Allergy testing for Drug Allergies?????

[PJ59]

Hi,My internist has recommended that I go see an allergy specialist for my allergies.I am having a problem with extreme sensitivity to all prescription & otc drugs that I have used recently from NSAIDS,antihistamines,lidocaine,& others.I have a slight hay fever problem & I know exactly what I am allergic to in that department.But how can I be tested for drug allergies? I haven't been able to find much info on this subject.Thanks in advance!

[rck213]

I just went the same route as you because there hasn't been a BP med I haven't reacted to. I have multiple drug allergies and sensitivities. In 1988 I was diagnosed with angioedema from drug reactions.
I managed to avoid all meds for many years but recently have developed osteoarthritis in the knee and my BP isn't staying controlled by diet and exercise plus vitamin supplements alone.

I went to a conventional allergist who told me there was no testing for drugs available except for Penicillin and at this time that isn't even possible due to a shortage of the extract used in this test.

He wasn't very sympathetic, questioning some of my claims to reactions even though they are well documented in my history. I have been through elimination diets and immunotherapy for inhaled allergens, I am an RN and have a very good understanding of my allergies.

I haven't been able to find much about multiple med reactions either other than reading an article in a general health magazine that there are people out there who seem to be "medication reactors" with mutiple medication reactions and sensitivities that sometimes are dose related.

I would like to have more info on this too, so if you find any please pass it on

[jhmitch]

Originally Posted by PJ59

My internist has recommended that I go see an allergy specialist for my allergies.I am having a problem with extreme sensitivity to all prescription & otc drugs that I have used recently from NSAIDS,antihistamines,lidocaine,& others...But how can I be tested for drug allergies? I haven't been able to find much info on this subject.Thanks in advance!

Hi PJ59!

That is a good question, and one I wish I could answer, as I also react to aspirin, NSAIDS, a number of antibiotics, and codeine.

According to the little I've read on the subject, there aren't a whole lot of tests available for specific drug allergies. Proteins like insulin, penicillin, and some products used in the health care field, can (supposedly) be tested by determining the presence of Ige antibodies, but my allergist said we'd probably have to go the route of eliminating certain medications, then reintroducing them (gradually) to see which one triggers a reaction.

Hopefully, when you go to an allergist, you two can work together on isolating what is causing your reactions.

What makes it a bit more difficult is that the reaction time for drug allergies can be anywhere from almost immediate to as long as two weeks after the drug was taken. Usually, drugs that have been taken for a number of weeks prior to the allergic reactions are less likely to be suspected of triggering a reaction - though some of them certainly do.

rck213 - I'm sorry your allergist was so questioning about the reality of your situation. No patient needs to be given that sort of attitude! I heard the same thing, too, when I was hospitalized a year ago: I was assured I wouldn't react to an injection of a new antibiotic (I did - while in surgery ).

Someone (on these boards) who has already been through this process probably knows a lot more about what can be done for medication allergies than I do and I hope there are additional answers to your question.

Wishing you some answers and relief to your drug reactions!

[junkyarddawg]

I also have this problem. no matter what i take from vitamins to antibiotics i have a reaction. so if anyone finds anything on this please let me know, i am at my whits end. i think my dr. thinks i am just nuts.

[PJ59]

Hi to all who responded! Has anyone had any experience with the brand new -
DNA Drug Reaction Profile Blood Testing by Genelex Labs? Think it was released approx 1 month ago. It's expensive but may be worth the cost if accurate. Not sure if I can post the site where I found it. Let me know if I can as am new to this and haven't gotten all the rules down yet! And thanks for all the input!!