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Drug rash duration?

I was prescribed Cephalexin 500mg for an inner ear infection. On the second day of taking it, I believed I had a fever: my skin was hot and flushed and I had minor chills. On the third day I took 2 more doses, then noticed I was covered with a very red rash, from head to foot. The rash was hot to the touch and began to itch in a prickly way. Still feeling as if I had a fever, I took my temp and found it was normal. I called my doctor and he discontinued the Cephalexin, and suggested Benadryl for the itch. I've tried it 50mg at a time and it does not help. Meanwhile, I remembered that the previous night I woke up with a fast pulse that was so strong I was making my mattress move! Happily, that alarming symptom went away, but the hot rash and itching have not. This is the 4th day of this problem; neither my doctor or pharmacist can tell me how long the rash will last, nor can I find any info on-line. My questions: How long do these rashes last? What can help with the itching, if Benadryl won't? Calamine lotion? And now that the heart pounding episode is over with, is there still reason to be concerned? Thank you.