Medication Allergies

A medication allergy, also called a drug allergy, is an allergic reaction to a substance in a medication. These allergies may leave you with lots of questions. Can I outgrow the allergy? How do I know which medication or ingredient caused the reaction?

At Henry Ford Health, our dedicated team provides expert care for all types of drug allergies. We offer the latest tests and therapies to help you stay safe, prevent a future allergic reaction and get the medication you need.

Why choose Henry Ford Health for medication allergy care?

If you or your child may have a drug allergy, we’re here to help. Our program features:

• Drug allergy expertise: Medication allergies require specialized care. Our team has the knowledge and resources to properly test for these allergies and offer alternative medications when needed.
• Specialized pharmacy: Testing for uncommon drug allergies requires a specialized pharmacy that can make a diluted mixture of specific medications used for allergy testing. Our immunologists work directly with pharmacists to create these medicines for safe and accurate tests.
• Team approach: Drug allergies can be complex, requiring the expertise of multiple specialists. Our immunologists work with other specialists, such as pharmacists and the referring specialist, to provide a comprehensive allergy action plan so you can avoid medications that trigger a reaction, while getting the treatment you need.
• Drug allergy desensitization: We offer specialized desensitization procedures for people who have an allergy to a lifesaving medication, such as chemotherapy. Our specialists can safely “teach” your immune system to tolerate the drug with small, repeated exposures in a carefully controlled setting.

How we diagnose medication allergies

To identify medication allergies, we start by discussing your medical history and your reaction to the drug. Our specialists listen to your concerns and determine whether you need tests, which could include:

Oral medication challenges

During an oral medication challenge, you take a small amount of the medication under close medical supervision. Our team closely monitors you for signs of an allergic reaction and provides immediate lifesaving care, if needed.

Skin prick tests

Our allergists use skin prick tests to diagnose or rule out certain types of drug allergies. We place a small drop of a liquid containing the medication on your skin. We make a tiny scratch in your skin and watch for signs of itching, redness or swelling, which may indicate an allergy. Our team takes every precaution to keep you safe and closely monitors you during and after the test.

Medication allergy treatments we provide

In many cases, a drug allergy can go away on its own over time. We have tests that evaluate if this has occurred in you. If we find you have a drug allergy, we create a medication allergy action plan, which may include:

Alternative medications

If you’re allergic to a specific medication, we work with pharmacists and other specialists to find an effective alternative. We explain your safe medication options.

Medication allergy desensitization

If you’re allergic to a medication and there aren’t effective alternatives, we may offer desensitization to help you get the treatment you need. During this procedure, our team administers small, but increasingly larger doses of the drug while closely monitoring you. After several hours or days, your immune system no longer sees the medication as a threat, and you can safely take it. We’re one of the few programs in the state offering this therapy.