CHI - St. Joseph's Health - MN

www.SJAHS.org | CHI St. Joseph's Health 3 T hanks to the skin rash you get when taking amoxicillin, you are always careful to tell physicians about your penicillin allergy. But could you really have amoxicillin intolerance instead—and what's the difference? "Both allergies and intolerance are unwanted reactions to a medication or medical device," says Jodi Behrens, PharmD, pharmacist at CHI St. Joseph's Health. "A true allergic reaction involves rash, hives, itching, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat. When the reaction is severe, it is called anaphylaxis, and it means you cannot use any chemically similar types of medication." Intolerance is a less severe reaction that may involve confusion, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, and nausea. "Intolerance means you would still be able to try a different medication from the same family," Behrens says. "Sometimes different products from the same family are tolerated better than others." KNOWING CAN SAVE A LIFE "As more bacteria become resistant to our antibiotics, knowing the difference between intolerance and a true allergy will be essential," says Behrens. "For example, if a patient lists several antibiotics as allergies when they merely caused an upset stomach, then later the patient develops a severe infection, a practitioner may be limited in choosing the antibiotic needed to treat this infection. This could be a life-or-death situation in some instances." Behrens recommends being specific about the type of reaction you had when listing a medication as an allergy. Your physician can test to see if you have a true allergy preventing you from taking any medication within a certain chemical family. Take charge of your health! Ask your physician to clarify if you have allergies or intolerances to medical treatments. F or some children in our community, weekend hunger is a reality. That's where a program called Food Angels comes in, providing to-go meals for kids in need of nourishment. Every Friday, about 70 area children in grades K–3 receive a free grocery bag filled with two entrees, two fruits, two vegetables, two cereals and two snacks. Each bag costs from $3–$4 to pack. The Food Angel program is possible thanks to volunteers, community partners, and financial support from the Blandin Foundation. Want to help? Mail donations to the attention of SonjaDay at CHI St. Joseph's Health Foundation, 600 Pleasant Avenue, Park Rapids, MN 56470. To volunteer with Food Angels, call Pastor Sara Jensen from Calvary Lutheran Church at 218.732.7284. Drug Allergy vs. Intolerance Food Angels Knowing the difference between a true medication allergy and a physical intolerance is important for you and your medical team. Jodi Behrens, PharmD

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