Life-Threatening Allergies to Medications

Medications are a common cause of life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), with penicillin accounting for the most cases. Other drugs that can trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) include aspirin, ibuprofen, and cancer medications. Medication-triggered anaphylaxis can occur in people of any age, but are particularly common in those middle-aged and older. Your health care professional can help you recognize the symptoms of a medication allergy and assist in identifying other treatment options.

To help ensure that you or your child is not prescribed a medication that will trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), keep a complete history of reactions and the results of any diagnostic tests — and be sure to share it with your health care professionals. You or your child should also wear a medical identification bracelet to alert your health care professional about your allergies in case you can’t communicate.

In a medication-triggered life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), inject the health care professional-prescribed EpiPen^® (epinephrine) or EpiPen Jr.^® (epinephrine) Auto-Injector immediately, then promptly call 911 and seek immediate medical attention.