Many drugs can cause adverse side effects, and certain medicines can trigger
allergic reactions. In an allergic reaction, the immune system mistakenly
responds to a drug by creating an immune response against it. The immune system
recognizes the drug as a foreign substance and the body produces certain
chemicals, such as large amounts of histamine
in an attempt to expel the drug from the body.
What Are the Symptoms of Drug Allergy?
Symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening. Even in people who aren't
allergic, many drugs can cause irritation, such as an upset stomach. But during
an allergic reaction, the release of histamine can cause symptoms like hives,
skin rash, itchy skin or eyes, congestion, and swelling in the mouth and
throat.
A more severe reaction may include difficulty breathing, blueness of the
skin, dizziness, fainting, anxiety, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea, diarrhea,
and abdominal problems.
Which Drug Allergies Are Most Common?
The most common drug associated with allergies is penicillin. Other
antibiotics similar to penicillin can also trigger allergic reactions.
Other drugs commonly found to cause reactions include sulfa drugs,
barbiturates, anticonvulsants, insulin, and iodine (found in many X-ray
contrast dyes).
How Are Drug Allergies Diagnosed?
A doctor diagnoses a drug allergy by carefully reviewing your medical
history and symptoms. If your doctor suspects that you are allergic to an
antibiotic such as penicillin, he or she may do a skin test to confirm it.
However, skin testing does not work for all drugs, and in some cases it could
be dangerous. If you have had a severe, life-threatening reaction to a
particular drug, your doctor will simply rule out that drug as a treatment
option for you. Conducting an allergy test to determine if the initial reaction
was a "true" allergic response isn't worth the risk.
The word "rash" means an outbreak of red bumps on the body. The way people use this term, "a rash" can refer to many different skin conditions. The most common of these are scaly patches of skin and red, itchy bumps or patches all over the place.
Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension and fear characterized by physical symptoms. Anxiety disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect approximately 19 million American adults.
Hives, also called urticaria, is a raised, itchy area of skin that is usually a sign of an
allergic reaction. The allergy may be to food or medications, but usually the
cause of the allergy (the allergen) is unknown.
Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often precedes vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions. The causes of vomiting differ according to age, and treatment depends upon the cause of nausea and vomiting.
Fainting, also referred to as blacking out, syncope, or temporary loss of consciousness has many causes. Often a person will have signs or symptoms prior to the fainting episode. Diagnosis and treatment depends upon the cause of the fainting or syncope episode.
Itching can be a common problem. Itches can be localized or generalized. There are many causes of itching to include: infection (jock itch, vaginal itch), disease (hyperthyroidism, liver or kidney), reactions to drugs, and skin infestations (pubic or body lice). Treatment for itching varies depending on the cause of the itch.
An allergy refers to a misguided reaction by our immune system in response to bodily contact with certain foreign substances. When these allergens come in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to it. It is estimated that 50 million North Americans are affected by allergic conditions. The parts of the body that are prone to react to allergies include the eyes, nose, lungs, skin, and stomach. Common allergic disorders include hay fever, asthma, allergic eyes, allergic eczema, hives, and allergic shock.
Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that affects a number of different areas of the body at one time, and can be fatal. Causes of anaphylaxis can be food allergy, latex allergy, allergy to insect or but stings/bites, asthma, or other materials or conditions. Symptoms include flushing, itching, hives, anxiety, rapid or irregular pulse. Severe symptoms may be throat and tongue swelling, swallowing, and difficulty breathing. Some disorders appear similar to anaphylaxis such as fainting, panic attacks, blood clots in the lungs, heart attacks, and septic shock. If you think that you may be having an anaphylactic reaction, seek emergency care or call 911 immedately.
Fainting, "blacking out," or syncope is the temporary
loss of consciousness followed by the return to full wakefulness. This loss of
consciousness may be accompanied by loss of muscle tone that can result in falling or slumping over.
To better understand why fainting can occur; it is helpful to explain why
somebody is awake.
The brain has multiple parts, including two hemispheres, the cerebellum, and
the brain stem. The brain
requires blood flow to provide oxygen and glucose
(sugar) to its cells to sustain life. For the body to be awake, an area known as
the reticular activating system located in the brain stem needs to be turned on,
and at least one brain hemisphere needs to be functioning. For fainting or syncope to occur,
either the reticular activating system needs to lose its blood supply, or both
hemispheres of the brain need to be deprived of blood, oxygen, or glucose. If
blood sugar levels...
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