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1-3% – this is the probability of causing an allergic reaction by most drugs. However, if we take a large amount of medicinal substances, it is easier to get unwanted drug reactions.
Virtually all drugs can cause allergic reactions. Most often, however, the responsibility for this lies with antibiotics (especially penicillins and cephalosporins), sulfonamides, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. aspirin), local anesthetics, vitamin B1, zoonotic sera, iodine and its preparations and disinfectants. Even those drugs that we use to suppress the allergic reaction, i.e. antihistamines (especially ethylenediamine derivatives) and steroids, can also cause allergy.
Who is catching more often?
Medicines administered topically to the skin, intravenously or intramuscularly, are more likely to sensitize than oral ones. This is especially true of antibiotics, antiallergic (antihistamines) and glucocorticosteroids. In addition, long-term administration or frequent repetition of the series of the same preparation promotes the occurrence of allergic reactions.
People with atopy are twice as likely to develop allergies. But not only that – people with renal and hepatic insufficiency are also at increased risk.
Remember the name of the drug
The occurrence of an allergic reaction to a specific medication is a signal that the situation may repeat, or even worsen, the next time you try to take the same medication. The immune mechanisms responsible for sensitization can survive for many years. Therefore, patients should write down the names of the medicines that have caused allergies and report them to their doctor.
Shock and fever
Allergy to the drug may be general or organ-specific. In systemic reactions, symptoms may occur rapidly or gradually increase.
Anaphylactic shock occurs within 15-30 minutes of ingesting the sensitizing substance. Peripheral blood vessels widen, lowering blood pressure and increasing heart rate. There is redness, itching and increasing urticaria on the skin. There is shortness of breath due to bronchospasm and swelling of the respiratory mucosa. In such a situation, the administration of adrenaline may save. It is also important to fill the vascular bed quickly by intravenous infusion, e.g. with saline. Shock may occur after penicillin injections, after X-ray contrast agents, pyralgin, pabalgin, dextran.
Drug fever occurs approximately 7 days after drug administration. It may be associated with enlarged lymph nodes, joint pain, and skin rash. It can be caused by antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, barbiturates and propranolol.
Paulina Szczęsnowicz-Dąbrowska, MD, PhD
Source: Domowe Kuracje, Let’s live longer,
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