Thimerosal

[ksbluesfan]

When I started wearing contact lenses in 1985, I had a bad reaction to the cleaning solution. My eyes turned red and the lids were swollen. I was told that I was allergic to thimerosal in the cleaner and saline solution. Later, I used cleaner and saline solution for "sensitive eyes", which solved the problem.

Since then, I have avoided getting shots, particularly vaccines, that contained thimerosal. I assumed I would have a reaction similar to the one I experienced with my contact lenses.

I know thimerosal is no longer used in childhood vaccinations, but I think it is still used in adult vaccinations. Typically, they allow me to get 2 of the children doses of the flu shot rather than the adult shot.

Am I really allergic to thimerosal? What would happen if I got a shot that contained thimerosal?

I hope this doesn't get sidetracked into a discussion about autism. I have no concerns about vaccinations for me or my children.

 

[Soapy Sam]

I'd suggest taking your concerns to a doctor. Perhaps he could do an allergy test?

Loads of folk have irritated eyes when they start wearing contacts. Most often it's simply that they have let the eyes get dry.

Nobody can tell if you're allergic to anything from an internet post. Have a chat to a doc.

 

[ksbluesfan]

I'd suggest taking your concerns to a doctor. Perhaps he could do an allergy test?

Loads of folk have irritated eyes when they start wearing contacts. Most often it's simply that they have let the eyes get dry.

Nobody can tell if you're allergic to anything from an internet post. Have a chat to a doc.

I did ask my doctor about it. Apparently, it's not very common. And as long as I was able to get the vaccination I desired, he didn't seem too concerned about it.

And, as it turns out, I should have checked Wikipedia first. I can receive intramuscular immunizations even if they contain thimerosal, but not subcutaneous immunizations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thimerosal#Allergies

 

[Alferd_Packer]

Ah, medicine by wikipedia.

Let us know how tht works out for you.

 

[Soapy Sam]

Worth asking who told you that you were allergic to thimerosal and on what evidence.
25 years on, I doubt you recall.
The other big irritant I recall from when I dabbled with contacts was H2O2 in the cleaning solution- if I didn't rinse really thoroughly, I had the same symptoms you describe.

 

[ksbluesfan]

Worth asking who told you that you were allergic to thimerosal and on what evidence.
25 years on, I doubt you recall.
The other big irritant I recall from when I dabbled with contacts was H2O2 in the cleaning solution- if I didn't rinse really thoroughly, I had the same symptoms you describe.

The person who suggested I might be allergic to thimerosal was a cow-orker. She said she had the same reaction and was told by her doctor that she was allergic to thimerosal. That's part of the reason I was curious. She wasn't qualified to diagnose anything. At the time, I took her word for it. I started wearing my glasses again that day.

A few years later, my eye doctor asked me if I wanted to try contacts again. I told him about my reaction, but he assured me that with soft lenses and solutions for sensitive eyes, I wouldn't have a problem. He didn't say anything about thimerosal. It certainly is possible that earlier solutions had too much boric acid or some other irritant.

It's too much of a hassle to get tested for allergies, and hasn't been enough of a problem for me to worry about it. I was just curious and thought others might have encountered the same problem.

 

[Chris Haynes]

The earlier solutions did have too much thimerosal, so reactions were common. I had a reaction, so I had to use a different solution.

I have also received regular thimerosal containing vaccines without any problem. Also since I started to get regular annual flu shots in the past three years, I have not had any kind of major flu and/or cold.

But that is just an anecdote. The amount in a vaccine should not cause a problem.

 

[Without Rights]

Am I really allergic to thimerosal? What would happen if I got a shot that contained thimerosal?

My conjecture is that you are not allergic.

Thimerosal has been shown to damage the eye of rabbits. You could just be sensitive to it's toxic effect.

http://www.iovs.org/cgi/reprint/16/4/273.pdf


And on another note, if thimerosal is toxic to a child, then it is also toxic to adults. Our bodies are the same. The only difference is the damage to children is acute and the damage done to an adult is hidden. This doesn't mean all adults are free from acute effects, some are more sensitive than others. You probably are one of those people and therefore should not inject thimerosal in your body.

But if I am wrong and you are allergic I will still say don't inject it in you. I am allergic to peanuts so I avoid peanuts, simple as pie.