiotics and the rash did not get worse so that is good news.

Regarding the pedicures, I have 3 friends who told me stories when I mentioned my experience. One friend got a bad MRSA infection, another said her aunt had the same thing happen as me, and yet another said a friend got a really BAD fungus at a high end nail salon. And those people aren't necessarily on immunosuppressants! Yikes. The nurse in the doctor's office says she brings her own nail tools and they do the pedicures in a tub that has a lining.

And they did such a nice job with my purple toenails everyone has said. But it's clearly not worth it!! Ugh. The only upside is I get to stay an extra week in California.

[NurseNancy]

hi nat,

make sure you stay in touch with the dr if the rash doesn't go away or gets worse. med allergies can get worse cumulatively. so the more you take the offending med the worse the allergic reaction can get til it's life threatening.

but, that being said, make sure you take the full course of the antibx's even if you feel better. if you stop too soon and the infection isn't completely gone it can take another foothold in your body stronger than ever.