Drug Allergy Testing in St. Louis, Missouri

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.

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