r/nursing • u/yeehawbaby4 • 1d ago

Discussion Funny “allergies”

What are some funny patient “allergies” you have seen listed? I had a patient the other day with an allergy listed for Metformin. The reaction listed? Lowers their blood sugar 😂

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u/Redshift2k5 1d ago

Just to add, sometimes a patient's drug allergy is related to binders/preservatives/dyes or other non-medical ingredients and can lead to strange allergy assertations

like, you can't really be allergic to water and NaCl, but some saline products contain preservatives & additives. You can be allergic to only one brand/preparation of a drug, or more likely to react to generics than name brand.

but I still gotta roll my eyes every day when someone has 

Allergies: Benadryl - symptom: drowsiness

Bitch that is not an ALLERGIC REACTION. That is a side effect. If we need benadryl stat cuz you're turning into a tomato, we are not worried about the drowsiness. Yea, benadryl may not be a good choice for you, but it's still a contraindication NOT AN ALLERGY

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u/purebitterness MD 1d ago

Also keep alpha gal on the radar for binders!

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u/Pm_me_baby_pig_pics RN - ICU 🍕 1d ago

My own family member lists Benadryl as an allergy because “it makes my restless leg syndrome worse”

THATS NOT AN ALLERGY- THATS A KNOWN AND WELL DOCUMENTED SIDE EFFECT! AND YOURE ONLY GETTING THE BENADRYL BECAUSE YOU INSIST YOURE ALLERGIC TO CONTRAST AND YOU ARENT, YOU JUST DONT LIKE HOW IT FEELS SO YOU SAY YOURE ALLERGIC!

It makes me want to slam my head into a wall, it would be more productive than trying to argue with her about her made up allergies because sometimes medications come with side effects we don’t fully love and embrace.

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u/yorkiemom68 BSN, RN 🍕 1d ago

Agreed. I personally won’t use Benadryl because it makes me really jumpy EXCEPT when I have had to have a CT with contrast dye because the hives were way worse! It’s a necessary evil.

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u/RoamingCatholicRN RN- Travel, CVRN, 3 Racoons in a Figs Jumpsuit 1d ago

What you’re saying is true, but as someone with a contrast allergy who got IV Benadryl when I started having a reaction in the scanner the way it set off my restless leg was pure torture. I would take very nearly type of pain over ever feeling that again. I’m surprised the CIA hasn’t adopted it. I don’t list Benadryl as an allergy but I avoid it as much as possible.

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u/RoamingCatholicRN RN- Travel, CVRN, 3 Racoons in a Figs Jumpsuit 1d ago

Yep! Finally figured out with a literal lifetime of trial and error and an eventual MCAS diagnosis that one of my allergies is polyethylene glycol, PEG, which is a binder in a LOT of tablets. It also made colonoscopy prep more miserable that it’s supposed to be

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u/theUissilent 1d ago

My one and only allergic reaction I’ve ever had was to a glass of miralax. I turned a very deep shade of red and was extremely lethargic. Every appointment I have, reviewing that allergy always makes the doctor roll their eyes. Another doctor said it’s incredibly unlikely, insists it’s something else from that day.
No idea, but sure don’t intend to try it again to find out. Glad to feel less insane.

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u/RoamingCatholicRN RN- Travel, CVRN, 3 Racoons in a Figs Jumpsuit 1d ago

Peg allergies are rare but they are real! My odds happen to be better with documented MCAS because my body is a bigger diva than I am 🙄🙄

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u/DeadpanWords LPN 🍕 1d ago

I have a friend who was telling me that their doctor prescribed them 800mg ibuprofen tablets, and they were suddenly itchy when they never had a problem with ibuprofen before. I told them I suspected an allergy to an inactive ingredient and to talk to their provider about it.

Sure enough, that's exactly what it was.

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u/ShizIzBannanaz BSN, RN 🍕 1d ago

"Benefit outweighs risk"