Question for anyone that has experience with copperhead bites

[wloftis]

I have been bit on the foot by a copperhead (wet bite) and the only thing I received was an IV. Took dang near a month for pain and swelling to go down. Have had trouble with my shoulder ever since...not sure if the bite caused it or not, but definitely didn't help. I was told that the biggest thing to watch for was infection after the bite. If her bite was anything like mine she should heal alright -- that being said I would seek advice from another doctor; I did not hallucinate 3 weeks after the bite.

Prayers for your niece...I know how bad that hurts!

[Porterhouse]

It has already been stated, but I would bet that it might be one of the medications she is taking. Benadryl can cause those kinds of issues, but antibiotics can also cause adverse reactions in some people.

Regardless, I agree with others that it's time to see a different doc for a second opinion.


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[MommaNeck]

Ask the doc about side effects from the antibiotics as well. It is uncommon but certain antibiotics can cause severe reactions in some people. When one of my sons was very little he would hallucinate if given certain antibiotics, including that pink liquid stuff often given to kids (can't remember the name) .

amoxicillin is the pink stuff - didn't realize antibiotics or benadryl could cause those types of side effects!

[rackhunter]

The following side effects are associated with Benadryl:

Common side effects of Benadryl:

An Increase in the Thickness of Lung SecretionsLess Severe
DrowsinessLess Severe
Infrequent side effects of Benadryl:

Rare side effects of Benadryl:

Blood DisorderSevere
Extra HeartbeatSevere
HallucinationSevere
SeizuresSevere
Blurred VisionLess Severe
Cannot Empty BladderLess Severe
Chronic Trouble SleepingLess Severe
ConfusedLess Severe
DiarrheaLess Severe
Difficult or Painful UrinationLess Severe
DizzyLess Severe
Dry MouthLess Severe
Dryness of the NoseLess Severe
Easily Angered or AnnoyedLess Severe
Excessive SweatingLess Severe
Fast HeartbeatLess Severe
Head PainLess Severe
Heart Throbbing or PoundingLess Severe
HivesLess Severe
Involuntary QuiveringLess Severe
ItchingLess Severe
Loss of AppetiteLess Severe
NervousLess Severe
NightmaresLess Severe
Over ExcitementLess Severe
Problems with EyesightLess Severe
RashLess Severe
Ringing in the EarsLess Severe
Sensation of Spinning or WhirlingLess Severe
Stomach CrampsLess Severe
Sun-Sensitive SkinLess Severe
Throat DrynessLess Severe

[chongo]

If I had to guess, it's the benadryl. I don't know how much she is taking, but it will make you twitch and hallucinate, just like she is. Different tolerance levels for everybody, but I've seen several people get messed up on benadryl.

This would be my guess as well. My son gets hallucinations off the stuff. It scared the crap out of us the first time we gave it to him (3 years old). He kept screaming they're on me and scratching his arms. A trip to the ER, a few hours and few hundred dollars lighter and he was fine. We will never give it to him again.

My heart goes out for that little girl, I'll be sure to include her and her parents in our prayers.

[helibow]

I had an envenomation by copperhead on my foot as well. Spent 5 days in the hospital and was pretty sick. Took probably a month for the swelling to go down and to not have occasional "lightening bolts" go from my toes to my knee.

[SolocamShooter]

Update on my niece... The Dr. spoke with a professor from University of Mississippi that specializes in copperheads and their bites and they figured out what they believe it is. The Professor said he has had an identical case earlier in the year that he studied. The side effects are caused by Tetnus that she contracted from the bite. He said that if she had not had her Tetnus vaccination earlier in the year she would probably not be alive right now! He said that the symptoms will run their course over 6-8 weeks and then go away. Hopefully they are correct in their diagnosis and this will pass over in the course of the next few weeks with no serious damage.

[Tye]

Good to hear

[okrattler]

Glad to hear they figured it out. That didn't even occur to me. I guess it should have because after I got bit on the hand the nurse asked if I'd had a current tetanus shot. I said no but that snake didn't have metal teeth so don't worry about that. She laughed and got the needle out.

[Rakkasan2187]

Prayers sent

[tradtiger]

Thanks for the update and useful info regarding tetanus from a snakebite; wouldn't even consider that, glad I recently got a shot. Prayers for your niece's full recovery.

[Atfulldraw]

Interesting ....

When I was bitten on the hand, the first thing they asked me was about my tetanus shot status. I had just received my update shot a few months prior, due to my job.

I received only oral antibiotics and topical treatments and lost a small amount of tissue on my finger.

[db@100]

My wife got bit on the foot about 25 years ago...the snake died.

[coonazz]

My wife got bit on the foot about 25 years ago...the snake died.

bahahahahaha

[systemnt]

Poor baby.. prayers for her.. glad you found a doc that seems somewhat knowledgeable and able to offer some semblance of an answer.
I, too, was questioning the Benadryl as being a cause of the hallucinations...specially in someone that age.. (questioning meaning...leaning that way)