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Drug Hypersensitivity
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Overview of Drug Hypersensitivity 
Any drug can lead to an adverse reaction. These reactions range from mild to life-threatening. These reactions can be from an allergic response. They can also be a side effect of the drug. Others, may represent a toxic response of a drug.
Causes of Drug Hypersensitivity
Drugs can lead to hypersensitivity reactions by many mechanisms. The drug may irritate the GI tract or brain, leading to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and headache. An immune response may lead to vasculitis, peripheral neuropathy serum sickness. Allergic responses develop when a substance, or allergen, has previously stimulated the immune system. Upon a repeated exposure, this same allergen can then trigger the release of histamine, leading to mild to severe allergic reactions. Some drug reactions represent the effect of the drug on the particular tissue. Some examples of this are Gastric bleeding from the use of aspirin or Chemical hepatitis from the use of dilantin.
Signs and Symptoms of Drug Hypersensitivity
The symptoms which develop depend of the nature of the reaction. Skin rashes are the common allergic reaction. These allergic reactions can progress to include itching, hives and flushed skin. Anaphylaxis can occur. In this situation there is a rapid allergic response to an antigen, or substance, that has previously stimulated the immune system. This leads to wheezing, difficulty breathing, pallor, shock, lightheadedness and sometimes death. Serum sickness can develop. This develops when substance produced in an immune reaction accumulate and are deposited in various organs. Serum sickness can lead to fever, rash, joint pain and nerve damage. Various blood disorders, such as hemolytic anemia, can occur from direct reaction to some drugs. Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) and vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation) can both occur from direct action of the drug as well as being the product of immune system. Other hypersensitivity reactions which are not allergic responses include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and photosensitivity (a skin reaction to sunlight). Dizziness and vertigo may develop from the hypersensitivity response.
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Medical Content Last Updated on 07/12/2008
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