DEAR DR. GOTT: I was recently diagnosed (in April) with leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Lab reports indicated it was most likely caused by systemic medication. I have discontinued Aggrenox which I believe caused the condition. Contacting the pharmaceutical company (Boehringer Ingelheim), I learned that other people taking this medication are reporting a vasculitis diagnosis.
As soon as I discontinued the Aggrenox, the blisters on my body started to heal and I didn’t get any new blisters; however, I am still getting periodic outbreaks. These new outbreaks look more like heat rash and don’t develop into blisters. I use Allegra and Zyrtec to control these less serious, periodic outbreaks. I am very concerned but my primary care physician and dermatologist aren’t. I also moved from a large city to a small town and am worried that I am not receiving the care that I need for this condition because of it.
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