Background
In general, adverse reactions to drugs are not uncommon, and almost any drug can cause an adverse reaction. The most common allergic reactions to drugs are those to the penicillins and related drugs. Drug allergies can cause severe symptoms including itching, hives (urticaria), airway obstruction (difficulty in breathing), fainting, and anaphylaxis.
Typically, a person won't have an allergic reaction to a drug the first time it is taken, but rather, after several times the immune system becomes sensitized, and produces immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to the drug. Once sensitized to a drug, you may develop a drug reaction to a related drug, even after taking it only a single time.
Incidence and Prevalence
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, true drug allergies – as opposed to nonallergic adverse reactions – account for fewer than 10% of all adverse reactions to medications. Skin reactions (such as itching) are the most common type of allergic drug reaction.
Cause and Risk Factors
True drug allergies occur when there is a reaction to a medication that consists of immune system hypersensitivity and an incorrect response to a substance that is harmless in most people. Once the body becomes sensitized (the immune system is triggered) to a drug, subsequent exposure causes an immune response, including the production of antibodies and release of histamine.
While most drug allergies merely cause minor irritations such as skin rashes and hives, other symptoms occasionally develop, and life-threatening acute allergic reactions involving the whole body (anaphylaxis) can occur. Serum sickness is a delayed type of drug allergy that occurs a week or more after exposure to a medication or vaccine.
Penicillin and related antibiotics are the most common cause of drug allergies. Other common allergy-causing drugs include sulfa drugs, anticonvulsants, insulin preparations (particularly animal sources of insulin), local anesthetics such as Novocain, and iodine (found in many x-ray contrast dyes).
List of Allergens
Acetyl Salicylic Acid
Acetylcysteine
ACTH
Allopurinol
Aluminum Chloride
Amalgam
Amaranth
Ambroxol
Aminobenzoic Acid
Aminoglycoside Mix
Ammonium Persulfate
Amoxicillin
Ampicillin
Articaine
Ascorbic Acid
Atropine Sulfate
Benzalkonium Chloride
Benzoic Acid
Bupivacaine
Carbamazepine
Cefalexin
Cefuroxime
Cephalosporin Mix
Chloromezanone
Chromium
Chymopapain
Ciprofloxacin
Clavulanic Acid
Clindamycin
Cloxacillin
Cobalt
Cochenille Red
Codeine
Cupric Chloride
Cyclamic Acid
Dexamethasone
Diazepam
Diclofenac
Digitoxin
Doxycycline
Erythromycin
Fluorescein
Formic Acid
Fosfomycin
Furosemide
Gentamicin
Glutamic Acid
Gold Chloride
Haemophilus infl.
Henna
Hyaluronan
Hydrochlorothiazide
Ibuprofen
Indomethacin
Insulin ( Human)
Insulin (Bovine)
Insulin (Pork)
Iodine (Sodium Iodide)
Isopropyl Alcohol (Isopropanol)
Isosorbid Dinitrate
Ketoprofen
Lactose
Lead Tetraacetate
Lecithin
Levothyroxine
Lidocaine
Lindane
Lisinopril
Macrolid Mix
Mepivacaine
Mercuric Chloride
Metamizole
Methacrylic Acid Ethoxy Ethyl
Methylene Blue
Methylparaben
Metronidazole
Molybdic Acid
Naproxen
Nickel Chloride
Nifedipine
Ofloxacin
Oxazepam
Palladium (2-Acetate)
Paracetamol/Acetaminophen
Penicillin G
Penicillin V
Pentachlorphenol (PCP)
Phenobarbital
Phenprocoumon
Phenylbutazone
Piroxicam
Platanic Chloride
Polylysine
Prednisolone
Prednisone
Procaine
Propionic Acid
Propylparaben
Propyphenazone
Pyrazolon Derivates
Quinoline Yellow
Rifampicin
Saccharose
Sodium Sulfite
Sorbic Acid
Spiramycin
Streptomycin
Sulfamethoxazole
Suxamethonium Chloride
Tannic Acid
Tartrazine
Tetanus
Tetracaine
Tetracycline
Theophylline
Thimerosal
Thiopental
Tin (-2-Chloride)
Toluene
Tomato Red
Trimethoprim
Turpentine
Verapamil
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B6
Xanthan Gum
Yellow Orange
Zinc Chloride
