Causes of Drug Allergy

Causes of Drug Allergy

An allergic reaction is caused by the body’s immune system overreacting to the drug, which is viewed as a chemical “invader,” or antigen. This overreaction is often called a hypersensitivity reaction.

    * The body produces antibodies to the antigen and stores the antibodies on special cells.
          o The antibody in an allergic reaction is called immunoglobulin E, or IgE.
          o When the body is exposed to the drug again, the antibodies signal the cells to release chemicals called “mediators.” Histamine is an example of a mediator.
          o The effects of these mediators on organs and other cells cause the symptoms of the reaction.
    * The most common triggers of drug allergies are the following:
          o Painkillers (called analgesics) such as codeine, morphine, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or indomethacin), and aspirin
          o Antibiotics such as penicillin, sulfa drugs, and tetracycline
          o Antiseizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or carbamazepine (Tegretol)
    * Risk factors for drug allergies include the following:
          o Frequent exposure to the drug
          o Large doses of the drug
          o Drug given by injection rather than pill
          o Family tendency to develop allergies and asthma
          o Certain food allergies such as to eggs, soybeans, or shellfish

What is Drug Allergy – Overview

What is Drug Allergy – Overview

Allergic reaction is an uncommon and unwanted side effect of medication.

Several different types of allergic reactions to medications can occur. Reactions to drugs range from a mild localized rash to serious effects on vital systems. The body’s response can affect many organ systems, but the skin is the organ most frequently involved.

It is important to recognize the symptoms of a drug allergy, because they can be life-threatening. Death from an allergic reaction to a medication is extremely rare, however.

An allergic reaction does not often happen the first time you take a medication. A reaction is much more likely to occur the next time you take that medication. If you have a reaction the first time, you probably were exposed to the medication before without being aware of it.

Not all adverse reactions to drugs are allergies. In fact, fewer than 10% of adverse drug reactions are allergic. Other causes of adverse reactions are interactions between two or more drugs, inability to break the drug down completely in the body (as occurs with liver or kidney damage), overdose, and irritating side effects such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. If you have experienced a nonallergic drug reaction, it is important to describe it as such to medical personnel-not as an allergy. If you don’t know just describe the reaction the best way that you can.

Drug Allergies – Sing and Symptoms

Drug Allergies – Sing and Symptoms

Drug allergies may cause many different types of symptoms depending on the drug and the degree of exposure to the drug (how often you have taken it).

Symptoms of drug allergies can be mild or life-threatening and appear within 1 to 72 hours. They include:

    * Hives or welts, rash, blisters, or eczema. These are the most common symptoms of drug allergies. See a picture of skin reactions caused by drug allergies.

    * Coughing, wheezing, runny nose, and difficulty breathing.

    * Fever.

    * Toxic epidermal necrolysis, which is a serious life-threatening condition that involves blistering, and peeling of the skin.

    * Anaphylaxis, which is the most serious reaction. It is life-threatening, and you will need emergency treatment. Symptoms usually appear within 1 hour after you take the medicine and include hives, difficulty breathing, and shock.

A drug allergy can also affect the liver, kidneys, and lymph system. However, you usually do not have any symptoms in this case.

Medicines may also cause:

    * Serum sickness. This rare condition usually begins 6 to 21 days after you take the offending medicine. Symptoms include fever, weakness and body aches, joint pain, and skin eruptions, such as hives or a rash.

    * Medicine fever. Symptoms include high fever and chills and sometimes a skin rash. When you stop taking the medicine, the fever usually drops within 48 to 72 hours.

    * Autoimmune disorders. Drug allergies can cause several autoimmune disorders, such as drug-induced lupus, vasculitis, andmyasthenia gravis, although these are rare. See more information on medicines and lupus.

    * Destruction of platelets and red blood cells, resulting in thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia, respectively. Symptoms of thrombocytopenia include bruising easily, red spots around the feet and ankles, and nosebleeds. Symptoms of hemolytic anemia include fever, chills, shortness of breath, and a rapid heart rate.

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