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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108

u/MissyChevious613 EM Social Worker Feb 02 '25

My personal favorite was 54 allergies AND she claimed she's allergic to all generic medications. She was a real gem.

12

u/Comprehensive_Ant984 Feb 02 '25

My god. Did we know the same person? I had a law firm partner who always listed all of her (exhaustive) food preferences as allergies. She was also a huge label diva, and boasted ab how she always told her doctors that she was allergic to all generic medications bc that way they’d be forced to give her brand names only. Blew my mind.

4

u/Whatsthathum Physician Feb 03 '25

“Label diva” What a perfect descriptor! Thank you!