What is Drug Allergy
Drug allergy is when your body reacts in a bad way to a medicine. This can be life-threatening. If you have an allergic reaction, get help right away, even if the reaction seems gentle (mild).
Your doctor may teach you how to use an allergy kit (anaphylaxis kit) and how to give yourself an allergy shot (epinephrine injection). You can give yourself an allergy shot with what is commonly called an auto-injector “pen.”
Symptoms of a Gentle Reaction
- A stuffy nose (nasal congestion).
- Tingling in your mouth.
- An itchy, red rash.
Symptoms of a Very Bad Reaction
- Swelling of your eyes, lips, face, or tongue.
- Swelling of the back of your mouth and your throat.
- Breathing loudly (wheezing).
- A hoarse voice.
- Itchy, red, swollen areas of skin (hives).
- Dizziness or light-headedness.
- Passing out (fainting).
- Feeling worried or nervous (anxiety).
- Feeling confused.
- Pain in your belly (abdomen).
- Trouble with breathing, talking, or swallowing.
- A tight feeling in your chest.
- Fast or uneven heartbeats (palpitations).
- Throwing up (vomiting).
- Watery poop (diarrhea).
Follow these instructions at home:
If You Have a Very Bad Allergy:
- Always keep an auto-injector pen or your allergy kit with you. These could save your life. Use them as told by your doctor.
- Make
sure that you, the people who live with you, and your employer know:
- How to use your allergy kit.
- How to use an auto-injector pen to give you an allergy shot.
- If
you used your auto-injector pen:
- Get more medicine for it right away. This is important in case you have another reaction.
- Get help right away.
- Wear a bracelet or necklace that says you have an allergy, if your doctor tells you to do this.
General instructions
- Avoid medicines that you are allergic to.
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
- Do notdrive until your doctor says it is safe.
- If
you have itchy, red, swollen areas of skin or a rash:
- Use over-the-counter medicine (antihistamine) as told by your doctor.
- Put cold, wet cloths (cold compresses) on your skin.
- Take baths or showers in cool water. Avoid hot water.
- If you had tests done, it is your responsibility to get your test results. Ask your doctor when your results will be ready.
- Tell any doctors who care for you that you have a drug allergy.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.
Contact a doctor if:
- You
start to have any of these:
- A stuffy nose.
- Tingling in your mouth.
- An itchy, red rash.
- You have symptoms that last more than 2 days after your reaction.
- Your symptoms get worse.
- You get new symptoms.
Get help right away if:
- You had to use your auto-injector pen. You must go to the emergency room even if the medicine seems to be working.
- You
have any of these:
- Swelling in your eyes, lips, face, or tongue.
- Swelling in the back of your mouth or your throat.
- Loud breathing.
- A hoarse voice.
- Itchy, red, swollen areas of skin.
- Trouble with breathing, talking, or swallowing.
- A tight feeling in your chest.
- A fast heartbeat.
- You have throwing up that gets very bad.
- You have watery poop that gets very bad.
- You feel dizzy or light-headed.
- You pass out.
These symptoms may be an emergency. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Use your auto-injector pen or allergy kit as you have been told. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency services. Do not drive yourself to the hospital.
