Your Care Instructions
A drug allergy occurs when your immune system overreacts to something in a medicine. This causes an allergic reaction. You may have skin problems, such as hives or a rash. Your lips, mouth, and throat may swell. You may have trouble breathing. And you may have belly pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. A reaction can range from mild to life-threatening.
After you have an allergic reaction to a medicine, you may always be allergic to that medicine and to others like it.
Drug allergies are different than side effects and drug interactions. Side effects are bad reactions to a medicine. Drug interactions occur when two or more medicines that you take do not get along in your body. Some people may confuse these with drug allergies.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
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