Most of the time, people can take medication without having allergic reactions. In fact, having a drug allergy is considerably rare. Only 5-10% of all adverse reactions are actually allergic reactions to drugs. However, allergic reactions can happen when the body’s special proteins end up attacking the ingested drug, which these proteins interpret to be an invader.
What If I’m Allergic?
If you know that you are allergic to a medication, you should report this immediately to your doctor. During an initial appointment with any doctor, you should make them well aware of your allergies as well as the medications you currently take since some new medications can negatively interact with current meds.
An allergist can test you for allergies to various substances by doing skin or blood tests. If you are concerned about a new med or med that will be injected during a procedure, you should check with a doctor to rule out any allergies.
What Precautions Should My Doctor Be Taking?
Doctors should have your medical history, including all known allergies, on file. OF course, many patients aren’t aware of the full extent of their drug allergies, so it is important that a doctor discloses to their patient what the drug is they’re prescribing and whether it has known side-effects or might cause an allergic reaction.
What If I Have an Allergic Reaction?
An allergy reaction can occur hours or even up to a few weeks after taking a medication. While drug allergies aren’t always dangerous, anaphylactic shock can be fatal, especially if it goes untreated. If you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor immediately and seek proper medical attention if needed.
If your doctor has prescribed you medications that resulted in a severe allergic reaction, there are some legal steps you can take depending on where you live. For example, those living in Cleveland can contact an Ohio malpractice lawyer, such as Novak LLP. Having a Cleveland medical malpractice attorney working your case can help you prove that your doctor or other medical staff took shortcuts or made major oversights when prescribing your medication.
The best way to avoid an allergic reaction to a drug is to know your allergies as best you can. Demand information from your doctor when they mention prescribing a new medication. If you have a severe allergic reaction, you can contact a Cleveland medical malpractice attorney to get help with building your malpractice case.
