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When
the body's
immune system reacts adversely to medication, it can
exhibit an allergic (rejection) reaction. Any medication
can cause an allergic reaction. The reasons are individual,
varying from patient to patient. Such reactions may range
from mild to severe and life threatening.
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- Hives
- Skin rash
- Swelling of lips, gums, and tongue
- Tightness in the throat
- Stridor (wheezing/whistling) sound
in the neck
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing in the chest
- Circulatory collapse (very Low Blood Pressure)
- Late reactions may include fever,
joint pain/stiffness, and edema (swelling in the legs and
arms).
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- Often made from a history of
taking certain medications that cause symptoms described above
- Laboratory:
- Allergy testing -- skin "prick"
allergy testing
- Provocation testing -- direct
challenge of the potential allergic agent under controlled
conditions
- Bronchoprovocation testing -- an
aerosolized solution of the potential allergic medication is
given under controlled conditions. Lung function is
measured before and after.
- Oral challenge -- medicine is given
by mouth in a controlled
environment.
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- Rapid desensitization -- the individual is given minute doses of the very medications he is allergic to, followed by gradual increase to full strength over a period of hours. This has been especially effective in treating Penicillin and Insulin
allergies.
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- If one medication causes an allergic medication, other closely related medications are also likely to cause an allergic reaction. This is especially true with antibiotics. For example, patients who are allergic to the Penicillin family (e.g., Penicillin, Amoxicillin, Dicloxacillin) have up to a 10% chance of reacting to the Cephalosporin family of antibiotics (e.g. Keflex, Ceftin, Cefaclor).
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