r/emergencymedicine • u/Asleep-Palpitation43 Nurse Practiciner • Feb 02 '25

Advice Allergy Olympics

Is it wrong that if I see a patient has more than 10 allergies I IMMEDIATELY assume she's (bc it's always a she) a psych case?

In 24 years I've never been wrong.

You'll never read this in a textbook but add it to your practice today and thank me later👍

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107

u/Nurseytypechick RN Feb 02 '25

Coworker joked for every 5 allergies you get a psych dx. I looked over and said "hey!" Real sad like because I have 5 documented allergies and PTSD... lol.

It's not gender exclusive though.

The real question is, is it overinterpretation of allergic symptoms by anxious folks, or is there some correlation between anxiety/mental illness and system hyperreactivity. For the non shitpost aspect.

120

u/USCDiver5152 ED Attending Feb 02 '25

It’s the fact that the EMR doesn’t distinguish allergy from intolerance/side effects.

73

u/MarfanoidDroid ED Attending Feb 02 '25

Allergy: metoprolol

Reaction: bradycardia

33

u/axp95 Feb 02 '25

Allergy: codeine

Rxn: “makes him high”

Literally in the emr lol

2

u/melatonia Feb 02 '25

Sometimes recovered addicts will list opioids as an allergy.

1

u/axp95 Feb 02 '25

That was the only allergy listed lol

9

u/broadcity90210 Feb 02 '25

My personal favorite.

Allergy: Black Pepper

Reaction: “Sneezing”