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Allergies to medications account for 5 to 10 percent of all adverse drug reactions. Skin responses such as hives are the most common symptom, but anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition, can also occur. Drug allergies occur when the body responds to the modified or unusual proteins in certain medications, and symptoms can appear at any time - from within a few hours to a couple of weeks. According to the National Institutes of Health, penicillin is a common cause of drug allergy. Anaphylactic reactions to penicillin cause an estimated 400 deaths, making penicillin allergy a more common cause of death than food allergy. Please tell your Lahey physician about any existing drug allergies and any unusual symptoms experienced after taking a new medication.
