- It is possible to have an allergic reaction to certain medications and/or drugs
- Penicillin allergy is the most commonly reported medication allergy
- Up to 10% of all people and 15% of hospitalized patients report an allergy to penicillin
- When evaluated, around 90% of these people are found not to be allergic and are able to safely receive penicillin antibiotics
- Knowing which medications you can safely take allows you to take the best medication for you with the least side effects
- Many patients who are incorrectly labeled with penicillin allergy are treated with less effective antibiotics with more side effects, have longer hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs
- If you have a history of penicillin allergy, we can help you determine if you are still allergic!
Did you know?
- Studies show that of the 10% of people with reported penicillin allergy that do test positive, about 50% will lose their allergy after 5 years and more than 80% lost their allergy after 10 years
- Therefore, all people with a history of penicillin allergy should be evaluated by an allergist to determine if they are still allergic
- There is a safe and effective skin test that we offer to help determine if a person is still allergic to penicillin.
How we help:
- We perform a thorough history and physical exam
- We perform a detailed review of prior reactions and implicated medications, drugs, or supplements
- We perform allergy testing and drug challenge if indicated
- We provide information regarding your drug allergies, qualify the type of drug allergy, and if needed, offer an alternative medication for your future use.
