*Weird* Patient Allergies

Published

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 Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
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.

I actually saw a pt go into anaphylactic shock from Benadryl.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I had a pt experience serious (thankfully temporary) neurological changes due to Zofran. She was of normal mental status before, but after geting Zofran, she was A&O to maybe 1, didn't recognize family, and acted almost delusional (she thought we were trying to hurt her). That was very weird.

I also had a pt go into anaphylactic shock from Solu-Medrol IV.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My DH is allergic to chocolate... actually chocolate is amongst the top 10 food allergies... top 20.. its right up there.

My daughter is allergic to "Caramel Coloring" gives her bad hives on her back (always along diaper line) and her cheecks. That took 18 months to figure that out.. no real way to test for it "yet" either.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric ED.
I actually saw a pt go into anaphylactic shock from Benadryl.

I'm not sure it's really an "allergy" but I at least have an extreme reaction to Benadryl: It's gotten worse over the years and the last time I took one I "passed out" for several hours, only I wasn't passed out. I was alert to everything going on I just couldn't/didn't feel the need to respond to everyone trying to wake me up. Like I was high on Benadryl. Very weird. Needless to say I found a new antihistamine...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

I was in the ER a while back and they gave me Dilaudid (first time Ive ever had it). The nurse was in the room long enough to see my profuse diaphoresis and nausea, came back gave me Zofran .. I was fine after that.

As I left the ER and was reading my discharge papers, I see "Dilaudid" listed as an allergy....:bugeyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Yep, that is the definition of Yellow Snow. :yeah:

OMG!!! I just couldn't think of anything else, and it kind of fit, since it was a patient with psych components

Anne

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in orthopaedics.

just recently i had a pt allergic to vitamin c. she said it made her hallucinate

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in orthopaedics.

sorry forgot to add my own quirky allergy:

german cockroaches. i am serious. i got my titer back and that was one of the top listed of my allergies. crazy huh?:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health currently, med/surg prev.

One of my 3 year old daughters is allergic to Claritin. I get strange looks when I list it, but it is true. She definitely had an allergic reaction the one time it was given to her - bright red rash soon after taking it.

I've had people tell me cats. I think to myself, "Ok, we'll do our best to keep the stray cats around the hospital from roaming into your room." But seriously, workers do have cats at home so if someone had a life thretening allergy to them then it wouldn't be good for someone with cat hair on their clothes to expose the pt. :nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Homecare Peds, ICU, Trauma, CVICU.
I had a patient who said she was allergic to all odors--not just perfumes. She said her son was, too. When he came to visit, he arrived on the floor wearing a World War I gas mask! You know, the ones that make the wearer look like some kind of insect.:rolleyes:

Too funny, don't think I'll be walking around with a gas mask on, but....

I get extremely horrendous intantaneous headaches with nausea d/t a huge list of odors. Hairsprays, candles, perfumes, lotions, even strong scented deodorants, and certain scented handsoaps! If its very faint it usually wont bother me, and certain scents are worse than others. Vanilla does me in every time no matter low light the scent. Makes life miserable at times when I have to be near people in public or at work who wear scented products.

That said, I would never call it an allergy. I'm just super sensitive is all. Or would that be considered an allergy? I've never really thought about it before.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU.
I had a patient who said she was allergic to all odors--not just perfumes. She said her son was, too. When he came to visit, he arrived on the floor wearing a World War I gas mask! You know, the ones that make the wearer look like some kind of insect.:rolleyes:

:coollook::yeah: That's hysterical!:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had a patient tell me she was allergic to:

plastic- we had to tape her id band to her gown, even though she had on plastic eyeglasses and was doing that plastic cross-stitch people make Kleenex covers with

skim milk - could only drink whole

latex - the dr went in to her and told her she was tested and was not allergic, and she insisted that she was

the dark - we had to leave all her lights on. i think this was just so she wouldn't have a roommate.

She had a list of about 20 items but that's all I can remember.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion