Testing pills for allergies

[The Network]

Is there any general way to test drugs that come in pill form for allergic reaction? Obviously it's a lot safer to test and see if you have a reaction than to just try it and hope you don't go into anaphylactic shock and die.

 

[wooger]

I'm really not sure... I mean, everybody reacts differently to substances and I don't think anyone can predict with 100% certainty what will happen to you when you try something new...

best advice would just be to take very small doses to begin with...at least then any negative reaction will likely be less severe than if you just hoover up half a gram of something you've never tried before...

 

[The Network]

The substance(s) in question would be a benzo... I've really never heard of any allergic reaction to those, really. Was just wondering.

Also if they do give me some allergic reaction, do they NEED to know it was diazepam or whatever, I know for OD they would but I thought treating allergic reaction is pretty generalized. And even with patient-doctor confidentiality I'm afraid to tell them.

 

[Baldwin]

I'm really not sure... I mean, everybody reacts differently to substances and I don't think anyone can predict with 100% certainty what will happen to you when you try something new...
best advice would just be to take very small doses to begin with...at least then any negative reaction will likely be less severe than if you just hoover up half a gram of something you've never tried before...

This is the best advice you're going to get. Just take a very small amount of the drug in question. Anaphylactic shock happens almost imediately iirc, so after an hour you should be as safe as can be.

 

[tyrael]

Just additionally, benzos are generally well tolerated in the majority of the population. But of course it is always best to err on the side of caution with any new drug you're taking.

Play safe The Network

 

[effie]

The substance(s) in question would be a benzo... I've really never heard of any allergic reaction to those, really. Was just wondering.

Also if they do give me some allergic reaction, do they NEED to know it was diazepam or whatever, I know for OD they would but I thought treating allergic reaction is pretty generalized. And even with patient-doctor confidentiality I'm afraid to tell them.

The treatment for allergy would be the same whatever drug you had taken - adrenaline/epinephrine, steroids (hydrocortisone or prednisolone), antihistamines and fluids if it was full anaphylactic shock, antihistamines +/- steroids if it was a milder reaction. This is in the UK anyway - may differ slightly elsewhere but the principle is the same.

The advantage if telling them is that they will then know you are allergic to diazepam so it would go down in your file, and if you were admitted under dfferent circumstances they wouldn't give it to you. You could always just tell them next time when they ask about allergies, without confessing you took it off-prescription, but if you happened to unconscious in a car crash or whatever you obv can't!!

I think it's always best to be honest with doctors about what you have taken really, they wouldn't involve the police (in the UK anyway...) and popping a valium is hardly a major drugs-crime anyway.. but am aware things might work differently in different countries. Obv if you've taken something that needs specific treatment you MUST tell them what it is!!



This is all speculation anyway - hopefully (and chances are) you are not allergic. Handy to know though, I think