Drug allergies occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly identifies a medication as if it were a foreign or harmful substance. As a result, an allergic reaction can happen and can range from mild rashes to severe forms of reaction (anaphylaxis).
Are drug allergies hereditary? Let’s talk about whether it is possible that genetic factors can increase the likelihood of experiencing drug allergies, and if they can, how they would work.
What Causes Drug Allergies?
- How Drug Allergies Happen: When a person has a drug allergy, the immune system perceives the medication as an antigen, and then mounts an immune response that can result in symptoms like hives, rash, difficulty breathing, or even systemic anaphylaxis.
- Types of Drugs That Cause Allergies: Allergies can be prompted by many medications, including antibiotics (e.g., penicillin), analgesics (which are Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs NSAIDs), and some cancer therapy agents. Recognizing the drug classes that are commonly associated with allergy symptoms is helpful to reduce and avoid this harm.
Are drug allergies inherited? The genetics of drug allergy
- Heritable Factors of Drug Allergies: Drug allergies do appear to run in families suggesting genetic predisposition. If one or both of a person’s parents or close relatives are known to have drug allergies a person could have an inherently higher susceptibility to drug allergies.
- Genetics Research: Although there is no one gene responsible for drug allergies, research has shown that some genetic variations could predispose a person to making allergic reactions to certain drugs. For example, certain genetic markers seem to predispose persons to reactions to penicillin and sulfonamides.
- Immune System Genetics: Many aspects of a person’s immune system are hereditary. It is possible that genotype variations in the genes of a person’s immune system, especially in relation to the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system contribute to whether someone will develop an allergy to a drug.
How Do Genetic Factors Affect Allergies to Drugs?
The genetic history of an individual has an impact on how their immune response will respond to potential allergens like medications. For example, some people have immune system cells that may experience an allergic response to the same medication because those medications are recognized as foreign or poisonous invaders.
- Familial Risk Factors: If both parents have had drug allergies, their children may be more likely to also develop an allergy to the same medication(s), but not without exception.
- Medications with Hereditary Drug Allergies: There are certain medications that have a hereditary tendency to develop an allergy such as the following:
- Penicillin and Class: You may have a hereditary tendency to being allergic to penicillin.
- Sulfa medications: Genetic component may contribute to allergies to sulfonamide medications.
- NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs): Family history of allergies to “pain pills”, or NSAIDS, may increase risk.
When to See a Doctor about Drug Allergies
If you develop any signs of hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, or skin rash after taking medication, call your physician immediately.
You should consult a doctor or allergist if you think you have a drug allergy, and if there is a family history of drug allergies it is even more important to do so. A doctor will determine the severity of the reaction and the precise treatment that may be necessary or other medications that are safe.
Concluding Thoughts on the Hereditary Role of Drug Allergies
Drug allergies can certainly be hereditary based on genetics that makes individuals more prone to develop them. Genetics is only part of the process for the hereditary development of drug allergies and environmental factors and patterns of medication use are both contributing factors to drug allergy development.
Understanding your family history, caution with medication use, and a consultation with a healthcare provider can go a long way in helping people appropriately manage their risks of drug allergies.