Rash on hands
- Been taking HCT 25 mg for at least 2 yrs for mild blood pressure. Had my annual check up last June & was fine. Since Dec., a rash on hands, throat feels coated & tongue irritated. Chills & warm. Menstrual abnormalities all tested fine, docs had no clue & offered me an antidepressant for perimenopause. I was like, wtf, it is heavy periods not depression! I'm calling the doc tomorrow but I am not taking this crap anymore. I thought the rash was from lotion or something but now I realize it's this stupid pill I've been taking for over 2 years. I too am going on herbal stuff because I have mild HBP. No insurance, my husband was laid off last June so it stopped June 30th. I will get a bp cuff & monitor it myself, exercise more and forget doctors and pills. Kudos to the UTI person above. My grandmother never had health insurance growing up. Sheesh.
- —Guest Marie
Horrible Sulfa Reaction
- I have had several sulfa reactions since I was in my early 20's. I actually didn't know it was due to sulfa until recently. Every time I had a UTI infection, the medication that was given to me caused a horrible skin reaction in the vaginal area and caused swelling of the mouth. I had to sit in a warm bath for hours and take pain medication to deal with the intense pain. I didn't know at the time that it was due to the medication because every time I went to the ER, they diagnosed it as an STD. Finally, in my late 20's, I went to a specialist of STD's when I had a reaction and he took a biopsy of my skin and said it was just a skin allegery and not an STD. Still confused as to what was causing this horrible reaction, I found out years later that it was actually sulfa that was causing this.
- —Guest Wendy
immediate reaction
- was prescribed Bactrim for uti by my doctor. within 15 or 20 min. started itching like crazy and broke out in hives on face and arms. called er and was told to take Benadryl and come in. my daughter drove me and er Dr. said i was allergic to sulfa. gave me 2 shots and a pepcid pill and prescription for prednizone and pepcid and to see my family Dr. and not to take any sulfa drugs.
- —Guest Dorothy McMurray
Non-itchy rash from Bactrim
- I was prescribed Bactrim for a (non-existent) sinus infection that the doctor thought I had. I took the pills for 10 days and on the 11th day noticed bizarre spots on my skin, mostly on my stomach. They were sort of horseshoe shaped and about the size of a pinkie fingernail. They didn't itch at all, which struck me as odd. They faded in 2-3 days, but I had read up on Stevens Johnsons Syndrome and was scared to death that entire time. A doctor I went to later said she doesn't know why anyone prescribes Sulfa drugs since a ton of people seem to be allergic. I have to say I agree with her.
- —Guest Catherine
able to take biaxin if allergy to sulpha
- I am alergic to bioxin, the sulpha drug. I have found i can't drink white or red wine also due to the sulphides in wine. Can i take Biaxin if allergic to Bactrim?
- —lindalou4
It's not just the meds, other things too
- This post is to remind people who have found out they are allergic to a sulfar product that they also have to check their food and drinks, as well as over the counter cosmetics and medications and remember that natural products have sulfar naturally occurring. My sulfar allergy has escalated in the past 5 years. I have been checking everything now from toothpaste to jams! As a teenager 35 yers ago, I used Clearasil all the time, guess why my acne never cleared up? Sulfar would have exacerbated my acne. That was in the days before the contents were on the label, but who would have thought something so everyday would cause that reaction? Latest outbreak was banana chips, and at Christmas, Christmas cake with dried fruit! now I am getty my own dehydrator to dry fruit so never have this again
- —Guest DrG
Prescribed a BPMedication - Cozaar
- I was prescribed Cozaar for high BP after surgery for Breast Cancer. I took just 1 pill and came out in full reaction; itching, welts, hives all over, vomiting, food aversion, chest pain, acid reflux, hammering heartbeat! Saw doctor in family's practice @18 hours after ingestion who sent me home recommending only over the counter Claritin and Zantac -useless. Couldn't keep water down ! Ended up in the ER where I was prescribed only 5 days worth of Prednizone (once a day), given an Epi-pen, then next day, family doctor prescribed 20mg Reactine. Been taking Reactine daily for 6 months and it's only masking the reaction. Finally found out Cozaar not tolerated by those with sulfa allergy. Got another 10 days of Prednisone yesterday and now find out if you have had surgery, then Prednisone dose should be upped. I had surgery only 3 weeks before the initial reaction took place! No wonder the med did not fully work. Fingers crossed that now I have more steroid, I will be free of this at last.
- —clairevbr
It's up to YOU to stay safe
- One thing I've learned is not to trust your doctor or pharmacy to protect you from your sulfa reaction. I had my first reaction at age 3. It was diagnosed and put on all my records from then on. Yet I've managed to fill 3 prescriptions from doctors for sulfa based medicines since then, every time with both the doctor and the filling pharmacy having my allergy in their records. By the last time I had learned to check the prescriptions in the PDR before taking them. And remember that sulfa can come in cream as well as pills. Every reaction for me has been worse and lasted longer. It started with just skin reaction for a few days. Then skin reaction with massive swelling for a week or so. The last was the skin reaction, swelling that caused anaphylaxis, sores in my mucous membranes, and a platelet problem that lasted for months leading to bruising and random bleeding episodes.
- —Guest Mari
Bactrim is horrible!
- I was given Bactrim for a slight UTI infection. I have had UTIs before so I wasn't concerned with taking anything and had no real serious allergies to meds. After the 3 pill, the left side of my face start puff up esp around my ear. I got concerned and toyed with the idea of going to ER but decided to wait and see. It went away about 8 hours later and than started up again 1 hour after that. Than the area above my knees started to puff up too. Eeek! Not to mention the insomnia, nervousness, faster heart rate too. Went to ER. Stopped the Bactrim and I am now taking Bendryl and switch to Cipro for the UTI (even though I think it is gone but better safe than sorry). Within four hours, of taking the Bendryl, I could feel all the Bactrim leaving my body. It did it in sprurts but I still have a little swelling on my face
- —Guest kgarbac
Sulfa's Nearly Sent Me to the Hospital!
- I was prescribed Bactrim DS for MRSA 3 times in 3 months with no adverse reaction. The last time I was prescribed the treatment, everything went fine and I took my last two pills in the morning and went to work. When I came home my joints hurt and I felt weak. I had minor swelling where the seams of my clothes touched my body. I was very tired, so I went to bed and thought no more of it. When I woke up 12 HOURS LATER, I went to the bathroom to wash my face. My lips felt kinda numb. When I looked in the mirror, my lips and eyelids had puffed up so bad that it looked like I had gotten into a fight! The reaction continued to develop for 2 days. I broke out in hives all over my body, had a rapid heartbeat, fight-or-flight panicky feeling, difficult breathing, swollen face and hands, blurry vision, fatigue & malaise. I also had very vivid dreams/nightmares. Took me two weeks of Benadryl to recover and heal up. I now have a slight cough and frequent dizziness upon standing. NEVER AGAIN!!!
- —Guest Liz
sulpha allergy
- I found out i had a sulfa allergy i got bad itchy hands and my fingers on both hands got swollen. it happened when i was on bactrim
- —Guest samamtha
Beware of Spiractin
- Over 30 yrs. ago I was told I was allergic to Sulpha drugs after a reaction to Bactrim. As I have numerous allergies I take a type written list to all new doctors I see. A cardiologist wanted me to take Spiractin to help my BP. and so started me on 1/2 tablet daily for the first 2 weeks and then increase to 1 per day.(Slowly, because of my allergies). After 3 1/2 tablets I had started to come out in a rash, so stopped the meds. immediately. The rash continued to come out for the next 7 days. Needed treatment for the rash and itch - not fun during a very hot summer. The patient information sheet I was given by the local chemist made no mention of Sulphur as an ingredient!!! Discovered this after searching the internet. Incidently , I rang My Dermatologist, who called me in and did a skin biopsy. This was positive to Drug reaction. Am about to undertake further allergy testing. So sick of these rashes.
- —Guest Joan
Sulfa night mare
- My first and may I say my last time to take Sulfa almost took my life. Fifteen minutes after I took the drug I broke out in hives. Not long after that my breathing was affective. I was given Benadryl, breathing treatments and etc. After two + hours the doctors finally got me stabilized. Now I have to make sure that no medication I am given has Sulfa in it. I just found out yesterday that a medication I have been taking for over three years has Sulfa in it. Some of the medical problems I have now may be linked to the medicines I have been taking. What a nightmare and it keeps on going..... Next step, I have my doctors’ and pharmacy keep an eye on what medications they give me as well as those I am taking now.
- —chandlersgraceandgwen
coping w. sulfa allergy for over 40 yrs.
- I had anaphylaxic shock in 5 min. after 1 sulfa pill at 20 yrs of age. I have a Medic Alert bracelet, carry sulfa info in my billfold, have 2 Epi-pens and 4 Pecid-Ac for any sudden reaction (Not sure why Pepcid-Ac helps a reaction.) Drs never prescribed ANYTHING w. sulfa for my children as I might touch it. I ask every healthcare person who is treating me or giving me a cream, pill, etc. if it contains sulfonamides. Dr. gave me samples of Vioxx 8 yrs ago and I had a reaction to it due to the 'sulfa connection'. It was slower coming on, but was gearing up to full blown breathing problems and swelling in mouth, throat, tongue. Quickly took Benadryl and so on and my nurse neighbor came over to 'keep watch' on me. Morale of story -- no samples, always go thru the pharmacy so the med can be checked. Various classes of drugs contain sulfonamides ie diuretics, not just antibiotics. I am often not taken seriously even after explaining the severe reaction I have had. hope this helps.
- —Guest Dawn Harrison
Sulfa Allergy following Septra use
- A month ago my DR prescribed Septra to treat a Sinus infection. Took it for the whole 10 days, 11th day I started having rashes, 12th day my lips were swollen. I started having ulcers in my mouth. 1 st hospital couldnt tell what I had, my mom forced them to have dermatologist seeing me. The dermatologist just looked at me and found out I had Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, went through surgery immediately at a hospital specialized with burned patients and they saved my life. I'm now recovering, will take a bit of time but I'm safe and at least I know I'm allergic to sulfa. This is really serious if you have minute google Steven Johnson or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis acknowledging the symptoms and everything might save your life one day.
- —Guest Sandy
