What is recommended when a patient has aspirin/NSAID allergy?

• A. Use ibuprofen as first-line in all asthma patients.
• B. Always give aspirin for pain relief.
• C. Identify past allergic reactions or intolerance to aspirin/NSAIDs and provide alternative medicines such as acetaminophen.
• D. If NSAID allergic, ignore and continue.

Answer: (C)

When a patient has aspirin or NSAID allergy, the priority is to identify any past reactions or intolerance and choose a safe alternative for pain relief. Recognizing prior reactions helps avoid triggering symptoms, which can range from mild to severe. If an allergy or intolerance is present, NSAIDs and aspirin should be avoided, and a safe alternative like acetaminophen can provide effective analgesia and antipyretic effects without the NSAID-related risk. This approach protects the patient from potential allergic or hypersensitivity reactions while still offering effective symptom relief. In contrast, prescribing NSAIDs or aspirin by default is unsafe for someone with a known allergy, and simply ignoring an allergy is not acceptable. For context, some patients with asthma or other sensitivities may react to NSAIDs, so it’s especially important to verify history rather than assume safety.