Be aware of reactions to medications.

Byline: Annie Freeda Cruez

MANY patients place their trust in doctors and take the medication prescribed without question. Unfortunately in some cases, the medicine causes severe allergic reactions, reports ANNIE FREEDA CRUEZ.

SHEELA Nair, 30, a company secretary in Kuala Lumpur, is allergic to penicillin, aspirin and paracetamol. Every time she falls ill, she has to go to her family physician.

If she visits a doctor who does not know her condition, she will be prescribed drugs that can lead to severe allergic reactions.

"My eyes would swell and I would suffer breathing difficulties." For almost five years, she had to endure this agony as doctors did not know what medication to give her.

Then, 10 years ago, she saw a physician in Klang who gave her drugs which did not trigger any allergic reaction.

Azura Shamsuddin, 29, who is allergic to paracetamol, said she saw her company panel clinic doctor three years ago when she had a fever. The doctor gave her paracetamol although she had made it clear that she was allergic to it.

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