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Drug Allergies and Rashes
Drug Allergies Are Serious and Need To Be Treated Right Away, Call Us Today!
Here for you locally in
Southern California:
Temecula, Hemet, Riverside, Corona, Menifee, Sun City,
Moreno Valley, Victorville, La Quinta, Palm Springs
Northern California:
Yuba City and Stockton
What is a Drug Allergy?
A drug allergy is a reaction you get from any drug, either prescribed or over the counter, which you take, and your body is allergic to it. Typically, this is because your body's immune system reacts to the drug by setting off an allergic reaction. Most drug allergies are mild. In those cases, the symptoms go away within a few days after you stop taking the medicine. Sometimes taking something like Benadryl can help you overcome the allergic reaction to that medicine more quicker. There are also drug allergies that are serious and dangerous to you if not quickly taken care of.
Most drug allergies go away with time. One thing to keep in mind is that once you have an allergic reaction to a drug, you will always be allergic to that drug. Now keep a look out because you may also be allergic to other drugs that are like that one you just were allergic to.
Drug allergies are one type of harmful drug reaction, but there are other types of adverse drug reactions. Symptoms and treatments to adverse reactions will vary. Here at Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Specialists, we take drug allergies very seriously, we will want to find out if you have a true drug allergy or if you are dealing with a bad reaction that isn't as serious.
What are the symptoms of a Drug Allergy?
The symptoms of a drug allergy can range from mild to serious. Most of the time they appear within 1 to 72 hours and can include:
- Hives or Welts, a rash or blisters, this is the most typical type of reaction to a drug allergy.
- Coughing, wheezing, a runny nose, and trouble breathing.
- A fever.
- Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis is a serious skin condition that makes your skin blister and peel, it can be deadly if it is not treated immediately.
- Anaphylaxis is the most dangerous reaction you can have. It can be deadly, and you will need emergency treatment. Without emergency care, you could die! The symptoms will include hives and trouble breathing and usually appear within 1 hour after you take the medicine.
What medicines commonly cause an allergic reaction?
Any medicine can cause an allergic reaction, what we treat most for allergic reactions include:
- Penicillin (such as ampicillin or amoxicillin)
- Sulfa medicines
- Barbiturates
- Insulin
- Vaccines
- Anticonvulsants
- Medicines for hyperthyroidism.
How is a drug allergy diagnosed?
If you believe you are having a serious allergic reaction to a drug or medicine, go straight to the emergency room or call 911.
If you are not sure and get a skin reaction like hives after you take a drug or medicine, Call Us! We will get you an appointment with one of our dermatology specialists and do a thorough exam to start to diagnose the allergy.
During that exam, we will ask you some simple questions about the medicines you now take and have taken in the past and we will also ask about your past health and your symptoms.
We may also schedule a skin test if the allergy does not quickly become evident.
