Allergy

As one of the common cases at the Centre, drug allergies can have serious implications for patients who rely on medications to manage their health. A variety of tests are thus conducted to facilitate accurate diagnosis and management. For example, drug skin prick and intradermal testing can help identify if one is allergic to a specific medication. Under close medical monitoring, oral drug challenges are also performed to confirm the presence of a drug allergy. 

The following drugs are commonly tested at the Centre:

• Antibiotics
• Anaesthetics
• Chemotherapy agents
• Vaccines
   

Drug challenges are another important part of the diagnostic process. These tests are particularly useful for medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are commonly used to manage pain and inflammation. 

Examples of NSAIDs include:

• Aspirin
• Diclofenac Sodium (Voltaren)
• Etoricoxib (Arcoxia)
• Ibuprofen (Advil/Brufen/Maxigesic/Nurofen/Spedifen)
• Mefenamic Acid (Ponstan)
   

Drug allergies can be particularly challenging if the medicine in question is essential for treating the conditions. In such cases, the Centre can provide drug desensitisation procedures, in which patients can safely use the medicine despite allergy, after gradual introduction in small controlled doses to build tolerance.