Drug Allergies

Home Treatment

Home treatment for a drug allergy includes avoiding medicines that can cause an allergic reaction, relieving symptoms, and knowing what to do if you have a severe reaction.

Avoiding allergic reactions

You can help avoid future allergic reactions by knowing which medicines you are taking.

• Keep a list of all the medicines you take, including supplements and over-the-counter medicines. Share this list with your doctor. This will help him or her identify a medicine you may be allergic to.
• Whenever you start a new medicine, ask your doctor if it may cause an allergy. This includes asking about supplements and over-the-counter medicines. You may have to take the medicine for the first time in your doctor's office.
• Do not use someone else's medicine or share yours. A medicine may appear the same but have a part that can cause a reaction.

Relieving symptoms

If you have a mild skin rash, you can take steps to make yourself more comfortable and relieve itching.

• Take cool showers, or apply cool compresses.
• Wear light clothing that doesn't bother your skin.
• Take it easy; keep your activity level low.
• Use calamine lotion or take over-the-counter antihistamines, including diphenhydramine (such as Benadryl), chlorpheniramine maleate (such as Chlor-Trimeton), or loratadine (such as Claritin).
• Stay away from strong soaps, detergents, and other chemicals, which can make itching worse.

Go to previous section	Go to top of page	Go to next section
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS	Last Updated: July 24, 2007
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Harold S. Nelson, MD - Allergy and Immunology
© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.