Featured:
Allergies
Grilling Guide
eHow Now Blog

What to Avoid for a Sulfa Allergy

What to Avoid for a Sulfa Allergy thumbnail
Sulfa drugs come in pill, drops and ointment form.

Sulfa drugs have been used for decades as an inexpensive way to treat bacterial and fungal infections. In some, they can cause allergic reactions that can be life threatening.

  1. Types

    • Sulfanomides are the group of drugs that contain sulfa, which are dispensed in several forms including pills, ointments, drops and creams.

    Allergic Reactions

    • Reactions to sulfa drugs can range from simple rashes, to the life-threatening Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Kidney and liver damage is possible, as are adverse lung and blood reactions.

    Antibiotics

    • Septra and Bactrim are two brand names for sulfa antibiotics. Sulfamethoxazole or Erythromycin-sulfisoxazole may be on the medication label. Not all sulfa drugs have the prefix "sul" or "sulfa."

    Related Drugs

    • Some drugs are closely related to sulfa drugs and may cause a sulfa allergic reaction. These can include drugs used to treat Crohn's disease, dermatitis and pneumonia, diabetes, inflammation and migraines. Some diuretics contain compounds closely related to sulfonamides.

    Precautions

    • People who have HIV/AIDS may be more prone to allergic reactions from sulfa drugs. If you have a sulfa allergy and are not certain about a medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Sulfa drugs may also interact with other medications.

Related Searches:

References

  • Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Robert S. Donovan

You May Also Like

  • What to Avoid for a Sulfa Allergy

    Sulfa allergies are immune system responses to drugs containing sulfanomide. Drugs to avoid include certain types of antibiotics, diuretics and anti-inflammatories ...

  • Sulfate Allergy Vs. Sulfa Allergy

    Allergies affect millions of people every day. Many have allergies to compounds related to sulfur, but each allergy is very different.

  • How to Treat Sulfa Allergies

    Sulfa allergies occur when an individual experiences a reaction to sulfonamides. These medications, which are commonly antibiotics, are routinely used to treat...

  • Foods to Avoid With a Peanut Allergy

    Peanut allergies are common in children and can last or develop throughout adulthood. Proactive elimination of food sources containing peanuts from the...

  • Trimeth Sulfa Side Effects

    Trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, more commonly known as bactrim, is a drug used to treat certain bacterial infections, such as those of the urinary...

  • Sulfa Allergy Symptoms

    Sulfa drugs are prescription antibiotics that contain sulfonamides to treat some bacterial and fungal infections. One of the most frequent uses of...

  • Foods Containing Sulfur

    Sulfur has many roles in the human body. Most of the sulfur you consume comes in the form of proteins. Amino acids...

  • Sulpha Drug Allergies

    Many people experience adverse reactions to a medication at some point in their lives. About 5 percent to 10 percent of these...

  • Signs & Symptoms of a Sulfa Allergy

    Having an allergy to sulfa means that you must not take any medication that has sulfa in it. Unfortunately, you will not...

  • Sulpha Drug Allergic Reactions for Kidney Infection

    According to Mayo Clinic, "sulfa allergy" usually refers to a drug allergy to one of the antibiotics in the sulfonamide class. Some...

  • Allergic Reactions to Polysporin Antibiotic Cream

    Polysporin antibiotic cream is used to prevent or treat skin infections in minor cuts, scrapes and burns. The cream kills bacteria that...

  • Allergies to Erythromycin

    Several erythromycin products are on the market to treat a variety of bacterial infections. An antibiotic, it is available by prescription only....

  • Side Effects of Sulfa Medication

    Sulfa medications, or sulfamethoxazole, are prescription drugs used in the treatment of bacterial infections. Despite its effectiveness, sulfamethoxazole poses a risk ...

  • What Is a Sulfa Allergy?

    Having an allergy means that you are hypersensitive to a specific substance. A sulfa allergy indicates an allergic reaction to sulfa-based drugs....

  • Rashes Caused by Beta Blockers

    A rash in many cases develops while taking a beta blocker, which is used in the treatment of high blood pressure and...

  • What is Silvadene Used for?

    Silvadene (generic name: Silver Sulfadiazine) is a topical antibiotic and sulfonamide used to treat second- and third-degree burns, skin ulcers and bacterial...

  • Reactions to Sulpha Drugs

    The accidental discovery of sulfanilamide in 1936 by German chemist started a new category of infectious disease-fighting medicines that are classified as...

  • What Foods Should You Stay Away From If You Have Pollen Allergies?

    About 70 percent of people with pollen allergies suffer from pollen-food allergy syndrome, also called oral allergy syndrome, which causes cross-reactions with...

  • Complications With Sulfasalazine for Crohn's Disease

    Sulfasalazine is a medication used to treat ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although it has not been approved...

  • Home Remedies for Allergic Rash From Sulpha Drugs

    When your doctor diagnoses you with an infection, he will usually prescribe some kind of antibiotic medication. Some antibiotics fall into a...

Related Ads

thumbnail
Featured