Any sort of allergic reaction viz. skin rash, eruptions etc. are considered as drug allergies. Patients with family history of allergy, asthma, or urticaria commonly may suffer from drug reactions. These reactions can be managed with steroids and anti-histamines. If the drug is taken a second time the reaction tends to be much more violent than the first.

Types of cutaneous drug reactions
The common types of drug reactions are:

• Urticaria.
• Maculo papular rash.
• Fixed drug eruption.
• Erythematic multiform.
• Stevens Johnson’s syndrome.
• Toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Drug eruptions can be dangerous Toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens Johnson’s Syndrome can sometimes prove fatal.

Drugs that commonly cause reactions
Theoretically any drug can cause a reaction. However pain killers and certain antibiotics and drugs used for epilepsy are the commonest culprits. Morbilliform eruption is caused by administrating ampicillin to a patient with infectious mononucleosis.