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This national government website features information about drug reactions, symptoms and treatment.
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Soothing treatment for drug allergy skin reactions
Some prescription medicines can cause negative reactions, including rashes, that vary from medicine to medicine and person to person. These reactions range from mild to severe, and are relatively uncommon.
Certain classes of medicines (groups of medicines that are similar, but not exactly the same) are known to cause reactions in some people. Any medicine or medicine class can cause a drug rash, however reactions occur more often in the following:
Prescription drug reactions do not happen often, and when they do, the reaction often goes away soon after you stop taking the medication. Be sure to ask your physician about possible reactions before you take any prescription. Knowing what to watch for can help you respond quickly if you do have a rare, but potentially serious reaction.
Not all drug rashes need to be treated. Sometimes a rash may cause only mild discomfort and have no effect on internal organs. If the drug works well, you may choose to tolerate the rash as a minor side effect. In other cases the rash or other symptoms may be more noticeable, and treatment may be necessary.
Certain classes of medicines (groups of medicines that are similar, but not exactly the same) are known to cause reactions in some people. Any medicine or medicine class can cause a drug rash, however reactions occur more often in the following:
Prescription drug reactions do not happen often, and when they do, the reaction often goes away soon after you stop taking the medication. Be sure to ask your physician about possible reactions before you take any prescription. Knowing what to watch for can help you respond quickly if you do have a rare, but potentially serious reaction.
Not all drug rashes need to be treated. Sometimes a rash may cause only mild discomfort and have no effect on internal organs. If the drug works well, you may choose to tolerate the rash as a minor side effect. In other cases the rash or other symptoms may be more noticeable, and treatment may be necessary.
Depending on how mild or severe your reaction to medicine is, your treatment may include:
In some cases the rash or other symptoms may be bothersome, but will go away when you simply stop taking the medicine. It may take a week or two for your rash to disappear completely. Always notify your physician if you need to stop a medication.
Mild allergic skin reactions such as hives can be treated at home with diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
For more serious drug rashes, anti-inflammatory drugs may be needed to stop your symptoms.
Anaphylaxis is a serious reaction that includes symptoms such as tightening of the chest, significant breathing difficulty, facial and oral swelling and unconsciousness. Anaphylaxis can happen in minutes or even seconds, and requires emergency treatment using corticosteroids and epinephrine (adrenaline) to overcome your reaction.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a potentially serious reaction that occasionally develops into a condition called toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome include widespread blistering and peeling skin, sores in the mouth, and red and painful eyes. There may also be erosions in the mouth, and this severe reaction can affect internal organs. Other aspects of Stevens-Johnson syndrome are inflammation inside the eye and damage to the clear outer area of the eye, the cornea.
Treatment for Stevens-Johnson syndrome begins with a skin biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Cyclosporine, a medicine used to keep your immune system from overreacting to drugs, is often the first medicine used to start counteracting symptoms. Because Stevens-Johnson syndrome includes severe skin damage, this syndrome is often treated as though you have widespread burns. Treatment includes pain medicines and skin grafts to cover areas where damaged skin has fallen away. If your eyes are involved significantly, your physicians will collaborate with ophthalmologists to care for the eye and minimize the chance of corneal scarring.
Depending on how mild or severe your reaction to medicine is, your treatment may include:
In some cases the rash or other symptoms may be bothersome, but will go away when you simply stop taking the medicine. It may take a week or two for your rash to disappear completely. Always notify your physician if you need to stop a medication.
Mild allergic skin reactions such as hives can be treated at home with diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
For more serious drug rashes, anti-inflammatory drugs may be needed to stop your symptoms.
Anaphylaxis is a serious reaction that includes symptoms such as tightening of the chest, significant breathing difficulty, facial and oral swelling and unconsciousness. Anaphylaxis can happen in minutes or even seconds, and requires emergency treatment using corticosteroids and epinephrine (adrenaline) to overcome your reaction.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a potentially serious reaction that occasionally develops into a condition called toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome include widespread blistering and peeling skin, sores in the mouth, and red and painful eyes. There may also be erosions in the mouth, and this severe reaction can affect internal organs. Other aspects of Stevens-Johnson syndrome are inflammation inside the eye and damage to the clear outer area of the eye, the cornea.
Treatment for Stevens-Johnson syndrome begins with a skin biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Cyclosporine, a medicine used to keep your immune system from overreacting to drugs, is often the first medicine used to start counteracting symptoms. Because Stevens-Johnson syndrome includes severe skin damage, this syndrome is often treated as though you have widespread burns. Treatment includes pain medicines and skin grafts to cover areas where damaged skin has fallen away. If your eyes are involved significantly, your physicians will collaborate with ophthalmologists to care for the eye and minimize the chance of corneal scarring.
This national government website features information about drug reactions, symptoms and treatment.
Learn more about Stevens Johnson syndrome, as well as support resources.
This national government website features information about drug reactions, symptoms and treatment.
Learn more about Stevens Johnson syndrome, as well as support resources.