24/7 ALLERGIC REACTION CARE
Allergic Reaction ER in Houston — 24/7 Emergency Care
An allergic reaction is an emergency when it causes trouble breathing, wheezing, throat tightness, swelling of the lips or tongue, dizziness, fainting, or vomiting—especially soon after a food, medication, or insect sting. The Heights Emergency Room in Houston is open 24/7 for walk-ins and treats severe reactions.
Open 24/7 • Walk-Ins Welcome • No Appointment Required
WHAT WE OFFER
Emergency Care for Allergic Reactions, Day or Night
Open 24/7, Even Holidays
Severe reactions can happen at any hour. We are open every hour of every day.
Walk-Ins Welcome
No appointment or referral is needed for emergency evaluation.
Epinephrine
Epinephrine and emergency treatment for severe reactions.
Antihistamines & Steroids
Medication to calm hives, itching, and swelling when appropriate.
Breathing Support
Oxygen and nebulizer treatments for wheezing.
Near Houston Heights
101 N Loop W #300, Houston, TX 77018, on the North Loop.
Mild itching or a few hives can often be managed with an antihistamine. Any breathing, throat, or circulation symptoms make it an emergency.
ALLERGY WARNING SIGNS
When Is an Allergic Reaction an Emergency?
An allergic reaction is an emergency when it affects breathing, the throat, or circulation: wheezing, shortness of breath, throat tightness, a hoarse voice, trouble swallowing, swelling of the lips or tongue, dizziness, fainting, or repeated vomiting. Hives spreading over much of the body, or symptoms in more than one part of the body, can signal anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis can develop within minutes and worsen quickly. Even if symptoms improve after epinephrine, you still need emergency evaluation, because symptoms can return hours later.
Get emergency care for an allergic reaction with:
- Trouble breathing or wheezing
- Throat tightness or a hoarse voice
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, or face
- Trouble swallowing or drooling
- Dizziness, fainting, or a weak pulse
- Repeated vomiting or severe stomach cramps
- Widespread hives after a known allergen
- Any reaction that needed epinephrine
PATIENT REVIEWS
What Patients Say About The Heights Emergency Room
4.7
★★★★★
Based on 664 Google reviews (as of October 2026)
Patients frequently mention a welcoming atmosphere and a clean facility.
E
Erika M. on Google
★★★★★
My sister went into anaphylactic shock while at work and her airway started to close. When we walked in the receptionist took one look at her swelling and ushered us to a medical suite. … I am immensely grateful to the care staff here. Their professionalism and efficiency went a long way to keep my sister calm during the whole process.
K
Kendi on Google
★★★★★
I had a great experience at The Heights Emergency Room after a head injury. … Dr. Zahid was very thorough in his evaluation and took the time to explain everything clearly. … I’m very grateful for the excellent care I received and would highly recommend The Heights Emergency Room!
A
Ahson W. on Google
★★★★★
Very good service. I brought my son here and they very quickly attended to him. … Abdullah took my son’s blood and Pablo administered the CT scan. … Dr. Khan explained the results thoroughly and professionally.
M
Michelle R. on Google
★★★★★
I had a great experience at this ER. The facility was very clean, and the staff was attentive, professional, and compassionate. They took the time to listen to my concerns and made sure all of my needs were addressed. I felt well cared for throughout my visit.
S
Samantha M. on Google
★★★★★
The staff here are amazing!! I had an embarrassing and painful health issue. … This staff made me feel so comfortable and supported through the pain, I didn’t feel embarrassed. … I left feeling heard, educated, and 1000% better!
Need emergency care now?
The Heights Emergency Room is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. No appointment needed.
Reviews reflect individual patient experiences; care and outcomes vary.
Having an Allergic Reaction?
The Heights Emergency Room is open 24/7 for allergic reactions, with no appointment needed.
For throat swelling or trouble breathing, use epinephrine if prescribed and call 911.
On This Page
Allergic Reaction? We’re Open 24/7
Emergency evaluation is available day and night at The Heights Emergency Room.
When Should I Call 911 for Anaphylaxis?
Call 911 immediately for any sign that a reaction is affecting breathing or circulation.
Signs of anaphylaxis
- Throat tightness, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing
- Wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath
- Swelling of the tongue, lips, or face
- Pale or blue skin, a weak pulse, or dizziness
- Fainting or confusion
- A sense that something terrible is happening
Symptoms usually begin within minutes to two hours after exposure.
Using Epinephrine
Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, and it works best when given early.
What to do
- Inject into the outer thigh; it can go through clothing
- Call 911 right after using it
- Lie down with legs raised, or sit up if breathing is hard
- Use a second dose after 5 to 15 minutes if symptoms don’t improve and one is available
- Go to the ER even if you feel better
Antihistamines alone are not enough to treat anaphylaxis.
Should I Go to the ER for Swollen Lips or Tongue?
Yes. Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat (angioedema) needs prompt evaluation.
Swelling that affects the tongue or throat can block the airway, so call 911 if you have trouble breathing, swallowing, or speaking. Some medications, including ACE inhibitors used for blood pressure, can cause swelling without hives that does not respond well to antihistamines.
Is Hives With Trouble Breathing an Emergency?
Yes. Hives combined with any breathing symptoms suggests a reaction affecting more than the skin.
Hives alone—itchy, raised welts without other symptoms—can often be treated with an antihistamine and monitored. Hives with wheezing, throat tightness, dizziness, or vomiting can signal anaphylaxis and need emergency care, often starting with epinephrine. Learn more on our shortness of breath ER page.
COMMON TRIGGERS
Food, Medication, and Insect Sting Allergies
Severe allergic reactions are most often triggered by a short list of exposures.
Common triggers
- Foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, fish, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, and sesame
- Medications, including some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs
- Stings from bees, wasps, hornets, and fire ants
- Latex
- Contrast dye and other medical exposures
Children may describe a reaction as their mouth feeling “spicy” or their tongue feeling “too big.” A child with a known allergy who has any breathing symptoms after exposure needs epinephrine and emergency care. See our pediatric ER page.
YOUR ER VISIT
What Happens When You Visit the ER for an Allergic Reaction?
Severe reactions are treated as a priority. The team checks your breathing, oxygen level, blood pressure, and heart rate.
Epinephrine
Epinephrine is given for anaphylaxis, sometimes in repeated doses, to open the airways and support blood pressure.
Additional Medications
Antihistamines and steroids may be given to relieve hives, itching, and swelling.
Breathing Support & Monitoring
Oxygen, nebulizer treatments, and IV fluids as needed, followed by observation because symptoms can return.
You may be observed for several hours after a severe reaction, advised to follow up with your doctor or an allergist, and prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector.
Types of Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions range from mild to life-threatening:
Hives & Itching
Raised, itchy welts on the skin, usually mild when they occur alone.
Angioedema
Deeper swelling of the lips, eyes, tongue, or throat.
Respiratory Reactions
Wheezing, coughing, and throat tightness that can block breathing.
Anaphylaxis
A whole-body reaction affecting breathing and blood pressure.
Delayed, second-phase reactions can occur hours later, so follow your discharge instructions carefully. This list is general information, not a diagnosis.
QUICK ANSWERS
Allergic Reaction Questions, Answered
When is an allergic reaction an emergency?
An allergic reaction is an emergency when it affects breathing, the throat, or circulation—wheezing, throat tightness, a hoarse voice, trouble swallowing, tongue or lip swelling, dizziness, fainting, or repeated vomiting. Symptoms in more than one part of the body after a known trigger can signal anaphylaxis. Use epinephrine if prescribed and call 911.
Should I go to the ER for swollen lips or tongue?
Yes. Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat can threaten the airway and should be evaluated promptly. Call 911 if you have trouble breathing, swallowing, or speaking. Some blood pressure medications can cause this swelling without hives, and it may not respond to antihistamines.
Is hives with trouble breathing an emergency?
Yes. Hives with wheezing, shortness of breath, or throat tightness suggests a reaction that has spread beyond the skin and may be anaphylaxis. Use an epinephrine auto-injector if you have one and call 911. Hives alone, without other symptoms, can often be treated with an antihistamine.
Where should I go in Houston for a severe allergic reaction?
For a severe allergic reaction with breathing or throat symptoms, call 911. For other concerning reactions, The Heights Emergency Room at 101 N Loop W #300, Houston, TX 77018, is open 24/7 with epinephrine, antihistamines, steroids, and breathing treatments available. No appointment is needed.
When should I call 911 for anaphylaxis?
Call 911 immediately for any sign of anaphylaxis: throat tightness, trouble breathing or swallowing, tongue swelling, dizziness, fainting, or a weak pulse after an allergic exposure. Use epinephrine first if it’s available. Don’t drive yourself, since symptoms can worsen within minutes.
EMERGENCY SAFETY
When Should You Call 911 for an Allergic Reaction?
Call 911 for any allergic reaction that affects breathing, the throat, or circulation.
Call 911 for:
- Throat tightness or swelling
- Trouble breathing or wheezing
- A swollen tongue or trouble swallowing
- A hoarse voice or drooling
- Dizziness, fainting, or collapse
- A weak pulse or pale, clammy skin
- Symptoms after using epinephrine
- A severe reaction in a child
Paramedics carry epinephrine and can give oxygen and support breathing on the way to the hospital.
Never drive yourself during an allergic reaction; symptoms can worsen within minutes.
WHERE TO GO
ER vs Urgent Care for an Allergic Reaction
Urgent care can help with mild, skin-only reactions. Any reaction involving breathing, the throat, dizziness, or repeated vomiting needs emergency care, often starting with a 911 call.
Call 911
- Throat swelling or tightness
- Trouble breathing
- Fainting or collapse
- A reaction after using epinephrine
Go to the ER
- Lip or facial swelling
- Widespread hives after a known allergen
- Vomiting after a food or sting
- A reaction in someone with past anaphylaxis
- Rapidly spreading hives
Urgent Care or Your Doctor
- A few hives with no other symptoms
- Mild itching after a new food
- A local reaction around an insect sting
If you are unsure, choose the ER.
Learn more about the difference between urgent care and the ER.
24/7 Allergic Reaction Care in Houston
Severe allergic reactions don’t wait. The Heights Emergency Room is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
Emergency Physician Evaluation
Assessment of airway and breathing.
Epinephrine
For anaphylaxis.
Antihistamines
To relieve hives and itching.
Steroids
To reduce inflammation.
Breathing Treatments
Oxygen and nebulizer therapy.
Observation
Monitoring for returning symptoms.
Testing and treatment depend on your symptoms and the physician’s evaluation.
Allergic Reaction ER Near Houston Heights
The Heights Emergency Room is a freestanding emergency room at 101 N Loop W #300, Houston, TX 77018, along the North Loop (610). It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for adults and children with allergic reactions and can be reached at (281) 560-4373.
The Heights Emergency Room
101 N Loop W #300
Houston, TX 77018
Houston, TX 77018
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
If you are searching for:
- Allergic reaction ER near me
- Anaphylaxis ER in Houston
- ER for swollen lips near Houston Heights
- Food allergy emergency room
The Heights Emergency Room is open day and night for allergic reactions.
Serving Houston Heights and Nearby Neighborhoods
Patients with allergic reactions—from foods and medications to Houston’s bees, wasps, and fire ants—come to us from across central and northwest Houston, including Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, Houston Heights, Timbergrove, Woodland Heights, Independence Heights, the Northside, Rice Military, the Washington Avenue corridor, First Ward, and Downtown. For severe reactions, call 911.
ZIP 77018
Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, and Independence Heights / Central Northwest
ZIP 77008
Houston Heights, Lazybrook, and Timbergrove
ZIP 77009
Heights East, Northside, and the Woodland Heights area
ZIP 77022
Independence Heights and Northline / Northside
ZIP 77007
Washington Avenue, Rice Military, the western and southern Heights, and First Ward
ZIP 77002
Downtown, northern Downtown, and nearby First Ward areas
Travel times vary with traffic and time of day.
FAQ
Allergic Reaction ER — Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A second wave of symptoms, called a biphasic reaction, can occur hours later, even without new exposure. That’s why observation after a severe reaction and clear discharge instructions matter.
Antihistamines can help itching and hives but do not treat anaphylaxis. For breathing, throat, or circulation symptoms, use epinephrine and call 911.
Yes. New food, medication, and insect allergies can develop at any age.
After a severe reaction, your physician may recommend one and advise follow-up with an allergist. If it’s prescribed, carry it with you at all times.
Scrape out a bee stinger, wash the area, and apply ice. Watch for symptoms beyond the sting site, such as hives elsewhere, facial swelling, or trouble breathing, and seek emergency care if they appear.
Yes. The Heights Emergency Room treats children 24/7 and has a patient room dedicated to pediatric patients. Call 911 for a child with breathing or throat symptoms.
Medical disclaimer: This page provides general health information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Allergic Reaction? Emergency Care Is Available 24/7
Get evaluated for allergic reactions with swelling, widespread hives, vomiting, or any breathing symptoms.
For throat swelling or trouble breathing, use epinephrine if prescribed and call 911 immediately.
