Allergies Drug & Latex Allergies Print Overview of the Most Common Drug Allergies By Daniel More, MD Daniel More, MD, is a board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist with a background in internal medicine. Learn about our editorial process Daniel More, MD Medically reviewed by a board-certified physician Updated on February 12, 2020 Allergies Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Coping Hero Images / Getty Images Reactions to medication are extremely common with 15 to 25 percent of all hospitalized patients experiencing an unintended reaction as a result of medications. However, true allergic reactions to medications only account for about 5 to 10 percent of all adverse drug reactions. People can experience allergic reactions to just about any medication. Most reactions are common and predictable, while others may be unpredictable and may occur only in certain people. Allergic Reactions to Medications True allergic reactions to medications typically follow certain features: The first time you took it there was no reaction.The reaction from the medication is different from expected side effects.The reaction is suggestive of allergy or anaphylaxis.The symptoms of the reaction disappear within a few days after you stop taking it. Symptoms of Allergic and Immunologic Reactions Skin rashes are the most common symptoms of adverse drug reactions. Urticaria and angioedema (hives and swelling) suggest an allergic cause, while blistering, peeling, and sunburn-like reactions suggest non-allergic immunologic causes. Other non-allergic immunologic symptoms can include: FeverKidney failureHepatitisBlood problems (such as anemia) Drug Allergy to Penicillin About 1 in every ten people report a history of an allergic reaction to penicillin, but less than 1 percent of the population actually are. A true allergy to penicillin could cause life-threatening anaphylaxis as a result. Drug Allergy to Cephalosporins Severe reactions to cephalosporins, a class of antibiotic, are much less common than with penicillins. However, there is a small chance if you have a true penicillin allergy you could also react to cephalosporins. Drug Allergy to NSAIDs Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Allergies to these medications can cause allergic and non-allergic bouts of hives and swelling, worsen asthma, and cause anaphylaxis. A Reaction to IV Contrast Dye The reaction to IV contrast dye is non-allergic but can result in anaphylaxis since the dye's high concentration can cause mast cells to release their contents, mimicking an allergic reaction. However, in most cases, you can take the dye safely by using oral steroids and antihistamines hours before the contrast is given. Drug Allergy to Local Anesthetics True allergic reactions to local anesthetics (novocaine, lidocaine) are extremely rare, and usually due to other ingredients in the medication, such as preservatives or epinephrine. Non-Allergic Reactions to Antiseizure Medications Many antiseizure medications used for epilepsy treatment cause non-allergic reactions as a result of certain enzyme deficiencies. Symptoms can include: RashFeverBody achesHepatitis Managing an Allergic Reaction If you think you are having an allergic reaction to a medication, you are taking discontinue the medication and call your doctor, or their on-call hotline, to see how you should proceed. If you took a medication and are now having difficulty breathing or any other symptoms that have you concerned, seek medical help immediately. For allergic reactions which cause rashes and hives, your doctor will likely recommend a topical steroid cream which you can purchase over the counter at your local pharmacy. He may also recommend non-prescription antihistamines should symptoms persist or cause discomfort. Reactions can get worse with continued use of a medication, so discontinue the offending medication unless your doctor suggests otherwise. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Khan DA, Solensky R. Drug allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010;125(2 Suppl 2):S126-37. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2009.10.028 Medications And Drug Allergic Reactions. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Frew A. General principles of investigating and managing drug allergy. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2011;71(5):642-6. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2011.03933.x Is It Really A Penicillin Allergy?. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Is It Possible To Be Allergic To Aspirin?. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. CT and X-ray Contrast Guidelines: Allergies and Premedication. University of California San Francisco Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging. Lee J, Lee JY, Kim HJ, Seo KS. Dental anesthesia for patients with allergic reactions to lidocaine: two case reports. J Dent Anesth Pain Med. 2016;16(3):209-212. doi:10.17245/jdapm.2016.16.3.209 Drug-induced liver injury. US National Library of Medicine. October 2018. Additional Reading Macy E. Drug Allergies: What to expect, what to do. J Respir Dis. 2006;27:463-471. Mellon MH, Schatz M, Patterson R. Drug Allergy. In: Lawlor GJ, Fischer TJ, Adelman DC, eds. Manual of Allergy and Immunology. 3rd ed. Boston: Little, Brown and Co:262-289.