Drug Allergy Information You Should Know!

Drug allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to a drug used. This reaction occurs because the immune system perceives the substance in the drug as a substance that can harm the body.

Drug allergies can cause a variety of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe symptoms. Therefore, you need to know how to deal with the right drug allergy so that the symptoms that appear can be resolved immediately and you avoid conditions that can be fatal, such as anaphylactic shock.

Causes of Drug Allergies

Drug allergy is caused by an overreaction of the immune system due to consumption or use of drugs. When the immune system detects the incoming drug and considers it dangerous, it will appear specific antibodies for that drug.

Specific antibodies will then secrete a compound called histamine. Histamine is what causes complaints and symptoms of drug allergy.

A drug allergy is not the same as a sensitivity to a drug. Although it can cause similar symptoms, sensitivity to drugs does not involve the role of the immune system as occurs in drug allergies.

Drug Allergy Symptoms

Symptoms and signs of drug allergy can appear 1 hour or a few days after taking the drug. Complaints that arise can be:

• Rashes or bumps on the skin
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, and face (angioedema)
• Wheezing or wheezing when breathing sounds like a whistle
• Hard to breathe
• Fever
• Itchy skin
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Runny and stuffy nose

Drug allergy risk factors

Not everyone will experience an allergic reaction to medication. There are allegations, a person is more at risk of developing drug allergies if he has a number of the following factors:

• Using certain drugs repeatedly, in the long term, or in high doses
• Suffering from diseases that are often associated with allergic reactions, such as HIV infection and the Epstein Barr virus
• Suffering from other types of allergies, such as allergic rhinitis or food allergies
• Have family members who are allergic to certain drugs

Drug Allergy Diagnosis

The doctor will ask and answer questions about the complaints experienced by the patient, the drugs used, the history of allergies, and the patient’s medical history. Next, the doctor will perform a physical examination.

If needed, the doctor will conduct a supporting examination to find out more specifically the type of material that causes an allergic drug reaction in the patient. These inspections can be in the form of:

Skin test (skin test)

Skin testing for allergies uses a sample of the drug suspected of triggering an allergic reaction. Substances in the drug will be exposed to the skin by means of affixed or through a needle puncture. Patients tested positive for allergies when the skin is red, itchy, or a rash appears.

Blood test

This test aims to rule out the possibility of other conditions that could potentially cause the patient’s symptoms.

Drug Allergy Treatment

The goal of drug allergy treatment is to treat and relieve the symptoms experienced by the patient. Sometimes, the allergic reaction will go away on its own when the drug is stopped, but there are also those who need medication to relieve the allergic reaction.

Below are some medicines that can be used to treat allergic drug reactions:

• Oral or injectable corticosteroid drugs, to treat allergic reactions
• Epinephrine injection, to treat anaphylaxis
• In patients who experience anaphylaxis, intensive care in a hospital needs to be given immediately.
• Antihistamine class of drugs, to inhibit the production of histamine so that complaints and symptoms can subside
• Bronchodilators, such as albuterol, to reduce symptoms of coughing or wheezing

If the type of drug that triggers the allergy has been determined, the doctor will perform a desensitization procedure, by giving the allergy triggering drug in small doses while monitoring the appearance of symptoms. The dose will be increased every few minutes, hours, or days until you reach the required dose.

Drug Allergy Prevention

The main step to prevent drug allergies is to avoid drugs that trigger allergies, for example by:

• Wearing a bracelet or necklace that indicates you are allergic to certain drugs as information to others if you are unconscious
• Tell your doctor or medical personnel that you are allergic to certain types of drugs, before undergoing treatment or medical action
• Read over-the-counter drug labels carefully

When you have an allergic reaction to a drug, try not to panic and stop taking all the medicines you are taking immediately. If the symptoms that appear do not improve, immediately see a doctor so that treatment can be done quickly and appropriately.

Related posts:

Allergies: Causes, Symptoms, Types & Treatments 3 Allergies Can Cause Shortness of Breath Dust Allergy: 5 Tips for Safe Exercise Food Allergy: 4 Most Common Trigger Food Ingredients What are The Most Common Types of Fractures