Medication Allergy? We Can Help
Drug Allergy Testing in St. Louis, Missouri
Drug allergy testing & treatment in St. Louis is offered by Dr. Sonia Cajigal, a board-certified allergist in St. Louis. Visit us at St. Louis Family Allergy to get tested for common medication allergies like: penicillin allergy, ibuprofen allergy, and other drug allergies. Contact us to schedule your appointment!
“Dr. Cajigal was friendly, professional, and informative. She took the time to explain the tests and what was going on with my allergies. She is so knowledgeable and really cared about how I was feeling. I would highly recommend this practice if you suffer from allergies and asthma.”
– Sue D, July 2020
About Drug Allergies
A drug allergy reaction occurs when the immune system reacts in an unplanned way to a substance in a drug that triggers an allergic reaction. Everyone responds differently to medications, and while drug side effects are very common, only 5% to 10% of drug reactions are caused by an allergy. Many individuals come to believe that they have a drug allergy and are even diagnosed with a drug allergy by their primary care physician or another healthcare provider without ever receiving proper drug allergy testing from an allergist. This is especially common in children. If you suspect that you might be allergic to a medication that’s been prescribed by your doctor, or if you’ve been avoiding certain medications because of a suspected lifelong allergy, we strongly recommend that you get a drug allergy test.
Common medication allergies include:
- Antibiotics, such as penicillin
- Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen
- Anticonvulsants
- Monoclonal antibody therapy
- Chemotherapy
in St. Louis, Missouri
Drug Allergy Symptoms
Common Drug Allergy Symptoms
- Skin rashes
- Hives
- Itching
- Respiratory problems
- Swelling
Severe Drug Allergy Symptoms
- Throat tightening or a lump in the throat
- Wheezing, chest tightness, or trouble breathing
- Hoarseness
- Tingling in the lips, hands, feet, or scalp
If you or your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately or go to the nearest emergency department.
in St. Louis, Missouri
Drug Allergy Testing in St. Louis
The first step to navigating drug allergies is to receive a proper diagnosis from an allergist. Dr. Cajigal will help you determine if you’re allergic to a certain drug using a combination of your medical history and the medication allergy testing methods below.
Skin Test for Drug Allergies
Dr. Cajigal may suggest a skin-prick drug allergy test, where small volumes of a suspected drug allergen (and controls) are placed on your skin and pricked with a sterile needle. Skin patch testing can also help identify delayed but positive allergic reactions to allergens such as neomycin antibiotic or corticosteroids.
Oral Drug Challenge
An oral drug challenge involves taking a small amount of the suspected drug allergen in a supervised, medical setting. This can help confirm a drug allergy or verify that you don’t have one.
in St. Louis, Missouri
Drug Allergy Treatment in St. Louis
Confirm Your Diagnosis!
The first step to receiving drug allergy treatment, is to receive a proper diagnosis. Once diagnosed, Dr. Cajigal can help you identify alternative medications that you’re not allergic to.
Communicate With Your Healthcare Providers
Medications for Allergic Drug Reactions
Desensitization
We hope you’ve found this information helpful. Get in touch with us at St. Louis Family Allergy to learn more about drug allergies and how to most effectively manage them! We’re looking forward to your visit.
References
[2] Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: https://www.aafa.org/
Asthma
Drug Allergies
Eye Allergies
Food Allergies
Nasal Allergies
Skin Allergies
Allergy Shots
Allergy Testing
Biologic Therapy
Drug Allergy Specialist
Dr. Sonia Cajigal
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