[Starznight]

Okay, maybe st of my life my allergies have been few and generally directed towards medications. However, after starting copaxone more allergies began cropping up, I switched to Tecfidera and even more allergies are cropping up, things I have never before had any problem with are now the bane of my existence. I am literally a prisoner in my home right now due to pollen. Cedar pollen being the most prevalent and I never once had any issues with cedar before. And two months ago, my favorite food of all times, raspberries, was ripped away from me in an itchy bout of severe hives.

Back to the pollen problem, if I step outside for more than five minutes my whole body becomes red and itchy with a rash breaking out anywhere the skin is uncovered. It is truly ridiculous and made worse by the fact that naturally I have to be someone allergic to both cortisone and antihistamines , so there’s nothing to do but shower and scrub off several layers of skin to remove all pollen from my body and to force my DH to strip before entering the house and move directly to the shower without shaking off any pollen on his way, while I hop in the other shower and wait till he has had a chance to put his clothes in the washer and vacuum every surface he has touched.

Thank heavens for large water heaters . But this is starting to get just a wee bit (excessively) ridiculous. And I have asked my neuro and the drug companies even if anyone has made mention of developing allergies from the medications and they say no... allergies can come with age, from exposure, they can be a sudden onset to anyone at any time no matter how much they weren’t allergic before.....

Mmmk... but two months and one day ago I was quite happily drinking my cran-raspberry juice and the next day after one sip I was covered head to toe in hives... seems to me it skipped a reaction or two there... same thing with the pollen, spent the day outside gardening and enjoying the cool dry weather, following day became a prisoner in my own home. Literally stepped outside in the morning to take the trash out and felt like I had been hit by an atomic bomb... looked like I had stepped in a bee hive by the time I got inside and stripped down.

I mean maybe the doctors are correct, and I’m as usual a freak of nature, but has anyone else noticed when taking medication for their MS sudden onset of bizarre allergies?

[Kitty]

I was on Tecfidera and had a massive allergic reaction to it. But mine came about in the shower. About half way through my shower I had a terrible reaction of itching with a breakout of hives. I had not been outside beforehand. The itching was from head to toe and so severe I had to exit the shower, dry off the best I could and try to scratch every inch of my body. Scared both cats off the bed! And the scariest part of it was I had no idea how long it would last. Mine lasted about 20 minutes....which seems like a lifetime.

My Neurologist seemed irritated when I told him I had discontinued taking Tecfidera because of this reaction. He said he didn't think it was an allergic reaction and I should have just "rode it out". At this point I was irritated with HIM and decided it was time to seek out a new Neurologist. I had been with this one for years and he was getting old and less and less understanding. Time to move on.

Tecfidera stated that they would note the reaction but it was not typical. So.....it could have been from the medication or not but I wasn't taking any chances. And it hasn't happened again so......

I hope you uncover what is causing your turmoil.

[Starznight]

It would be really easy if it was simply a reaction to the medication, but I can take the meds so long as I stay inside without issue... step outside and allergies go into hyperdrive.