If you suspect symptoms of drug allergy in adults, you should make an appointment with an allergist. After taking the drug, you should carefully observe the reactions in your body. If any reaction has developed, you should make an appointment with the allergist immediately. Some things you do before going to the doctor will prepare you for the appointment and make it a more effective appointment. In this article, we have written for you what you should do when you go to the doctor if you have a drug allergy.
It can sometimes be difficult to identify the drug causing the drug allergy condition in adults. When you start to use a new drug or if some allergic reactions are observed after taking the drug you have used before, you should make a note of this drug. Before going to the doctor, writing down some information and preparing in advance will help make a diagnosis.
We can list these preparations as follows:
- Allergy diseases in adults should note the symptoms that they show after the use of the drug. Since the lesions on the skin can sometimes be seen in minutes or weeks in drug allergies, it is absolutely necessary for the doctor to come to the patient during the period of the lesions, or to view them and take pictures of them.
- Adult patients can sometimes use more than one drug, it is appropriate to note the drugs they use and which drug they last used.
- If the hospital records show which drug-related reactions occurred after taking the drug, or if it is noted by the physician, it is appropriate to bring these notes.
- If possible, bring the suspected drug with you, as drug allergies can sometimes differ between equivalent drugs.
- Allergy, cough or antidepressant drugs should be discontinued 1 week before the examination. Allergy testing may be required for diagnosis, and the result of the test may be affected if he or she is taking these drugs.
- Bring your previous test results with you to avoid retesting.
- Since the tests of patients with anaphylactic shock will be performed at least 6 weeks later, it would be appropriate for them to wait without using any other drugs for this period.
- Write down the questions you want to ask your doctor in advance and ask your doctor. Because you may not think of it during the examination, it is important for the efficiency of the examination.
These questions that allergy specialists will ask you in drug allergies will help in determining the drug. Being prepared for these questions in advance will help in making the diagnosis.
- What drug may you have reacted to?
- When did you start taking the medicine before you had an allergy and how long before you had an allergic reaction did you stop taking it?
- How long after using the drug did you notice the symptoms and what kind of complaints did you experience?
- How long did your symptoms last and what did you do to reduce them?
- What other prescription and over-the-counter medicines do you take?
- Do you consume herbal medicines or take vitamin or mineral supplements? So which ones?
Answering these questions by the patients will facilitate the examinations to be requested for diagnosis.
