From the article: Sulfa Drug Allergy
There are numerous medications that contain sulfa molecules. Some very sensitive people have allergic reactions to many of these drugs, and so they go to great lengths to make sure that they don't take these medications accidentally. Are you one of them? Share how you've been able to deal with being allergic to sulfa drugs and avoid such reactions. Share Your Experiences
Guest Sunni
- I was given sulfa for an infection. I started feeling like I was getting the flu but took the full course of the meds. I broke out in a blotch all over my body and had a high fever (103). I was in acute kidney failure and in the hospital for 3 days. I had taken HCZD and my doctor took me off of it. Now I have blood pressure problems. I need a diuretic. Can you suggest one that I can take? HELP!!
- —Guest sunnio
Bactrim
- My 22 year old daughter had a bad reaction to Bactrim 2 years ago. Has had a bad cough since that time. Nothing has helped that. As for what to take for UTI, alka-seltzer works like a charm! May have to repeat a couple of times, but it worked for me within 30 minutes.
- —Guest kalyn
sulfa dangers
- i was given sulfa by a careless doctor that didnt look at my medical file. i broke out in hives and swelled really bad. this was in march and i still have hives and swelling daily. i was told that the trauma my body went thru triggered a secondary reaction. now anytime i change tempture (go out in the cold) i breakout in hives and swell. i never had any issues like this until the sulfa medicine.
- —tandra21
Bactrim messed me up!
- Dr. put me on a heavy regimen of Bactrim to treat a MRSA infection. Took 4 pills a day (along with 2 Cipro/day) for 6 days before I got really sick, felt weak, headache, no appetite. I lot 10 pounds within a couple days. But since I was also taking Cipro, Dr. wasn't sure which med I reacted to, so after a week off the meds, he put me back on a smaller daily dosage of Bactrim. Well, after taking just 1 pill, within 1 hour I developed hives and within 3 I was vomiting and had bad diarhea. At least we now knew what I was allergic to! Took me almost 3 days to recover from my second bad reaction. Never going near sulfa drugs again!
- —Guest Tom
Sulfa reaction
- I had a reaction to sulfa similar to guest Lori Ann. I got a very fast heart beat, cold and nervous feeling. But never got hives or a rash. The rapid heart beat was very scary. Has any one else had this?
- —Guest annette
Other meds for UTI
- I also can not take sulfa meds or penicillins, in fact, there is not a lot of antibiotics I can take. So, the dr. just looks at the allergies, and asks me which ones I can take. Usually it is Biaxin for URI, and I can take Cipro for UTI's.I usually have to take these meds for 10 days. These are the only ONES that do no give me shortness of breath,itching, or anaphylaxis at present. Hope this helps!
- —Guest Jody
Serious bactrim reaction
- When I was 7 years old my Dr. prescribed me bactrim for treating UTI. After 5 days I started having a rash all over my body, it was itchy and very red. Finally, I had a panic attack and high fever, which led to stevens johnsons syndrome. After 4 days of my episode, my lips, as well as my inner part of the mouth and nose, started to show blisters and burns, and I felt terrible. So, doctors determined that I was allergic to Sulfa. Now, after 9 years, I had an injury in my knee (meniscus) and I was prescribed Celebrex... I dindt feel nothing strange, and now, reading your experiences, I find out it contains sulfa.. thanks god I didnt show any reaction!!!
- —Guest Raffa
Sulpha allergy
- I finished a round of Septra-sulfa penicillin for a UTI. I was on it for 5 days. I felt sick the whole time - headache, fatigue and even vomitted once. A day after I was done the meds I started getting large itchy rashes all over my body - legs, arms, back. It has been 3 days since then and my hands, feet and lips are swelling. I saw my Dr yesterday and she said just to take Benalyn to treat the symptoms. She noted that I am allergic to sulfa meds and told me that I could continue to have reaction symptoms for the next 2 weeks. I am also experiencing itchy throat and am not sure if I should go the the Dr again or emergency or just wait.
- —Guest Maura
Sulfa Allergy-No Problem
- I am allergic to sulfa drugs and have been aware of this since childhood. I have never experienced an issue with a practitioner being unale to treat me with non-sulfa drugs. I make the clinic aware of my allergy before treatment is even up for discussion. I have, however, had my allergy reconfirmed. Last year I had a horrible upper-respiritory infection and no insurance so I used some of my mother's cough syrup. I noticed before I took it that it seemed to have milky/chalky properties of the straight syrup that I've always been prescribed in the past. Despite this, I still took the medicine and within 30min I was vomiting like crazy! When I googled the medication I found out too late that it was a sulfa drug. Lesson learned!
- —Guest Crystal
Silvadene caused skin allergy
- I was given Silvadene to apply to a large burn on my legs. I used it daily, applying it with my bare hands, for a month. I was unaware that it contained a sulfa component. by the end of the month, I developed a skin reaction that was thought to be dyshydrotic Exzema, but later on, was seen as a chronic reaction to sulfonimides. Now, I have an auto-immune response-type allergy that regularly flairs up, covering my hands with deep vesicles, which is followed by massive skin peeling. I'm now at my wit's end with the news that I will have this problem the rest of my life.
- —Guest Peter
report of allergy to sulfa
- The About.com article on sulfa reactions to celebrex said no reports of allergic reactions had been reported. I have a history of sensitivity to sulfa. I used it once and broke out in bright red, itchy skin reactions on my back and chest. It continued for a day or two. So much for using celebrex.
- —sulfa_ruth
one dose was enough for me
- I haven't taken an antibiotic for 35 years, but have always managed illness with herbal remedies. I developed my first ever UTI over the weekend and decided to go to a clinic to get checked. The doctor gave me a prescription for Bactrim. I was drinking unsweetened cranberry juice and taking cranberry pills but had been told this might not take care of the bacteria. I took one pill before bedtime. Early in the morning, I noticed about a dozen hives on my lower extremities. I did not take any more pills. A few hours later, I had loose stool and vomited. When I called the clinic, I was told to come in and get ANOTHER prescription. I went out right out and got a herbal compound that targets UTIs. Frankly, I am astonished at the level of ignorance out there about natural healing. In fact, when I told the doctor how I had taken care of myself fior 35 years, he laughed at me. That's the last time I go into a clinic.
- —Guest millie
Bad Sulfa Allergy
- I had a skin infection on my knee i went to the ER they gave me bactrim i took it for 8 days and was supposed to take it ten on the 7th day i had a few red bumps that looked like fla bites, the next morning i was covered it a red rash itching like crazy. i went back to the ER i had the chills i had a bad cough and a 101.9 fever it was hot out and i was freezing i stopped taking the bactrim and now i feel horrible im still covered and im itchy like crazy. I took an oatmeal bath and it didn't help. this is the worst thing ive ever had never take sulfa
- —Guest Paige
what to take
- I guess what I was trying to ask in my last note is there anyone who has found a drug they can take for UTI's that isn't one of the sulfa, amoxicillen, etc. drugs....
- —Guest Annie
Septra Anaphyaxis reaction after 10 yrs
- I had taken septra for 10 yrs for monthy UTI's. The last time I took it I was at work and within minutes a coworker asked me what was wrong. I felt nothing but was covered in red splotches that look like a bad sunburn. It started on my head and covered my body. Seconds later I was having trouble breathing and itching all over. I had an inhaler and I think it saved my life. by helping my airway long enough to get to the ER which was 10 min away. In the ER the only thing I recall is being put on oxygen and an IV. I also recall the benadryl did not work and they gave me more until they could not give any more. This was 17yrs ago so I'm sure care has changed. I have had an Epi-pen for 7 yrs. My second anaphyaxis reaction happened last yr in the hospital during allergy testing and I was given epinephrine right away but still had to stay in the hospital. So just because you never had a reaction does not mean you won't one day. Just be careful.
- —Guest Alyx
1-15 of 78Next
