Can a person be allergic to allergy medications?
Unfortunately, it is possible to have an allergic reaction to steroids that are often prescribed to treat allergies.
Similarly, a reaction to an inhaled corticosteroid could as easily be blamed on the underlying allergy.
ballyscanlon / Getty Images
Systemic Steroid Allergy
Systemic corticosteroids include both oral and injected formulations.
They are considered systemic because they are distributed through the entire body as opposed to localized treatment.
While systemic reactions are rare, they can be life-threatening.
Those that develop rapidly are considerably more dangerous.
There may be significantcross-reactivitybetween corticosteroid drugs.
Cross-reactivity comes up whenever the allergen in one drug is similar to the allergen in another drug.
If you have an immediate reaction, contact your provider right away.
Allergists may choose to create their own skin tests to perform prior to offering a medically supervised drug challenge.
A positive patch test for budesonide and tixocortol is usually a strong indication of a steroid allergy.
Desensitization only helps if you are taking the drug every day.
Sometimes, people have an allergic reaction to steroids that can be diagnosed with a skin or patch test.
Treatment may include trying a different steroid medication or going through a process of desensitization.
Chen JY, Yiannias JA, Hall MR, et al.Reevaluating corticosteroid classification models in patient patch testing.
2013;47(1):26-37. doi:10.1007/s12016-013-8365-z
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Cross-reactivity defined.
Svendsen SV, Mortz CG.The benefit of late patch test readings in corticosteroid allergy.
J Biol Regul Homeost Agents.
2011;25(4):683-8.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Drug allergies.
Torres, M. and Canto, G. “Hypersensitivity Reactions to Corticosteroids.
“Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol.2010; 10:273-9.
