[Anaphylactic reaction to oral penicillin]

Anaphylactic reactions are often caused by parenterally administered penicillin. However, oral penicillin can also produce severe reactions. A 34-year-old man developed anaphylaxis 30 minutes after oral intake of 400,000 units of phenoxymethyl penicillin. He developed hypotension and angioedema which responded well to subcutaneous adrenalin and to intravenous fluids.