When you visit a doctor to get tested and receive treatments, you will almost always be asked, “Do you have any drug allergies?” This question is essential to ensure you will receive a safe and effective care. Knowing your history of drug allergies helps your doctor to choose medications that will not cause an allergic reaction.

What Is a Drug Allergy?

A drug allergy is an allergic response to a particular medication. The immune system that have the roles in protecting you from infection and disease can misidentify the drug as a harmful invader and reacts against it. As a result, after taking certain medicines, you may develop allergic reactions such as rashes, fever, or difficulty breathing.

Not everyone develops a drug allergy; it is uncommon, but you should still be cautious because the effects can vary widely.

Common Symptoms of Drug Allergies

Drug allergies often appear within an hour of taking a medication. Reactions can persist for hours, days, or even weeks. Drug allergy symptoms and signs of drug allergy that may appear include:

• Skin rash

• Hives

• Fever

• Swelling in certain areas, such as the eyes and lips

• Shortness of breath

• Runny nose

• Itchy and watery eyes

Anaphylactic Allergic Reactions

Life-threatening reactions (anaphylaxis) after taking medications are uncommon, but you should remain vigilant for the following symptoms after using certain drugs:

• Narrowing of the airways that leads to difficulty breathing

• Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps

• Dizziness and lightheadedness

• Weak and irregular heartbeat

• Decreased blood pressure

• Seizures

• Loss of consciousness

Types of Medications That Can Cause Allergic Reactions

Although any medication can potentially cause an allergic reaction, drugs that cause allergies are most often reported in the following groups:

• Antibiotics such as amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin, tetracycline, and others

• NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen

• Aspirin

• Chemotherapy drugs

• Monoclonal antibody therapy

• HIV medications

• Insulin

• Anticonvulsant drugs

Other medicines may also provoke allergic reactions if they are used contrary to directions or prescription, applied to the skin, or taken in amounts exceeding the recommended dose.

What Should You Do If You Experience an Allergic Reaction After Taking Medication?

• Even seemingly mild reactions, such as a red rash, a runny nose, or swollen eyes should not be ignored. Carefully note and remember the medication names that triggered these allergic reactions.
• Tell your doctor about your history and the drugs that cause your allergic reactions at every visit. You may also consider wearing a medical ID necklace or bracelet that alerts others to your medication risks in an emergency.
• Ask your doctor which medications you should avoid if you are allergic to a specific drug, and which other drug alternatives you can take to prevent another reaction.
• Do not take the same medication again if you have a known allergy to it. Your doctor needs to know this and should switch you to a medicine that does not provoke an allergic response.

If you develop an allergic reaction after taking a specific medication, return to your doctor and discuss what happened. Your doctor may prescribe medicines to ease the reaction, such as antihistamines for allergy symptoms, corticosteroids to reduce swelling or airway narrowing due to an allergic response, or bronchodilators to relieve wheezing and breathing difficulties.

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