Diagnosis

Blood or skin tests are not reliable indicators of an allergy to all medications. These tests can prove an allergy to some drugs – for instance, penicillin or insulin – but offer little help with others.

The best way to diagnose a medication allergy is via challenge testing. This is an in-patient procedure: a doctor must closely observe the patient. Patients receive doses of medications, together with placebo pills (sugar pills) in order to rule out psychosomatic reactions. The patient’s reaction to various medications is tracked by a doctor.

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