Drug Allergy: Overview of symptoms, causes and more

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Drug Allergy
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Drug Allergy

• A drug allergy is an allergic reaction to a drug
  or medication. An allergic reaction means that
  your immune system identifies the drug as foreign
  and acts to eliminate it from your body. Your
  immune system responds to foreign substances in
  multiple ways, all of which lead to
  increased inflammation. These inflammatory
  responses may cause you to have symptoms such as
  rash, fever or breathing difficulties. Any
  medication is capable of inducing a drug allergy.
  However, a drug allergy is more likely with
  certain medications. It is not one of the common
  forms of allergies. A drug allergy is different
  from both drug side effects and drug toxicity.

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Causes of a drug allergy

• A drug allergy occurs when your immune system
  mistakenly identifies a drug as a harmful
  substance- a viral or bacterial infection.
  Although any drug can cause an allergic reaction,
  some drugs are more commonly associated with
  allergies including
• Antibiotics, such as penicillin
• Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Chemotherapy drugs for treating cancer
• Medications for autoimmune diseases, such
  as rheumatoid arthritis
• Corticosteroid creams or lotions
• Medications for people with HIV or AIDS
• Bee pollen products
• Echinacea

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Prevention of a drug allergy

• If you have a drug allergy, the best prevention
  is to avoid the problem drug. If your drug
  allergy has caused anaphylaxis or other severe
  reactions, you need to carry emergency
  epinephrine.

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Symptoms

• You may be suffering from a drug allergy if you
  depict the following signs and symptoms 
• Skin rash
• Hives
• Itching of skin or eyes
• Fever
• Facial swelling
• Joint aches or swelling
• Tender lymph nodes
• Shortness of breath

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Symptoms
Continue

• Anaphylaxis is a severe form of drug allergy and
  also a life-threatening condition, symptoms of
  which include 
• Tightening of the throat that causes breathing
  difficulty
• Extremely low blood pressure
• Weak, rapid pulse
• Swelling of the lips, mouth, or eyelids
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness

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Treatments

• If you have an allergic reaction to a drug, the
  first step is to stop taking that medication. You
  may also need additional medication to ease any
  uncomfortable symptoms. There are several
  medications available to treat drug allergies,
  such as 
• Antihistamines For mild symptoms such as a rash,
  hives, and itching, over-the-counter
  antihistamines can be effective. These drugs may
  cause drowsiness.
• Bronchodilator A bronchodilator can help when
  main symptoms include wheezing or coughing.
• Corticosteroids Corticosteroids can be taken by
  mouth, intravenous injection, or applied directly
  to the skin. They act more slowly than
  antihistamines, but last longer and can provide
  relief from some of the more serious symptoms of
  a drug allergy.
• Epinephrine In acute anaphylaxis cases,
  epinephrine should be taken by injection as soon
  as possible.

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