Drug Allergies Common Symptoms and Causes
Definition of Drug Allergies:
Drug allergies are well-known disorders that affect the immune system. When you take a drug there is the possibility that your body will see it as a harmful substance and attempt to reject it. This is not a normal reaction or one that is a side effect to the drug being administered. Once you have had an allergic reaction to a drug it is likely that you will always be allergic to that drug and any other drug in that drug family. Very occasionally the allergy reverses itself.
A drug allergy should not be confused with an intolerance to a drug; a known side effect of a drug; or a reaction caused by drugs interacting adversely with each other.
It is also possible that if you have an allergic reaction to a drug that it is not the drug itself that your immune system is reacting to but one of the other ingredients contained in the medication, for example a dye in a tablet. It is important that if you do have an allergic reaction to a drug that your doctor determines the root cause which can be identified by tests being carried out. In most cases it is found that the drug caused the allergic reaction.
Causes of Drug Allergies:
As with food allergies scientist have not discovered why some people suddenly become allergic to a particular substance. With some drug allergies there seems to be a link between cumulative exposures to the drug over a period of time but with others there are not.
There has also been a weak link discovered where there is a distinct family connection to the allergy i.e. a grandmother, mother and granddaughter all being allergic to the same drug. This would appear to be genetic but there are not enough instances of it to investigate further.
What is known is that drug allergies tend to get worse so if you have a mild allergic reaction to a drug, say a rash, then you are pre-disposed to having a more severe reaction in the future which is why it is so important to notify you doctor of any symptoms that occur after taking prescribed and over the counter drugs.
It has also now been shown that drug allergies to drugs like penciling can reverse over time so it can be worth being tested at the time of the reaction and then be tested again in the future if the drug needs to be administered.
Symptoms of Drug Allergies:
Drug allergies have a wide variety of symptoms from mild irritations through to life threatening system wide symptoms. Most of the drugs can cause any of the reactions. It seems to be the person’s reaction to the drug rather than the drug itself which determines the reaction. Here are some of the more common symptoms in their order of seriousness, mild to life threatening:
• Hives, rashes, blisters.
• Coughing, wheezing, a runny nose, and trouble breathing.
• Stomach pains, cramps.
• Fever.
• Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis – a skin condition that makes your skin blister and peel. This can be fatal.
• Anaphylaxis leading to Anaphylactic Shock
This is a deadly reaction to a drug and can occur anywhere up to an hour after administration of the drug. It usually affects more than one bodily system so there will be symptoms of hives, trouble breathing and possibly swelling. Emergency help should always be sought if these symptoms present as they are fatal if not treated immediately.
FAQ:
What are common Drug Allergies?
The drugs that most commonly cause allergic reactions in people are:
• Penicillin
• Sulfa Antibiotics
• Tetracycline
• Codeine
• NSAIDS Aspirin and Ibuprofen
• Barbiturates
Resources and Organization:
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/tc/drug-allergies-topic-overview
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000819.htm
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