Things you should know about drug allergies

By | November 29, 2017

medication allergies

Drug allergy is a form of allergic reactions to medicines. After consuming certain medicines, you may get rashes, itching, swelling, anaphylaxis, difficulty in breathing and hives. These are the common symptoms that you may have a drug allergy. Drug allergy happens when some medicine composition is not suitable for your immunity system, and your body identifies it as foreign invader which results releasing of chemical fluid as the defender.  If you are suffering from drug allergy, here is an effective guide to understand your problem, before you find an allergist specialist.

Common causes of drug allergies

  • Antibiotics related to penicillin and penicillin
  • Sulfonamides (sulfa drugs) containing Antibiotics
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Ibuprofen, aspirin, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Drugs of chemotherapy

Symptoms of a penicillin allergy

Penicillin allergy symptoms can be mild to severe. Penicillin allergy symptoms may include hives swelling – usually around the face, wheeziness, throat tightness, breathing trouble and coughing.

Anaphylaxis which is more life-threatening severe reaction can occur due to penicillin allergy. It can arise suddenly, aggravate quickly and can be deadly. The common symptoms include:

Itching, red skin rash, hives, reddening in mixture of other symptoms like

  • Gasping and stiffness in the chest
  • Swelling of lips, tongue, throat, and face
  • Dizziness

If the reaction gets worse with above-noted symptoms, immediately you need epinephrine auto-injector.

Also, if you avoid the drug for ten years, there is fair chance to lose penicillin allergy as 80% people usually do. However, it will be better to get yourself tested by an allergist to find if you are still allergic.

How to diagnose drug allergy?

It is a bit difficult to diagnose medication allergies. Through a skin test, allergy to penicillin-type drugs can be diagnosed. It will be better if you carry the suspected drug with you while visiting an allergist. This will help the allergist recommend the possible alternatives if required.

An allergist may advise for a skin test or, a blood test depending on the suspected drug. Your allergy physician may ask for an oral drug challenge if drug allergy is suspected.

What is the treatment for drug allergies?

Once your allergic reason is identified, the allergist will advise you to halt over from that particular drug consumption. It is crucial to inform all your health care providers to stop prescribing the drug in any circumstances. Immediate treatment is necessary if react to a particular drug also, the severity of the treatment will be determined by the allergic reaction caused. If the allergic reaction is as severe as life-threatening anaphylaxis and you need epinephrine auto-injector immediately, call at 911.