Medication intolerance – causes, complaints & therapy

Drug intolerance refers to the intolerance of drugs of all kinds. Some preparations are responsible for allergic reactions much more frequently than others. Penicillin in particular often leads to problems. The intolerance of drugs is manifested by the fact that the immune system reacts strongly to certain ingredients. This leads to skin rash, hair loss and various other side effects. The possible symptoms are manifold, as the dyes, stabilizers and fillers in the drugs can also trigger allergic reactions.

Causes

Drug intolerance basically has only one cause. So it is the excessive defense reaction of the immune system to certain drugs or their excipients that leads to the symptoms. Especially psychotropic drugs, painkillers, thyroid medications or antibiotics are not well absorbed by many people. Local application, such as local anesthesia, also often leads to allergic reactions.The preservatives in a drug are often also the cause. In particular, thimerosal and benzalkonium chloride are common triggers. The actual cause of the immune system’s defense reaction is anchored in the genes. A drug intolerance is therefore inherited, but does not necessarily have to break out. Only when a certain threshold value is exceeded, it comes to the outbreak of the allergy. It often takes several months or even years for a certain drug to be rejected by the organism. Only when this is the case, the complaints occur.

Symptoms and course

Typical symptoms:

• Rash

• Hair loss

• Swelling

• Water retention

• Itch

• Sweats

• Shortness of breath

Drug intolerance manifests itself through various symptoms. There are often rashes, redness of the skin, swelling of the face or body, water retention or itching. Sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness and nausea are also symptoms. Since each medication contains different ingredients, the symptoms are also different. It may therefore be that completely different side effects occur. The severity of the symptoms also varies from case to case and must be examined closely in order to determine the trigger.

A drug intolerance can be very different for those affected. This depends on the symptoms and the general condition of the patient. However, as a rule, reactions to drugs are quite weak and have no long-term consequences for the patient. The situation is different if the medication is taken repeatedly or severely overdosed despite an intolerance. Then additional symptoms such as shortness of breath, drowsiness and dizziness may occur and possibly cause a circulatory collapse.

Diagnosis

Drug intolerance is difficult to attribute to a specific ingredient of a drug. However, the responsible preparation can be quickly determined by temporarily discontinuing the medication taken. If the drug intolerance then no longer occurs, the guilty drug is determined. This procedure becomes difficult if the patient has to take several medications and can not stop taking it. Then it is necessary to conduct a classic allergy test. However, since this can only detect allergies through anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics, it is not always useful.

In addition, the diagnosis is made more difficult by the fact that drug intolerance is often mistaken for another disease due to its symptoms. Due to these difficulties, the investigations are often lengthy. Once recognized, however, the doctor can simply counteract the drug intolerance and discontinue the responsible drug.

Complications

With facial neuralgia, severe pain can occur. These occur suddenly and unexpectedly. Taking pain medication can lead to various side effects. In addition to various organic disorders, there is also the risk of drug dependence. The symptoms of the condition can lead to an anxiety disorder in some people. The fear of pain prevents those affected from coping with their own lifestyle. His usual tasks can no longer be carried out and there is a risk of further mental illness.

Facial neuralgia can cause additional symptoms that cannot be clearly defined. An allergic reaction or intolerance to creams, shower and facial cleansers or make-up items can only be distinguished with difficulty from nerve damage. Therefore, the allergy remains undetected and can cause further problems. The complaints often trigger emotions such as shame. This can lead to a change in self-esteem. Social withdrawal, depressive states or listlessness are possible.

The damage to the nerve can spread further in the body via the nerve fibers. As a result, neuralgic reactions can also occur in other places. The pain attacks increase the discomfort. There is often a reduction in food and fluid intake. An undersupply of the organism threatens, which in severe cases can lead to dehydration or an eating disorder.

treatment and therapy

Drug intolerance is primarily treated by having the responsible medication stopped by a doctor. Symptoms such as skin rash or swelling then heal within a few days. Only in the case of severe reactions do other preparations have to be prescribed to promote the healing process. The treatment is basically focused on eliminating the symptoms.

The actual intolerance cannot be treated. However, it is possible that the drug intolerance will go away on its own. This is the case when the threshold value, which is responsible for the occurrence of the allergy, falls again. This spontaneous tolerance induction occurs mainly in childhood and cannot be controlled.

Drug intolerance is thus treated by stopping the drug responsible. Prevention is also possible to a limited extent.

Prevention

Drug intolerance cannot be prevented, since the organism can react allergically to any substance. The only option is to carry out various allergy tests in advance and always carry an allergy pass with you. This means that action can be taken quickly in the event of an allergic reaction, which may save lives.Anyone who already has an allergy should be examined again before taking medication and clarify the intake. Drugs should be handled responsibly, especially if a drug intolerance has already been identified in the past.

Finally, a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise, a balanced diet and avoiding nicotine and alcohol can strengthen the immune system. Although allergies can still occur, the body can then react more quickly and effectively to the symptoms. In addition, a healthy lifestyle avoids having to take medication at all.