General Information

• During your allergy assessment your doctor will ask several questions about your / your child’s reaction to help determine if there is an underlying allergy to the medication such as penicillin
• Depending on the reaction you had, your doctor may recommend a test called a drug challenge.
• the drug challenge involves taking a dose of the medication, which has been divided into smaller doses, under medical supervision.

Testing Procedure

• Usually, one dose of the drug is divided into 2 parts. A small dose is given by mouth, and if there is no reaction after 30 minutes, a full dose of the drug is given.
• You must remain in the clinic for 1 hour after receiving the medication to make sure there is no reaction. The appointment time typically ranges from 2 - 4 hours
• Possible reactions range from hives to anaphylaxis with symptoms such as skin swelling, breathing problems, vomiting and dizziness. Treatment for reactions include antihistamines and epinephrine injection for severe reactions