Might not be a bad idea for people who have severe anaphylactic type of allergies. Pacemakers/implantable defibrillators.

I work with someone with Type 1 diabetes who has it tattooed on her wrist.

PCN allergies are common, but most of my ED pts w/ a PCN allergy do not wear a medic alert tag.

Have you considered writing it on your insurance card?

Wish everyone would write on an index card their past medical history, meds, allergies, who to contact in an emergency, and keep it in their wallet - updating it as needed.

G, I've had a couple of close calls with Anaphylaxis beginning in my teens and once in my 30's. Very scary. I'm afraid of how I'd react if there's a next time with penicillin. The first time I figured I was allergic my tongue swelled with severe itching in my mouth. This second time I itched all over. That itching lasted into the next day but it was mild.

Mdln, putting an index card in my wallet is a great idea! When I became allergic to PCN (much easier to type, thank you!), it was when the doctor prescribed it after my hysterectomy as a precaution. I was 50 at the time so I was surprised I became allergic to it, however, I've read it's common to develop allergies to PCN as one ages.

The good thing is that my food allergies are gone. Especially to Avocado's. ;) I don't dare drink Coconut milk again. Tried it once when I was about eleven and thought I was literally going to die.

Your comment tells it all. You are afraid how your body would react. Think that a bracelet is a wonderful idea for you. While the wallet idea is good, someone had to look for the information.

Jill, I think I'll get one. Not a bracelet that "shouts" allergy, but enough to be noticed by a professional.

Thanks everyone! This topic can die now. lol

I vote for the tattoo!

Just a reminder for those with iPhones that there is a medical info app on your phone that can be accessed 'in case of emergency' by anyone. It is a simple white square with a red heart. You can enter your blood type, allergies, medications, and emergency contact info.

I would be very surprised if Android users didn't have something similar on their phones.

Oakley, I think the medical alert bracelet is a good idea. Glad you talked yourself into it.

I think my mom had this one: which fit in with her "real" jewelry, to tie into another thread.

I got mom a Road ID one in purple. The font is small but I could list her basic info and contact numbers. Being purple I figured before even reading it the color would alert for Alzheimer's

I have had several through the years. I used to make really beautiful beaded bracelets for the plates to attach to. Currently I wear one that has a built-in USB thumb drive inside with all of my medical records and medications I am taking and what conditions I have. My doctors love it. They can print out my medical file in seconds. The emergency room and urgent care facilities I have been in loved it. I have had so many doctors and nurses ask me for the information because they want family members and patients to have them. There are several different ones available. I don't leave home without it on. I have a lot going on medically. I could no longer fit everything on the engraved plates.

http://www.elegantmedicalalert.com/Care-USB-Medical-History-Bracelet-Pink.html

There is a big difference between a "drug sensitivity" and a "drug allergy". A sensitivity can mean nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hives, itching, even with Cipro, spontaneous rupture of the achilles tendon - all very annoying symptoms but not life threatening. A "drug allergy" usually causes a life threatening symptom - anaphylactic shock or serious heart situation, coma etc. Anyone with such an allergy (think peanut allergies) should wear a bracelet and in many cases, carry an Epi pen.

I have many drug sensitivities and they are serious enough that my doctors know not to prescribe them but they are not allergies that could be life threatening.

Anglophilia, I agree that there is a difference between sensitivities and allergies, but your distinction is a little off.

Hives are a symptom of an allergy. Someone could have hives one time and an anaphylactic reaction another. It's just not predictable.

There are also life threatening side effects, which are not allergies.

I'm "sensitive" to Ibuprophen, but allergic to penicillin. Crl is right. So far I've been extremely lucky I didn't go into full blown anaphylactic shock. I've had hives, throat swelling/itching, and whole body itching. That's an allergy.

BTW, the first antibiotic I was given which didn't make the infection go away was Cipro. I'm taking it again and trying to be very careful when I walk. lol

The infection is mostly gone though.

I prefer using the terms allergy, side effect, and adverse reaction because the term "sensitvity" is often confused.

http://www.worldallergy.org/professional/allergic_diseases_center/ige/

“The immune response in allergy begins with sensitization. When, for example, house dust mite or pollen allergens are inhaled, antigen presenting cells in the epithelium lining of the airways of the lungs and nose, internalise, process and then express these allergens on their cell surface. The allergens are then presented to other cells involved in the immune response, particularly T-lymphocytes. Through a series of specific cell interactions B-lymphocytes are transformed into antibody secretory cells - plasma cells. In the allergic response, the plasma cell produces IgE-antibodies, which, like antibodies of other immunoglobulin isotypes, are capable of binding a specific allergen via its Fab portion. Different allergens stimulate the production of corresponding allergen-specific IgE antibodies. Once formed and released into the circulation, IgE binds, through its Fc portion, to high affinity receptors on mast cells, leaving its allergen specific receptor site available for future interaction with allergen. Other cells known to express high-affinity receptors for IgE include basophils, Langerhans cells and activated monocytes. Production of allergen specific IgE-antibodies completes the immune response known as sensitization."

I took Cipro once and had a very scary reaction. Couldn't figure it out and I was so sick. My parents had stopped by and were concerned once they saw me. They went to the pharmacy and described my "symptoms" which was really a neuro muscular reaction to the drug.

Mdln, I clicked on your link. Would you translate the first introductory paragraph about transfusions for me? If I'm not mistaken it says we can get an allergy from transfusions?

I'm interested because I had two transfusions two days before my hysterectomy. That's when the doctor prescribed penicillin and that's when I first became allergic to it.

Tina, do you remember what your symptoms were? Cipro is a strong med.

Oddly, cipro was the drug I was thinking of when I said side effects can be life threatening. My mom developed a rare blood disorder a few years ago and nearly died--three weeks in ICU and 4 months in the hospital total. Two different doctors told her at follow up appointments that they thought she was going not going to make it and that they were using last ditch efforts to keep her alive. The doctors think it was an extremely rare reaction (not an allergy) to cipro and since they don't understand it really yet, they advised that her blood relatives avoid Cipro. I have it stored in my iPhone and in all my medical records. I am actually allergic to tetracycline--also noted in my phone and on medical records.

Neuro muscular. I was extremely weak (abnormally so for the infection I had) and had twitching in my extremities. The pharmacist said to stop the drug immediately and notify my doctor.

Crl, that had to be scary for all of you. Is your mom okay now? No lingering side effects? Do you know if she had taken it before? This is my 3rd or 4th time taking Cipro, so far so good. Well, I take that back. The first time I took it for a MRSA infection, the day before I finished the med I had a severe metallic taste in my mouth. Afterwards I noticed I could no longer eat even the mildest of spicy foods. Not sure if they're related but I think they are.

Tina, thank goodness for mothers! They know when their baby is sick just by looking at them. :)

It was terrifying. My brother was closer so he got there first. He called and said he thought I had better get on a plane and come ASAP. He's not the alarmist type so I did. My SIL came and took care of my kids and then dh ended up taking a week off. I was afraid to leave my dad alone--my brother had to go back to his home because he was new to his job.

Mom is pretty much recovered now. It took over a year though. She was on oxygen for a long time because one of the things that it caused was a blood clot in her lungs. She is permanently on blood thinners now and and that's not good of course.

I don't know if it was her first time taking cipro. And I honestly can't remember if I have ever taken it. Her doctors were talking about writing a case study on her. I don't know if that ever happened. I noticed that the cipro warnings have been updated and now mention this.

Wow. If you get a chance would you ask your mom if she's taken Cipro before? I'm going to read more about the warnings. I'll be glad when I'm finished with it!

Yes, absolutely you can have an immediate or delayed, mild or life-threatening, reaction to a blood transfusion.

However, if you told me the last time you took PCN it caused tongue swelling, I would consider you allergic and not Rx PCN for you.

If you have many allergies, the good news is your immune system is working well!