While any drug can cause an allergic reaction, let’s focus on the top 3 most common drug allergies:⁠⠀
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Penicillin allergies⁠⠀
Sulfa allergies⁠⠀
Opioid allergies⁠⠀
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When you realize a patient has an allergy to a medication you are about to prescribe, verify, or administer, always assess to see if the patient is TRULY allergic to the medication by:⁠⠀
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Asking what reaction they had to it⁠⠀
Determine if the reaction is a considered side effect/intolerance vs. a true allergy that is IgE mediated (anaphylaxis or angioedema) ⁠⠀
If it is a true allergy, replace the medication with an alternative drug⁠⠀
If using another agent that could potentially cross-react be sure to monitor the patient closely ⁠⠀
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Most often patients who report they have an allergy to one of these medications are truly not allergic to it but are often just intolerant to its side effects which can lead to costlier and less effective medications being used in its place. ⁠It’s important to assess the nature of the allergy and weigh the risks and benefits of using other alternatives.