Tag: drug allergy management

Rethinking Drug Allergy Management: Finding Balance Between Caution and Access in SCARs

drugallergydetective.com

Drug allergies present a complex landscape, demanding tailored management strategies based on the reaction’s nature and severity. We’ve witnessed significant progress in “de-labeling” allergies to common drugs like penicillin through careful testing, allowing many to safely access essential treatments. However, the approach to severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) – encompassing Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS), and Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis (AGEP) – often stands in stark contrast: a broad and often indefinite avoidance of all potentially implicated drugs. While the…

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Reevaluating the Approach to Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCARs): Is Drug Rechallenge Always Off the Table?

drugallergydetective.com

Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCARs), such as acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS), and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), are among the most feared drug-related complications. These conditions can result in devastating outcomes, and the conventional approach to managing SCARs emphasizes strict avoidance of the suspected culprit drug to prevent potentially fatal recurrences. But is avoidance always the only path forward? Could there be room for a more nuanced strategy in specific cases? Not All SCARs Are Created Equal SCARs represent a spectrum of disorders,…

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