Drug Allergy Test & Treatment in Melbourne

When the immune system becomes hypersensitive to a harmless component of a drug, it triggers the release of certain chemicals that initiate inflammation and other reactions. Common drug allergies include:

• Antibiotics like penicillin and those that include sulfonamides
• Anticonvulsants, such as carbamazepine and phenytoin
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications, such as ibuprofen and aspirin
• Monoclonal antibody therapy

Drug Allergy Versus Adverse Drug Reaction

Drug Allergy Symptoms

Drug allergy symptoms include skin rash, itching, swelling, and respiratory issues. Only 5 to 10 % of drug reactions are caused by a drug allergy. Some drug allergy symptoms may be mild at first but can quickly progress to fatal anaphylactic shock requiring immediate medical attention.

Drug Allergy Test

A drug allergy test can help determine if you have allergies to a specific drug. Drug allergies can be difficult to diagnose because their symptoms may mimic those of other medical conditions. While most drug allergy symptoms will appear between 1 to 2 hours after drug ingestion, some drug allergies are severely delayed in their presentation. If you suspect you have a drug allergy, your allergist will obtain a detailed medical history from you and will want to know the details of your drug reaction. There are various drug allergy tests that your allergist may recommend, like a skin test, blood test, or oral drug challenge–where you take the drug or medicine under medical supervision–to identify the specific drug allergy.

Penicillin Allergy Testing

Drug Allergy Treatment & Management

Drug allergy treatment options depend on the severity of the drug allergy reaction. For severe drug allergy reactions, an epinephrine injection may be required while a mild reaction may be resolved with antihistamines or corticosteroids.

The best way for drug allergy management is to simply avoid the drug you are allergic to to prevent an allergic reaction. During a serious allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis, an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) is used to treat the drug allergy. Make sure to inform your health care providers of your specific drug allergies so that they do not prescribe you those medications. It may be a good idea to wear a medical alert bracelet or carry a card in your wallet with your drug allergies listed on it.