• SKIP TO CONTENT
  • SKIP NAVIGATION
  • Patient Resources
    • COVID-19 Patient Resource Center
    • Clinical Trials
    • Search Clinical Trials
    • Patient Notification System
    • What is Clinical Research?
    • Volunteering for a Clinical Trial
    • Understanding Informed Consent
    • Useful Resources
    • FDA Approved Drugs
  • Professional Resources
    • Research Center Profiles
    • Clinical Trial Listings
    • Market Research
    • FDA Approved Drugs
    • Training Guides
    • Books
    • eLearning
    • Events
    • Newsletters
    • JobWatch
    • White Papers
    • SOPs
    • eCFR and Guidances
  • White Papers
  • Trial Listings
  • Advertise
  • COVID-19
  • iConnect
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Home » NICE releases guidelines to improve recording of drug allergies

NICE releases guidelines to improve recording of drug allergies

September 3, 2014
CenterWatch Staff

Redesigning prescriptions to include information on drugs or drug classes that patients with known drug allergies should avoid can reduce the risk of allergic reactions, according to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Providing this information could help avoid patients with known allergies wrongly receiving drugs that could endanger their health.

While all drugs can have side effects, some can lead to allergic reactions caused by drug intolerance. Drugs often responsible for allergic reactions include antibiotics, general anesthesia and painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

In certain cases, the reaction can be severe. Each year about 62,000 people are admitted to hospitals after experiencing a serious allergic reaction to a drug. Between 2005 and 2013, there were 18,079 such incidents, including six deaths, and 19 people who were severely harmed.

People with drug allergies currently are being prescribed or administered drugs to which they are allergic for several reasons, including poor clinical documentation of drug allergy, the lack of patient information on drug allergy and the lack of a routine system in place for people to keep a record of their own drug allergies.

To tackle this, NICE has published a new guideline on the diagnosis and management of drug allergy in adults, children and young people. The guideline recommends that when a person presents with suspected drug allergy, the reaction should be documented in a structured approach.

Among the information included should be the generic and proprietary name of the drug or drugs suspected to have caused the reaction, including the strength and formulation, a description of the reaction and the date and time of the reaction.

NICE recommends paper or electronic prescriptions in any healthcare setting should be standardized and redesigned to record information on which drugs or drug classes to avoid, to reduce the risk of drug allergy.

The guideline recommends a method for prioritizing the thorough assessment of any person who is suspected of having a drug allergy and details what signs to look for.

Dr. Shuaib Nasser, consultant allergist, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge and chair of the guideline development group, said, “Wrongly prescribing drugs to people with known allergies puts them at serious risk of harm, but we know this can be avoided. It is important that this is done, as some allergic reactions can be fatal. People should be provided with structured written information on drugs to avoid and be advised to check with their pharmacist before taking over-the-counter medicines.”

Professor Mark Baker, director of the Center for Clinical Practice at NICE, said, “About half a million people admitted into NHS hospitals each year will have a diagnosed drug allergy. This new guideline encourages all healthcare professionals to be alert to the possibility of drug allergies and offers best practice on clinical management to ensure every individual is spared from serious harm.”

Upcoming Events

  • 24May

    Powering an Effective Oversight Strategy with Clinical and Operational Insights

  • 25May

    2022 WCG Avoca Quality & Innovation Summit: Own the Future

  • 28Jun

    Effective Root Cause Analysis and CAPA Investigations for the Life Sciences

  • 16Oct

    WCG MAGI's Clinical Research Hybrid Conference - 2022 West

Featured Products

  • Spreadsheet Validation: Tools and Techniques to Make Data in Excel Compliant

    Spreadsheet Validation: Tools and Techniques to Make Data in Excel Compliant

  • Surviving an FDA GCP Inspection

    Surviving an FDA GCP Inspection: Resources for Investigators, Sponsors, CROs and IRBs

Featured Stories

  • Protocol-360x240.png

    Avoid Deviations by Making Protocol Review a Team Effort

  • SelectionProcess-360x240.png

    Give Us a Voice: Sites Clamor for a Say on Vendor Selection

  • Convince-360x240.png

    Use Data and Details to Convince Site Leadership to Add Staff

  • AsktheExpertsBadge-360x240.png

    Ask the Experts: Listing Trial Staff and Others on the Statement of Investigator

Standard Operating Procedures for Risk-Based Monitoring of Clinical Trials

The information you need to adapt your monitoring plan to changing times.

Learn More Here
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

Footer Logo

300 N. Washington St., Suite 200, Falls Church, VA 22046, USA

Phone 617.948.5100 – Toll free 866.219.3440

Copyright © 2022. All Rights Reserved. Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing