A medicine allergy is the immune system’s response to a medicine. Any medicine can cause allergy. However, with certain medicine, the likelihood of a medicine allergy is higher. The most common symptoms of a medicine allergy are hives or a rash. But a medicine allergy can also cause serious reactions. This includes a serious, life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis. A medicine allergy is not the same as a medicine side effect. A side effect is a known possible reaction to a medicine. Side effects of medicine are listed on medicine labels. A medicine allergy is also different from medicine toxicity. medicine toxicity is caused by an overdose of the medicine. medicine allergy treatment is usually done with two general strategies:
Treatment of existing allergy symptoms,
Treatment that can allow you to take an allergy-causing medicine if medically necessary.
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Treating Existing Symptoms
The following interventions can be done to treat the allergic reaction in medicine allergy:
Withdrawal of the medicine: If your doctor determines that you are allergic to a medicine, it will be discontinued. Discontinuation of the medicine is the first step of treatment. In many cases, this may be the only intervention necessary.
Antihistamines: Your doctor may prescribe you an antihistamine to relieve symptoms caused by an allergic reaction. An antihistamine can block immune system chemicals that are triggered during an allergic reaction.
Corticosteroids: Your doctor may prescribe these medicine if you have had a more serious reaction. Available in oral or injectable form, corticosteroids are effective in treating reaction-related inflammation.
Anaphylaxis Treatment
Anaphylaxis is an extremely severe and serious reaction. Anaphylaxis, which requires urgent intervention, poses a life-threatening risk in cases where it is not intervened or intervened late. Anaphylaxis symptoms include; Serious symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, hives, abdominal pain, chest tightness, swelling in the throat occur. The first step in the treatment of anaphylaxis is an adrenaline auto-injector. After administering the injector, you should immediately go to the nearest emergency room or call an ambulance.
Taking medications that cause allergies
If you have a confirmed medicine allergy, doctors will not prescribe the medicine you are allergic to unless necessary. In some cases, if the diagnosis of medicine allergy is uncertain or there is no alternative treatment, your doctor may use one of two strategies to use the suspected medicine. With either strategy, your doctor will monitor you carefully. You will receive supportive care in the event of an adverse reaction. These interventions are not usually used if medications have caused serious, life-threatening reactions in the past.
Ranked challenge
If the diagnosis of a medicine allergy is uncertain and your doctor decides an allergy is unlikely, a graded medicine challenge may be an option. With this procedure, you get 2 to 5 doses of medication, starting with a small dose and increasing to the desired dose. If you reach the therapeutic dose without reacting, your doctor may recommend that you take the medicine as prescribed.
medicine desensitization
If you need to take a medicine that causes an allergic reaction, your doctor may recommend a treatment called medicine desensitization. With this treatment, you take a very small dose and then progressively larger doses every 15 to 30 minutes over a few hours or days. If you can reach the desired dose without reacting, you can continue the treatment.
What Causes medicine Allergy?
Your immune system reacts to substances it sees as harmful. These reactions are often the cause of allergic reactions. medicine allergy occurs when your immune system sees a substance in the medicine as a potential danger and starts to resist this situation. This may occur when you use the medicine for the first time, but it can also occur after repeated use. When you take the medicine again, the immune system attacks; develops antibodies. Then symptoms from an allergic reaction appear.
Common medicine That Cause medicine Allergy
Any medicine can cause medicine allergy. But some medicines are more commonly responsible for medicine allergies. These medicine include:
- Some antibiotics, such as penicillin,
- Some pain relievers
- Some chemotherapy medicine used in cancer treatment,
- Some medicine used in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
medicine Allergy Symptoms
You may not experience allergic symptoms the first time you take a medicine, but your body may be producing antibodies against it. As a result, the next time you take the medicine, your immune system may see it as an invader and you develop symptoms as your body releases chemicals to defend itself. These symptoms may include:
- skin rash or hives,
- Itching,
- wheezing or other breathing problems
- Swelling,
- Vomiting,
- dizziness or lightheadedness,
- Anaphylaxis.
How Is medicine Allergy Diagnosed?
If you suspect that you have a medicine allergy, you should definitely see an allergist. Your allergist will ask detailed questions about your suspicions and symptoms. Which medicine you suspect and whether you have a reaction to another medicine are important questions that need to be answered in order to assist the diagnosis. Depending on the medicine suspected of causing the reaction, your allergist may recommend a skin test or, in limited cases, a blood test. A blood test can be helpful in diagnosing a severe delayed reaction, especially if your allergist is concerned that multiple organ systems may be involved. This rare reaction is known as medicine rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms’ or more commonly ‘DRESS syndrome’. If a medicine allergy is suspected, your allergist may also recommend an oral medicine load, where you will be supervised by medical personnel while taking the medicine suspected of triggering a reaction. The method your allergist will use in the diagnosis will be determined according to your symptoms and current situation.
