The Drug Allergy Program at Rochester Regional Health provides comprehensive drug allergy evaluations, drug challenges, and desensitization. It is our goal to confirm or remove diagnosed drug allergies and enable patients to safely receive the most effective medications for their condition.
For expectant mothers, we offer expedited appointments so we have your charts updated before you deliver. This special inter-office highway has been set up between our allergists and obstetricians, ensuring there are no drug allergy questions on your delivery day.
Drug Allergies
Did you know that 1 in 10 individuals in the United States report that they are allergic to penicillin, but 95% of those individuals are not allergic and can actually tolerate penicillin?
Penicillin is an important antibiotic therapy for the treatment of many common infections, and alternate antibiotics are not always comparable. For some, regular care providers run out of options, meaning that it becomes more and more difficult for you to receive the care you need. But, by thoroughly examining your drug allergies, we can update your chart and ensure that there are no questions when you are in the hospital.
What to Expect
We start with a thorough medical history–including a detailed history of your medication allergy history and any other allergies–as well as a comprehensive health history and a physical examination.
Depending upon the type of drug and the allergic reaction it caused, your allergist may perform a skin test, a medication challenge, or desensitization. It is quite common for your drug allergy evaluation to require more than one visit, but you will always be able to return to school or work following your appointment.
Once we have your drug allergy results, we will communicate with you and collaborate with any necessary providers to ensure that your charts are updated.
We combine clinical research methods with methods of quality improvement to improve patient outcomes. Our expert allergists have experience in both clinical care and research and stay on top of the latest diagnoses, testing, and literature available to best manage your drug allergy care.
Telemedicine
As Rochester Regional Health expanded telemedicine throughout 2020, the Drug Allergy Program used the technology to save patients a trip. Telemedicine has proven helpful for all allergic conditions and follow-up and has been especially useful for asthma and hives.
We cannot diagnose or test via telemedicine, but follow-up appointments and concerns can be completed without stepping foot in the office.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Our allergists offer a full range of diagnostic services easily available at our Allergy locations throughout Rochester and Western NY. If you are experiencing drug allergy symptoms, we offer same-day appointments to get you in, diagnosed, and on your way.
Oral Drug Challenge
A drug challenge will be performed under close monitoring and supervision if and only if your evaluation and history suggest you are unlikely to experience an allergic reaction to the medication.
During the oral drug challenge, we will give you one to two doses of the medication in increasing amounts while carefully monitoring you for any reactions along the way. This will ensure you can tolerate the full intended treatment dose.
Skin Testing
Skin tests are a safe and quick way to detect immediate allergic reactions. This type of testing is available for certain medications. It is important that they are completed at one of our allergy offices, as an allergist must interpret your results. Testing is fast and same-day results are returned in about 15 minutes. Typically, the tests take about 20 to 40 minutes and can be used to detect allergic reactions to penicillin.
Skin prick tests use needles that barely penetrate your skin’s surface to deliver allergen extract to your skin. You will not bleed or feel anything more than momentary discomfort with a skin test. Your skin will be cleaned, then small marks will be drawn on before a drop of an allergen is added to each mark. If you are allergic to any of the substances tested, you will develop a red, raised, itchy bump that looks similar to a mosquito bite. After measuring the bump size and recording your results, your skin will be cleaned with alcohol to remove the marks.
Drug Desensitization
If your evaluation suggests you are at significant risk for suffering an allergic reaction to the medication, your allergist may suggest drug desensitization.
During the drug desensitization process, you will take escalating doses of the medication at a very slow rate of progression until you reach the optimal dose. Our priority is your safety, and your allergist will monitor you every step of the way. We are ready and able to anticipate possible complications and address them quickly and successfully.
Where appropriate, we work with other specialists within the health system to develop your treatment plan.
Cleaning Up Your Allergy List
Academic studies show that an unverified drug allergy leads to longer hospital stays and drug resistance, which are harmful in the long run. With that in mind, we offer tests to update your chart, removing old allergies and leaving those which still cause allergic reactions.
Allergists alone are qualified for these updates. Using MyCare, we provide detailed, updated, and appropriate notes for future providers and care. The detail we add, in addition to the information (possibly) deleted makes sure your chart is clear and understandable moving forward.
Drug Allergy FAQs
It is a myth that penicillin–and other drug allergies–are lifelong. You can reintroduce after a reaction, but it should be done in a controlled, safe environment by your allergist.
For most, drug allergies are not genetic. If you are allergic to a drug or drugs, there’s no reason to believe your children will be.