I found out I'm alergic to Thimerosal (Thimerosal in Vaccines etc)

[Omaha Steve]

I meant to post this here not in Labor.

I'd never even heard of it before. It showed up Thursday in a skin test I took for some answers about my Rosacea: http://www.truetest.com/default.aspx

I'm home sick today with an allergy. Never suffered from this before. I thought I had a very bad summer cold. So I may be doing environmental allergy (spores, mold, etc.) testing in the near future too. I took one 15 years ago and didn't have any real problems found. I already know about several meds I'm allergic to. Feldene is one. Now I know why. It contains Thimerosal

Amyway, you might want to read up on Thimerosal. It is one of the most common allergens. It was voted Allergen of the Year in 2002 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society.

http://www.fda.gov/biologicsbloodvaccines/safetyavailab...

See also "Mercury in Plasma-Derived Products"

Table of Contents

* Introduction
* Preservatives in Vaccines
* Thimerosal as a Preservative
* Guidelines on Exposure to Organomercurials
* Thimerosal Toxicity
* Recent and Future FDA Actions
* The Safety Review of Thimerosal-containing Vaccines and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Conducted by the Institute of Medicine
* Tables
o Table 1. Thimerosal Content of the Routinely Recommended Pediatric Vaccines
o Table 2. Preservatives in U.S. Licensed Vaccines
o Table 3. Thimerosal and Expanded List of vaccines
* References
* Bibliography

Introduction

Thimerosal is a mercury-containing organic compound (an organomercurial). Since the 1930s, it has been widely used as a preservative in a number of biological and drug products, including many vaccines, to help prevent potentially life threatening contamination with harmful microbes. Over the past several years, because of an increasing awareness of the theoretical potential for neurotoxicity of even low levels of organomercurials and because of the increased number of thimerosal containing vaccines that had been added to the infant immunization schedule, concerns about the use of thimerosal in vaccines and other products have been raised. Indeed, because of these concerns, the Food and Drug Administration has worked with, and continues to work with, vaccine manufacturers to reduce or eliminate thimerosal from vaccines.

Thimerosal has been removed from or reduced to trace amounts in all vaccines routinely recommended for children 6 years of age and younger, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine (see Table 1). A preservative-free version of the inactivated influenza vaccine (contains trace amounts of thimerosal) is available in limited supply at this time for use in infants, children and pregnant women. Some vaccines such as Td, which is indicated for older children (≥ 7 years of age) and adults, are also now available in formulations that are free of thimerosal or contain only trace amounts. Vaccines with trace amounts of thimerosal contain 1 microgram or less of mercury per dose.

In the following pages, a discussion of preservatives, the use of thimerosal as a preservative, guidelines on exposure to organomercurials (primarily methylmercury), thimerosal toxicity, recent and future FDA actions, and the conclusions of the Institute of Medicine's most recent review of thimerosal in vaccines are presented. This narrative on thimerosal contains references to the literature and links to other sites for readers who wish additional information; for quick reference, a number of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers are provided.

FULL article at link.

[customerserviceguy]

1. "Allergen of the Year"

Wow. I didn't even know they held a competition...

[Liberal Veteran]

3. It hasn't been the same since Bob Barker stopped hosting it.

But the swimsuit round was always pretty hot.

[woo me with science]

6. Previous winner right here:

Sarah Palin

[izquierdista]

2. I am too

Fortunately, I don't get vaccinated that often (maybe an annual flu shot), and taking a long nap after the shot seems to help. Most eye solutions are now advertised as "thimerosol free", but I make sure of what I am buying. Just one more thing to look for in the ingredient listing.

[rox63]

4. Many years ago, I found out the same thing when my eyes swelled shut

from using contact lens solutions containing thimerisol. But I don't seem to suffer much effect from vaccines containing thimerisol. I had been avoiding flu shots for years, until I had to get both the regular and swine flu shots last year, in order to work in a hospital. I didn't suffer any ill effects from either shot. So maybe only some parts of me are allergic?

[obxhead]

5. I've read/been told that your allergies change every 7 years.

Some can pop up and then go away just as fast.

When I was 6 or 7 years old I became allergic to yellow #something and red #something dyes. I was devastated as I could no longer have my 2 favorite foods, mac and cheese and coolaid. 6 months later someone fed me some mac and cheese and I had no reaction. Mom was furious, but at least I got to eat mac and cheese again.

Anyway, if you have harsh allergic reactions it's probably a good idea to have an allergy test every few years as they do change.

[dflprincess]

7. I was 6 or 7 when my allergy to cats became apparent

but 50 years later it's still there, though not quite as severe though I still can't live with a cat. I've noticed my hayfever doesn't seem as bad as it was in my younger years either - so maybe it's just a matter of your immune system finally adjusting.

[obxhead]

8. I'm sure it's different for everyone.

Lately I've been having reactions to my cat. :( As a cat owner of nearly 30 years I find it terribly disturbing. I hope I'm wrong and it's something else entirely.

[Mika]

9. Try blood type diets

The entire book is online here. Click on - Search Inside this Book

Eat Right For Your Blood Type
http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Right-Your-Type-Individualized/dp/039914255X

I've suggested this for many of my patients, and its worked.

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