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

Drug Allergy Testing by Dr. Sonia Cajigal of St. Louis Family Allergy in St. Louis, Missouri
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About Drug Allergies

Drug Allergies Overview
Drug Allergy Symptoms
Drug Allergy Testing
Drug Allergy Treatment

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
Drug Allergy Testing

in St. Louis, Missouri

Medications that cause drug allergies

Drug Allergy Symptoms

A drug reaction typically occurs within an hour of taking the medication, but symptoms may also appear hours, days, or weeks later as the dose builds up.

Common Drug Allergy Symptoms

Common symptoms of a drug allergy reaction include:

  • Skin rashes
  • Hives
  • Itching
  • Respiratory problems
  • Swelling

Severe Drug Allergy Symptoms

Common symptoms of a drug allergy reaction include:

  • 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.

Drug Allergy Testing

in St. Louis, Missouri

Woman with itchy rash caused by drug allergy

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.

Drug Allergy Testing

in St. Louis, Missouri

Blood test for drug allergies

Drug Allergy Treatment in St. Louis

There are steps you can take to minimize exposure to drugs that you’re allergic to.

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

After your drug allergy has been confirmed by an allergist, it’s important that you communicate with your healthcare providers and ensure that your allergies are on record. Drugs that carry common allergens are prescribed often in routine medical care, including for pain relief, emergency care, and surgery, so every healthcare provider that you interact with needs to know that you require alternative medications.

Medications for Allergic Drug Reactions

Antihistamines, corticosteroids, and epinephrine may be prescribed in response to a serious drug allergy reaction.

Desensitization

If no alternative medication is available, the medication that you’re allergic to may be introduced in small doses until the therapeutic dose is achieved. This is called a desensitization procedure.

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

[1] American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: https://acaai.org/
[2] Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: https://www.aafa.org/
More Specialties

Asthma

Drug Allergies

Eye Allergies

Food Allergies

Nasal Allergies

Skin Allergies

Allergy Shots

Allergy Testing

Biologic Therapy

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Drug Allergy Specialist
Dr. Sonia Cajigal

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St. Louis Family Allergy Google review score badge
"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

“Dr Cajigal is a great listener. She trusts her patients instead of treating them as if they are not the experts of their own bodies. I really appreciate that (many doctors do not have that quality). She also immediately treats the symptoms instead of waiting to see if things clear. I use her for my children and myself. We have never left her office feeling as if it was a waste of time.”

– Stephanie, August 2020

"Great Allergist!"

- Ann H, December 2018

"She is the best."

- Stephen W, June 2020

Schedule Your Visit

We are currently accepting new adult and pediatric patients at St. Louis Family Allergy!

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