So I had an allergic reaction to medicine, now what?

[WRoss]

Some of these details are being left out on purpose some I just don't know yet. I have gotten legal council about this, but wanted your opinions on everything.

I've been on this medicine off and on for 4 years now. I can't say which, so don't ask. I had to get generic a few days ago as I was leaving town and that was all they had. I have never taken it before. Ends up that I got violently ill, my body was swollen...etc and end up in the ER. I again don't want to get too specific, but basically boils down to me having an allergic reaction. It isn't 100% that is an allergic reaction. There are going to be more tests when I get back in town to find conclusive evidence.

I have been tested for allergies before, and nothing came back, though this was 5 years ago. So if it is proven that this was an allergic reaction and that there is a different chemical in the generic brand, would it really have mattered if it was mentioned somewhere, where it wasn't? I wouldn't have known I was allergic to it anyways. Should it still be brought to court so that the pharmacy, pharmaceutical company, and/or the FDA becomes accountable for their mistakes?

[Celephais]

I'm pretty damn sure you won't be able to sue. It's like if someone didn't know they were allergic to peanuts, ate a peanut and tried to sue the peanut company.

You were told what was in the medicine, your having an allergic reaction is not their fault.

That said I hear you... I am allergic to anti-histamines (yup.. allergic to allergy medicine). I went two years of getting FUCKed by being on it, I was literally diagnosed with tourrettes in the course of them trying to figure out what was wrong (I did get some pretty cool pictures of my brain out of the deal).

[Alfster]

There are slight differences in generic vs. name brand, but those come down to colors/flavors/etc. The active ingredient is the same.

I'd wonder if there were different doses per pill or something. Like the generic you took had twice as much shit in it. Or maybe the pharmacy screwed up, but if you were fine using the name brand, you'd be just as fine using the same dose of generic.

[Cephalopod]

Who OK'd the generic? Whoever it was (pharmacist, doctor) should have been aware of any differences between the generic and brand name. Technically, only inactive ingredients can differ from a brand name in the generic version, so it would seem if you did have an allergic reaction it would be to an additive, and not an active ingredient.

When you say 'tested for allergies before', do you mean you were specifically tested for allergic reactions to the brand-name of this drug? Or are you saying that you've been tested for generic allergies before?

My guess would be the FDA isn't who would be accountable. It would be either the pharmacist, your doctor or potentially the generic drug manufacturer if they didn't properly label their medications. And honestly, I don't think a pharmacist or doctor would be aware of the allergic implications of every inactive ingredient.

Can you at least explain what this medication is for? That might be informative, too, in case the active chemical is something that has caused this sort of reaction in others.

Obviously, I ain't a lawyer, so I'm really just talking out of my ass. I don't think you're going to get anywhere suing anyone for this.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

Ditto what Cel said, you can't really sue for having an allergic reaction to medications.

A couple things about allergies- they can come and go. Meaning it's entirely possible to not have an allergy five years ago, and have one today.

Another thing, they get stronger over time. For instance, I'm allergic to bee stings. The first time I got stung by a bee, my hand got very swollen and puffy. The next time, my whole limb did. The third time, my whole body. The fourth time, I started having problems breathing and needed to start carrying an epi pen. The more you're exposed the worse your allergic reaction is going to become with exposure.

It may not be the medication, as well. The fact that you switched to generic could be coincidence and you may have been exposed to/ingested something else entirely that caused you to have the reaction.

[WRoss]

There are slight differences in generic vs. name brand, but those come down to colors/flavors/etc. The active ingredient is the same.

I'd wonder if there were different doses per pill or something. Like the generic you took had twice as much shit in it. Or maybe the pharmacy screwed up, but if you were fine using the name brand, you'd be just as fine using the same dose of generic.

That is what I'm thinking. I talked to one lawyer who is all super "greedy americans should get something for nothing" and wants to go all CSI on the pharmacy. I'm of the more ethical nature and would like to find the responsible party, let them know of their wrongs, and do whatever is necessary to fix those wrongs. Whether or not that involves covering my medical expenses really isn't that important. To me, it is more about moral obligations.




Can you at least explain what this medication is for? That might be informative, too, in case the active chemical is something that has caused this sort of reaction in others.

As of right now, I can't.

[Celephais]

Ditto what Cel said, you can't really sue for having an allergic reaction to medications.

A couple things about allergies- they can come and go. Meaning it's entirely possible to not have an allergy five years ago, and have one today.

Another thing, they get stronger over time. For instance, I'm allergic to bee stings. The first time I got stung by a bee, my hand got very swollen and puffy. The next time, my whole limb did. The third time, my whole body. The fourth time, I started having problems breathing and needed to start carrying an epi pen. The more you're exposed the worse your allergic reaction is going to become with exposure.

It may not be the medication, as well. The fact that you switched to generic could be coincidence and you may have been exposed to/ingested something else entirely that caused you to have the reaction.
You could also have been allergic the entire time, allergies can onset very quickly, I had a friend who literally ate himself into a peanut allergy, he'd have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch every day, and then one day he had a reaction out of nowhere, and now he's deathly allergic to what was his favorite food.

If you've seeked legal representation then there is no point in asking us, your lawyer should be able to tell you your chances etc, but there's also a chance he's just milking you (is this one of those 'you only pay if we win' types?). I'm not a lawyer or anything so maybe you can get away with sueing, but in my zero experience opinion I'd say you don't have a case.

Allergies are weird in how they work, but I'm pretty sure any medical company/pharmacy has properly covered their asses, having the proper language on their products and/or made you sign something absolving them.

[Cephalopod]

That is what I'm thinking. I talked to one lawyer who is all super "greedy americans should get something for nothing" and wants to go all CSI on the pharmacy. I'm of the more ethical nature and would like to find the responsible party, let them know of their wrongs, and do whatever is necessary to fix those wrongs. Whether or not that involves covering my medical expenses really isn't that important. To me, it is more about moral obligations.


Your first post and poll don't really reflect this... you seem like you were just jumping at the chance to sue someone.

In any case, here's what you need to do:
- Read the label on the generic
- Look up the ingredients in the brand name
- See what the differences are, and determine if any of them are allergens
- Figure what you ate for a day or two before the 'issue', and what activities you were involved in
- You said you were out of town. Is this a place you've been before? Someplace you've been before during springtime? Where you staying at a hotel? What kind of laundry detergent does the hotel use?

...in short, the drug is one of many possibilities for what could cause a reaction like this. Identify other possible variables, rather than being sure it's the drug and trying to sue.

[Allereli]

As of right now, I can't.

It was Viagra

I doubt you have a case. Did you read all the warnings and side effects that come with all prescriptions? Everyone is right in saying allergic reactions come on suddenly. I'm allergic to a lot of meds and it has happened that something I took in the past without problems I'll react to when given again.

[Cephalopod]

Also, frivolous lawsuits are what's destroying the health care system in this country! TORT REFORM MOTHERFUCKER!

[Marl]

I'm pretty damn sure you won't be able to sue. It's like if someone didn't know they were allergic to peanuts, ate a peanut and tried to sue the peanut company.

You were told what was in the medicine, your having an allergic reaction is not their fault.



this...

only thing you can do is live and learn and dont take it again

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

Where is the "don't sue, better luck next time" option?

[Some Rogue]

It was Viagra



That does cause swelling...

[Cephalopod]

http://enticeme.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/tvad-enzyte-smilingbob.jpg

Maybe it was pride he was swelling with...

[Keller]

I must be missing something - who was negligent?

I think you're being an attention whore, tbh.

[AnticorRifling]

It's totally their fault that you didn't plan for your trip and had to go with what was left.

Add a poll option that says you're a titty baby.

[AnticorRifling]

Also note that recently energy drinks (monster, Amp, red bull, etc) give me such a wicked allergic reaction that I can no longer drink them since they result in a hospital visit. It could be that they changed their recipe without telling me (the nerve!) or it could be something changed in my body's chemistry that it no longer properly handles whatever it is that fucks me up. Either way I should sue because I'm always the victim and I just know they're out to get me.

[Deathravin]

Just because you had an allergic reaction to a generic doesn't mean you get to sue the company. Only if they were negligent in safety procedures somehow.

My wife gets allergic reactions all the time, I don't get to sue CheeseCake Factory because they didn't say their crust had traces of Brazil nuts.

Or because a new generic allergy medication made her have an asthma attack.

You go to the hospital, and don't use the generic anymore.

Why is everybody in this country so fucking litigious?

[Cephalopod]

Also note that recently energy drinks (monster, Amp, red bull, etc) give me such a wicked allergic reaction that I can no longer drink them since they result in a hospital visit. It could be that they changed their recipe without telling me (the nerve!) or it could be something changed in my body's chemistry that it no longer properly handles whatever it is that fucks me up. Either way I should sue because I'm always the victim and I just know they're out to get me.

Do they make your penis turgid?

[AnticorRifling]

It is tediously bombastic at times.

[mgoddess]

I've had something (not as serious) similar happen...

I had a prescription for Imitrex for the longest time (and my body had no problems with it), and then recently, someone started making a generic for it (which, of course, my health insurance told me to get). So, I got the generic instead, and my body just totally rejected it (as in, it didn't work to cure the migraines, it made me queasy, nauseous, pukey, nauseous, dizzy, pukey, etc.)... and now, I can't even take normal, brand-name Imitrex. It's like the generic version turned my body against Sumatriptan, which is the main ingredient in both. Annoying as fuck...

Anyway, tl;dr version... Go after them, if you can, especially since it sounds like it was pretty damn serious.

[Kithus]

Am I the only one that glanced at the thread title and immediately assumed this would be a SotT post?

[WRoss]

Your first post and poll don't really reflect this... you seem like you were just jumping at the chance to sue someone.

I already have an idea of of what I'm going to do, depending on how everything happens. The only reason I even talked to a lawyer is because I am friends of a few lawyers and they said that I should get legal advise as to not get taken advantage of. I was just curious to hear everyone's opinions.

[Deathravin]

I was just curious to hear everyone's opinions.

Shit happens.

[AnticorRifling]

Taken advantage of? So you were taking generic roofies?

[WRoss]

I must be missing something - who was negligent?

I think you're being an attention whore, tbh.

Trust me when I say that I would never take advice from people on the PC. I just became very interested in the way that the lawyer reacted. It became very clear that he was trying to milk the situation. What I do find intriguing is the ethical debate of this situation.


Do I plan on filing a law suite again anyone? Very unlikely, unless something was put into the medicine that shouldn't or it was mismanaged.

[WRoss]

Taken advantage of? So you were taking generic roofies?

As in, when I tell them that the medicine they just gave me sent me to the ER that I don't get pushed around and taken for a ride through the lovely legal system.

[AnticorRifling]

You put it in your body after reading all the free, available documentation or after asking any questions you had about potential issues with this different med with the pharmacist that asks (at every single transaction) "Hey do you have any questions with this" right?

Or did you assume you were good to go with this drug after you forgot to get your regular med refilled for your trip that you planned and you were taking for your own reasons with your timeline for your purposes involving you?

Clearly they are at fault it couldn't have anything to do with you or anything you came into contact with not related to your choice of different medications that you took. Maybe it was something you ate, or you touched or you put in your body and don't want to divulge. Could it be that you set this in motion and you aren't the victim but the catalyst for your condition?

PS: You.

[Marl]

example of whats going to happn

you: the medicine they just gave me sent me to the ER
them: is that what the ER concluded as the cause of your trip?
you: yep
them: k we will make a note on your sheet not to give it to you anymore
you: but ima sue you!!!1!11!
them: lol k. good luck with your lawyer bill

[AnticorRifling]

Marl, you need to use the word you more in your posts in this thread. Thank you.

[Marl]

well you see, most of you do not grasp the power that you has over your language. you are welcome

[Some Rogue]

PS: You.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/lrenzo2/LASR7SC4QA65VTC632IRUC6P5LAKVRQV.jpg

[Keller]

Trust me when I say that I would never take advice from people on the PC. I just became very interested in the way that the lawyer reacted. It became very clear that he was trying to milk the situation. What I do find intriguing is the ethical debate of this situation.


Do I plan on filing a law suite again anyone? Very unlikely, unless something was put into the medicine that shouldn't or it was mismanaged.

There is no ethical debate to it at all.

Most pills have added chemicals mixed into them. The generic pills likely had something that you are allergic to. You did not know you were allergic to it - how could the pharmacist know about it?

Again - where is the negligence? If anything, it was the allergist that didn't catch the allergy you had to whatever is in the generic drug that is not in the brand name drug.

[Stanley Burrell]

My mom's got Sjögren's and one of the medications they gave her turned her dark red. Like she literally didn't have a spot on her body that wasn't swollen.

That being said, we're both Jewish, so if we can't sue anyone then neither can you, sorry brothaman.

[Keller]

As in, when I tell them that the medicine they just gave me sent me to the ER that I don't get pushed around and taken for a ride through the lovely legal system.

If there is anything lovely about the legal system, you'll wind up with an ER bill you have to pay, an enormous attorny fee you have to pay, and a bottle of generic pills you cannot take.

You are the reason tort reform is necessary.

[WRoss]

You put it in your body after reading all the free, available documentation or after asking any questions you had about potential issues with this different med with the pharmacist that asks (at every single transaction) "Hey do you have any questions with this" right?

Or did you assume you were good to go with this drug after you forgot to get your regular med refilled for your trip that you planned and you were taking for your own reasons with your timeline for your purposes involving you?

Clearly they are at fault it couldn't have anything to do with you or anything you came into contact with not related to your choice of different medications that you took. Maybe it was something you ate, or you touched or you put in your body and don't want to divulge. Could it be that you set this in motion and you aren't the victim but the catalyst for your condition?

PS: You.

I in a large part agree with most of what you said. Do I want to sue anyone? Not unless there was malicious intent like there was in the cyanide in Tylenol case back in the 80's.

What I am really getting at, for the most part, is that it is ironic how many times a day we do things that do put us at risk, but always look for someone to blame when they happen. Think about the cigarette cases, in the late 80's early 90's. What about medical malpractice lawsuits, where a simple mistake , for example a slip of a scalpel, was cause for millions of dollars to be rewarded. You can be charged for a crime for killing someone after your car hydroplanes into someone. I find it ironic how skewed many in society are when it comes to situations like this. We all know that driving a car, getting heart surgery, smoking, taking medicine, has a chance to do us harm, but we do them anyway. I find it interesting that blame is acceptable in some of these situations, but not others.

[AnticorRifling]

Now you're wrong and rambling.

Edit: You/your/you're overload AHHH

[Cephalopod]

Now your wrong and rambling.

You're.

In other news, did anyone hear about that guy who dislocated his jaw eating a sammich?

Man Suffers Lockjaw Trying to Bite Massive Sandwich (http://www.myfoxchattanooga.com/dpps/news/dpgoh-chad-ettmueller-suffers-lockjaw-trying-to-bite-sandwich-fc-20100408_6959901)

You know what the greatest part of this story is?



Ettmueller didn't sue. He asked for another sandwich, blaming the injury on his genetics. He cut the new sandwich up in 100 pieces before eating it.

[Showal]

Taken advantage of? So you were taking generic roofies?


The reason he couldn't tell us the drugs is because they were forced suppositories.

[Showal]

Sue. Sue so hard that legislation gets passed that make it so, in order to get any sort of drug, everyone has to be screened for allergies against every chemical involved in a drug or vaccine or treatment. You should also be screened for allergies against any of the chemicals or products in the vending machines located in hospitals, as well as all the tools, equipment, and packaging in the rooms you're seen. This needs to happen everytime, to ensure nothing has changed.

If it does come back that it is allergies, good luck narrowing it down. Good luck getting tested against the separate chemicals in the generic. Good luck proving it wasn't the food or something you passed on the way to the pharmacy or something inside, like potentially something latex.

They did a severely unjust act, and NO settlement should be accepted that allows their intentionally malicious act to get covered up. Don't let it happen.

[Showal]

Ignore the fact that at most pharmacies, you need to fill out a form that specifies you will not accept generic over the brand-name. Nevermind that, by law, pharmacies are allowed to provide you with generics unless this request is made.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

I'd wait until healthcare is government owned, so you can get more duckets.

Everyone should have a lawyer in their pocket and a person to sue. It's America, damnit.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

I in a large part agree with most of what you said. Do I want to sue anyone? Not unless there was malicious intent like there was in the cyanide in Tylenol case back in the 80's.

What I am really getting at, for the most part, is that it is ironic how many times a day we do things that do put us at risk, but always look for someone to blame when they happen. Think about the cigarette cases, in the late 80's early 90's. What about medical malpractice lawsuits, where a simple mistake , for example a slip of a scalpel, was cause for millions of dollars to be rewarded. You can be charged for a crime for killing someone after your car hydroplanes into someone. I find it ironic how skewed many in society are when it comes to situations like this. We all know that driving a car, getting heart surgery, smoking, taking medicine, has a chance to do us harm, but we do them anyway. I find it interesting that blame is acceptable in some of these situations, but not others.

Your last rambling, retarded paragraph makes me want to shank you.

No shit some of the blame is acceptable in the situations, and not others. There's a huge fucking difference between scenarios like your OP, and scenarios where the medical professional involved is being criminally negligent, if not outright malicious.

1- you don't even know if it was the medication
2- there's no real difference between generic and name brand medication, meaning neither the pharmacist or doctor or anyone was negligent in giving it to you.

Having been on the receiving end of actual medical malpractice, let me tell you that if it ever should truly happen to you, you won't really have to worry about calling up ambulance chasers and asking the PC 'oh noes what do I do!1?'.

But you know, part of me hopes you're just retarded enough to actually take this to court, so that when the judge throws it out, you'll not only have your prescription fee and hospital bill, but also your lawyer to pay too.

[Deathravin]

A process I really don't like when it comes to medications is a practice called a 'prudent prescribing switch'.

1) Doctor writes prescription for Medication A that does Thing X. He writes 'DAW' - Dispense as Written. Meaning no generic substitutions.
2) You send prescription to mail-order pharmacy.
3) Insurance sees Medication A and says, "Well that's expensive! There's Medication B that also does Thing X and costs 1/2 as much."
4) Insurance company rep calls Doctor's office and asks random nurse if it's okay to switch the prescription to Medication B. She, not knowing the conversation you had with your doctor that Medication B put you into the hospital last time you tried it, says yes.
5) Insurance fills and sends Medication B.


Notice nobody ever bothered to call YOU.
Notice the insurance company didn't require a new prescription.
Notice the insurance company didn't need to talk to the doctor, a nurses 'ok' is just fine.

This can also be used to substitute a generic for a brand even with a DAW.
I have no clue how this is legal. But hey...

[Showal]

A process I really don't like when it comes to medications is a practice called a 'prudent prescribing switch'.

1) Doctor writes prescription for Medication A that does Thing X. He writes 'DAW' - Dispense as Written. Meaning no generic substitutions.
2) You send prescription to mail-order pharmacy.
3) Insurance sees Medication A and says, "Well that's expensive! There's Medication B that also does Thing X and costs 1/2 as much."
4) Insurance company rep calls Doctor's office and asks random nurse if it's okay to switch the prescription to Medication B. She, not knowing the conversation you had with your doctor that Medication B put you into the hospital last time you tried it, says yes.
5) Insurance fills and sends Medication B.


Notice nobody ever bothered to call YOU.
Notice the insurance company didn't require a new prescription.
Notice the insurance company didn't need to talk to the doctor, a nurses 'ok' is just fine.

This can also be used to substitute a generic for a brand even with a DAW.
I have no clue how this is legal. But hey...

I think you're missing a step here.

4.1) Nurse is curious why DAW was written.
4.2) Nurse contacts prescribing doctor or checks medical records.

Nurses don't just change doctors orders or, at least, are not supposed to.

In addition, you're supposed to update your pharmacies of NEW allergies or complications to prevent exactly these issues.

[Cephalopod]

Yeah, as written, Deathravin's scenario bypasses some steps. If that really did happen, it is likely illegal.

That said, my insurance company has never been involved in medication to my knowledge. Doctor faxes prescription to pharmacy, pharmacy fills prescription, no muss, no fuss.

I guess by sending it through the mail order system, you've subjected yourself to extra insurance oversight?

[Amber]

I'd vote for none of the above. Be an adult and take responsibility to try and determine what caused the reaction and avoid it in the future.

I'm allergic to penicillin. I know this, my doctor knows this, my pharmacist knows this. If I'm given a prescription for something new, it's MY responsibility to ask if the product is an analog of penicillin. If my doctor were to tell me, "No, no, it's fine. No relation to penicillin, you'll be ok with it." then he'd be responsible for any adverse reactions I might experience. Ditto with the pharmacist. It's MY responsibility first of all, his second.

The first (and only) time I had an allergic reaction to penicillin, nobody was responsible or negligent. Shit happens, ya know. I'd taken it before with no problems and then wham.

And as for your allergic reaction...
How do you know for certain, without a shadow of a doubt, that the medication caused the reaction? I'm allergic to an awful lot of things and it's wicked hard to try and determine exactly what's behind a reaction. I've had reactions from visiting a car body repair shop, eating at Cici's pizza, sitting in a lecture hall that had recently been sprayed with air freshener, staying in a hotel, and a bazillion other things. There are tons of variables to weed out when trying to figure out the root cause of a reaction.

[Tea & Strumpets]

In my professional opinion, shama lama rama lama ding dong.

[Latrinsorm]

That said, my insurance company has never been involved in medication to my knowledge.I have had prescriptions denied in the past.

[4a6c1]

In my professional opinion, shama lama rama lama ding dong.

I concur with this expert advice but would also add amooka jooka looka, feeka jeeka leeka and a minga ringa ling long.

[Cephalopod]

I have had prescriptions denied in the past.

Progynova? :tumble:

[LMingrone]

I'm not allergic to opiates, just in case anyone has some they don't want to kill themselves with. I'm a good person like that.

[Tisket]

So I had an allergic reaction to medicine, now what?

Where is the "grow a set and stfu you big whiny baby" option?

[Allereli]

speaking of reactions, i r itchy

[Amber]

speaking of reactions, i r itchy

Uh-oh, better call a lawyer. You must be allergic to this post.

[Jorddyn]

Should it still be brought to court so that the pharmacy, pharmaceutical company, and/or the FDA becomes accountable for their mistakes

Uh, no.

I learned the hard way 2 years ago that I'm ridiculously allergic to sulfa - 4 days in the hospital allergic. Do you know what I did when I got out? Called my doctor and my pharmacy to inform them so it wouldn't happen again. Not once did it occur to me to sue.

I also vowed that no child of mine (especially a daughter) will ever take sulfa as my grandmother, mother, and niece are all allergic as well. But that's another topic.

[Allereli]

Uh-oh, better call a lawyer. You must be allergic to this post.

should I blame it on the generic birth control pills or the generic ambien? Oddly it cleared up with generic claritin

[AnticorRifling]

I'm allergic to women, they make my penis swell. I plan to sue God.

[Kithus]

I'm allergic to women, they make my penis swell. I plan to sue God.

That is a desired affect of the medication. Any complications arrising from use prior to marriage (including, but not limited to, knocking a bitch up, contraction of an STD or going to Hell) are a result of your inability to follow the directions clearly screamed in your face by the church. If at any time you find your penis swelling due to contact with other men, please seek immediate theological attention or see if Kuyuk will play with your balls for a while. God is not responsible for blindness due to abuse of this product and all warranty is void when you're about PBs age.

[AnticorRifling]

/WIN and end thread all in one

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

That is a desired affect of the medication. Any complications arrising from use prior to marriage (including, but not limited to, knocking a bitch up, contraction of an STD or going to Hell) are a result of your inability to follow the directions clearly screamed in your face by the church. If at any time you find your penis swelling due to contact with other men, please seek immediate theological attention or see if Kuyuk will play with your balls for a while. God is not responsible for blindness due to abuse of this product and all warranty is void when you're about PBs age.

Def an end thread. Very nice.

[ViridianAsp]

You put it in your body after reading all the free, available documentation or after asking any questions you had about potential issues with this different med with the pharmacist that asks (at every single transaction) "Hey do you have any questions with this" right?

Or did you assume you were good to go with this drug after you forgot to get your regular med refilled for your trip that you planned and you were taking for your own reasons with your timeline for your purposes involving you?

Clearly they are at fault it couldn't have anything to do with you or anything you came into contact with not related to your choice of different medications that you took. Maybe it was something you ate, or you touched or you put in your body and don't want to divulge. Could it be that you set this in motion and you aren't the victim but the catalyst for your condition?

PS: You.



Yeah, this. They always give you info on the meds you take. I always read it just in case. Also they are always willing do those consultations with you if you aren't 100% sure you know how it will affect you.

I always go through them, even if they switch you from a regular med to a generic, because sometimes generic can be slightly different and the pharmacist will know best.

Sorry you had to go through that, it's always scary to have to go into the ER with an allergic reaction to something. The thing with allergies getting stronger as you get older also can be a factor, actually a plethora of things could have factored into it.