What type of medications are known to have a high incidence of allergic reactions?

Antibiotics are known to have a high incidence of allergic reactions due to their widespread use and the variety of classes they encompass. Common antibiotics, such as penicillin and sulfonamides, can provoke hypersensitivity reactions in some individuals, ranging from mild skin rashes to severe anaphylaxis. The immune system may identify these medications as foreign substances, leading to an allergic response. This reaction can occur even after a patient has taken the antibiotic without issues in the past, highlighting the unpredictable nature of drug allergies.

Other categories of medications, while they can also cause allergic reactions, do not typically exhibit the same frequency or severity associated with antibiotics. For example, analgesics can cause reactions but often more related to side effects rather than classic allergic responses. Antihistamines are designed to mitigate allergic responses rather than provoke them, and while some antidepressants may cause allergic reactions, they are generally less common than those seen with antibiotics.