*Weird* Patient Allergies

Nurses General Nursing

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What are some of the weird allergies/reactions that patients have told you they have? I can't remember so many that made me go "hmmmmm.." but not long ago, I came across these two (on the same person!):

Caffeine: causes tachycardia (really?)

Cocaine: anaphylaxis (perhaps you took too much??)

Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

Hoping not to hijack too much, love this thread, though I can't beat any of the previous entries.

I know a little about cat allergies. Generally people allergic to cats are not allergic to their hair itself. They are allergic to the proteins in the cat's saliva and their dander. Their hair/fur acts as a great mechanism to spread the saliva and dander. Sphinx cats don't have hair/fur but they do have saliva and dander. Some people can tolerate them as their allergens are not as disseminated into the environment by the hair. I have heard there is breeding going on to get a cat with low levels of the proteins that trigger allergies.

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I kid you not, pizza. Not me, a pt, lol. She had so many allergies she had about 10 allergy bands all danging off of one band on her arm, and among the 9,000 other things she had listed was pizza.

I actually don't find pizza all that strange since I'm allergic to virtually everything that is used as a pizza topping!

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I have a friend who is allergic to benadryl. That's right, benadryl. Funny sounding as many of the "allergies" may be, the fact is that whether it's a naturally occuring or man made substance - you can certainly have a reaction and/or be truly "allergic" to it.

Her benadryl allergy gives her hives and breathing difficulties. Strange but true.

Weird that people would be allergic to an antihistamine, but it does happen! We thought maybe the person was allergic to an excipient ingredient, but no, it was the diphenhydramine itself!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

A friend of mine was just prescribed an epi pen because he can start to go into anaphalaxys while exercising (presumably after he eats something he's allergic to, possibly bread/gluten).

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Specializes in geriatrics,med/surg,vents.

I had a pt once that was allergic to lettuce,I thought that was really weird

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

i had a patient recently :rolleyes: that claimed that she was allergic to "faucet" water. she always drank bottled water..however, we all know that lots of our foods are cooked with water this never phased her... later i found out she took her meds with tap water and then brushed her teeth with tap water... but insisted that she is allergic and will die if she consumes it....

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

As another poster mentioned, I too believe many people confuse an ALLERGY with INTOLERANCE.

Personally, I think that anyone who believes that they have an allergy should have testing done by an Allergist. If not, it's just self-diagnosing to me.

I always tell my patients to get a skin and/or blood test to confirm Allergies because many can be life-threatening. I also tell them that after they are tested, they'll have the official documentation r/t the allergies and that way they can bring it to the MD or ER to show the medical staff. Then there isn't any second-guessing.

I suffer from so many allergies. It's awful. All have been confirmed through skin and blood tests. I do bring my results with me when I see a new MD and would bring it with me if I had to go to the ER. I also wear an allergy bracelet.

It's funny, I am allergic to soy products, but not cow's milk. I am allergic to almonds, but not peanuts. I am also allergic to chicken as well as latex (Type I and Type IV).

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care/Neonatal ICU.

I had a patient that told me she was allergic to Lasix. When I asked her what the reaction was, she said it "made her pee". :banghead:

Of course she was admitted with CHF. :rolleyes:

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I have a cousin who is allergic to pretty much everything...food colouring, milk, most process foods...the list goes on and on.

She wears a medic alert braclet which, according to her 6 year old mind says "Please don't feed the animal".

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Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.
Had a pt once tell she was allergic to saline.

I too had a pt "allergic " to normal saline, hmmm.(I guess if she cries her skin must slough off) She was also allergic to tap h2o.:bugeyes: She had brought bottled h20 in for her stay, but guess what, she needed tap h20 enemas til clear preop,she got them and SHE DID NOT DIE !!!

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Specializes in Cardiology, Med-Surg.

Today I was taking care of a woman who called me into her room to show me a rash she had broken out in. My first thought was to look into what meds I gave. She told me it wasn't any of her meds. It was her dentures. She says that everytime she puts them in her mouth she breaks out in hives. I didn't know what to say after that. Definitely a first.

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

I'm allergic to onions. No one at my hosp believed me till I got one on a pizza by accident and wound up in the ER

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