Drug-induced flushing reaction is characterized by episodic erythema and warmth of the head, neck, and arms associated with the use of a medication or other drug. Flushing is an involuntary response of the central nervous system that increases cutaneous blood flow. Onset is hours to days after initiation of medication. Common medications that trigger a flushing reaction include nicotinic acid (niacin), vasodilators, calcium channel blockers, nitroglycerin, anti-inflammatories, cholinergics, beta blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Other drugs, including opiates, amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite, cocaine, heroin, alcohol, and amphetamines, as well as alcohol combined with drugs, can cause severe reactions with flushing.
Certain medications known to cause moderate drug-induced flushing reaction, such as infused vancomycin, may be treated by giving patients diphenhydramine and famotidine, then restarting vancomycin at a reduced dosage.
Some medications, such as antiestrogen medications, can induce a pharmacologic menopause reaction. Withdrawal from hormone replacement therapy can also induce a flushing reaction.
Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by excess serotonergic activation. Be sure to ask about medications that may have serotonergic effects within the central nervous system. These drugs include serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and opiates. Other medications such as triptans, antibiotics, antiemetics, cough syrups, herbal remedies, or illicit drugs can cause serotonin syndrome in the setting of serotonergic medications listed previously. Serotonin syndrome is a clinical diagnosis and encompasses a spectrum of disease. Classically, serotonin syndrome is composed of a triad of mental status changes, autonomic hyperactivity, and neuromuscular abnormalities. The spectrum of disease ranges from benign to lethal and may be missed.
Alcohol is a common cause of "dry flushing" in patients with aldehyde dehydrogenase gene polymorphisms. A deficiency in aldehyde dehydrogenase causes an increase in acetaldehyde levels, which slows alcohol metabolism and causes a cutaneous flushing reaction. Patients may also report dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, anxiety, headache, weakness, nausea, or vomiting associated with alcohol intake. Even in the absence of an aldehyde dehydrogenase gene polymorphism, alcohol combined with medications can cause a flushing reaction. Those medications include disulfiram, chlorpropamide, metronidazole, ketoconazole, griseofulvin, cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, antimalarials, and topical tacrolimus.
Drug-induced flushing reaction
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Synopsis

Codes
ICD10CM:
R23.2 – Flushing
SNOMEDCT:
403618004 – Drug-induced flushing
R23.2 – Flushing
SNOMEDCT:
403618004 – Drug-induced flushing
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
The most common causes of flushing:
- Benign cutaneous flushing – Caused by emotion, temperature, food, or beverages.
- Fever
- Alcohol – May cause flushing directly or via its metabolite acetaldehyde. More common among patients of Asian descent that may have aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 deficiency. Certain drugs combined with alcohol may cause flushing.
- Menopause – Can be provoked by warmth, hot drinks, alcohol, and mental stress.
- Rosacea
- Cluster headache
- Carcinoid / neuroendocrine
- Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid
- Pheochromocytoma
- Renal cell carcinoma
- Pancreatic cell tumor (VIPoma) – History usually includes watery diarrhea.
- Anaphylaxis
- Mastocytosis – An important consideration in the pediatric population.
- Serotonin syndrome
- Parkinson disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Autonomic hyperreflexia
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Migraine
- Horner syndrome
- Systemic mastocytosis
- Frey syndrome
- Fish ingestion (histamine and ciguatera) – Results from improper refrigeration of fish.
- Hyperthyroidism
- Psychiatric or anxiety disorders
- Dumping syndrome
- Alcohol
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Therapy
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Drug Reaction Data
Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.
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References
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Last Reviewed:02/05/2019
Last Updated:02/01/2023
Last Updated:02/01/2023