Question 1

How can i tell if i have hives or a drug allergy?

Accepted Answer

hives can occur as part of an allergy syndrome.  people with chronic hives or who have an inborn low threshold for hives have difficulty differentiating simple hives from drug allergy.  If the drug reaction is IgE-mediated, or occurs via a similar pathway without IgE, then one would expect additional symptoms other than hives (breathing problem, dizzy, nausea, swelling, headache, etc)

Question 2

Is there a blood test to determine drug allergies?

Accepted Answer

Depends on what you are looking for. No simple test. There are specific tests for certain things (penicillin).  There are a few tests done to determine if an individual can tolerate a certain med (G6PD). Mostly, though, it comes down to trial of a med and knowledge  of what to look for. For example if you get a cough with ACE inhib (lisinopril) your DR will change you to ARB (valsartan)

Question 3

Can my unborn child be harmed if i have a drug allergy?

Accepted Answer

Having a drug allergy is only a problem if you are exposed to the  drug. If there is a severe drug allergy during pregnancy there is a potential for a problem. Avoid the drug to which you are allergic.

Question 4

My mom said i was allergic to sulfa drugs as a child, so could i have outgrown this allergy 20 years later?

Accepted Answer

Allergy to sulfa drugs are not known to be commonly outgrown, however it is possible through mechanisms of immune tolerance. According to the reaction in childhood, your doctor might design the appropriate test that has the least risk of a severe reaction.

Question 5

What r chances an adult w/no known food allergies will develp one? does having drug allergies increase a person's chances?

Accepted Answer

It is possible for a person to develop a food or medication allergy at any time in their life. Drug allergies do not usually correspond to food allergies or visa versa. There are some plant allergies that correspond to food allergies, however.

Question 6

Been on hydroxyzine for a month now with amazing results on both anxiety and allergies, is it safe to use this drug long term?

Accepted Answer

Hydroxyzine has very little usefulness for Anxiety in the long term.  It is primarily an allergy medicine.   It is usually prescribed for short term use--and not at all recommended for Anxiety, but it has a following of folks who use it.   Best to look into some therapy and working on your anxiety rather than relying on a phenothiazine and anti-histamine for your issues. Best to solve your issues.

Question 7

Can someone be allergic to juvederm injections? my lips have gotten thin, and i want to have them plumped up with juvederm. i'm worried that i will have a bad reaction to this drug because i have a lot of allergies to different medications. should i be co

Accepted Answer

It is possible to be allergic to almost anything...Especially depending on your definition of allergy.

Medically speaking, an allergy is a type of hypersensitivity disorder caused by the immune system. When a person's immune system over-reacts to a normally harmless substance in the environment, we call that an allergy. This over-reaction can bring on an inflammatory response which can range from uncomfortable to dangerous.

The main substance in juvederm is hyaluronic acid - a naturally occuring part of the extracellular matrix.  This is the scaffolding that surrounds all the cells in your body.  Thus, one would not expect an allergic reaction to this product.  With many topical medications (drops for example) the patient thinks that they are reacting to the medication when in reality they are reacting to the preservative in the drop or the carrier molecule.

Sometimes a patient will get a shot and have pain at the site or swelling or bruising and will tell me that they "must be allergic" to the medication.  Although this reaction is not wanted, it is not a true allergy and can happen even with injection of saline solution.

When in doubt...Skip it.

Hope that helps.

Question 8

What's a drug allergy like?

Accepted Answer

There are 4 different types of medication allergy and also there are side effect reactions. Type 1- allergic type. Hives, itching, sneezing,  wheezing and shock are different forms of this allergy.Type 2-complement related angioedema, swelling type 3 is immune complexes. That is clumps of antibodies with the drug which clog small capilaries in kidneys, joints, skin 
type 4 is cell-contact dernatiti.

Question 9

What are symptoms of a real drug allergy?

Accepted Answer

The most common allergic reaction to a drug is a rash.  In severe cases this is accompanied by breathing trouble and could even be life-threatening anaphylaxis.  Stomach upset is a common side effect and is not likely to be a true allergy.  However, it is still important to let your doctor know this.

Question 10

How do i overcome a drug allergy?

Accepted Answer

Medication reactions can be tricky as the type of reaction can be intolerance vs allergic.  Avoidance is the best treatment for a drug allergy and using a suitable alternative.  In a life threatening circumstance, desensitization by an allergist in the hospital is an option.  Sometimes drug allergy can resolve over time such as penicillin.  An allergist can assist in a good long term plan.

D4t allergy drugs

How can i tell if i have hives or a drug allergy?

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Is there a blood test to determine drug allergies?

Can my unborn child be harmed if i have a drug allergy?

My mom said i was allergic to sulfa drugs as a child, so could i have outgrown this allergy 20 years later?

What r chances an adult w/no known food allergies will develp one? does having drug allergies increase a person's chances?

Been on hydroxyzine for a month now with amazing results on both anxiety and allergies, is it safe to use this drug long term?

Can someone be allergic to juvederm injections? my lips have gotten thin, and i want to have them plumped up with juvederm. i'm worried that i will have a bad reaction to this drug because i have a lot of allergies to different medications. should i be co

What's a drug allergy like?

What are symptoms of a real drug allergy?

How do i overcome a drug allergy?

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