Allergic to sulfa symptoms and conditions

Im 14 and I have just gotten my pills. Its for acne. Im very scared to take this because I am allergic to sulfa and everyone else has talked about the extreme side effects. What should I do?

I hope someone can help me. I developed a couple of boils in my inner thigh area and my doc did not want to drain them until he tried one last remedy, Sulfamethoxazole. I began taking 2 giant pills a day exactly 12 days ago. The medicine helped the with the boils a lot. They seem to be down to pea size. I suffer from Generalized anxiety disorder and Panic Disorder and I can honestly say that this medication induces anxiety in people. I woke up in the middle of the night about 2 days ago shivering uncontrollably and could not move from the spot I was shivering in. I think I broke a tooth from the chattering of them. I did not think anything of it because I figured it was a nightmare. This morning when I woke up, my body was really sore. My back was killing me and I had a rash on the back of both hands and around/on my feet. I could not get a hold of my dermatologist so I called a couple pharmacies and they told me to stop taking the medicine and take a benadryl. I took the advice and am now wondering if I am allergic to sulfa or maybe this is all a side effect from the pills. I am now terrified about all this because I just read about a disease called Stevens-Johnson syndrome. If anyone has input, please post. Thanks

-John

P.S. I currently take Klonopin and Paxil CR incase needed to know.

I was prescribed levaquin for for a respiratory infection. Instead of getting better I got worse. I was weak, began to have joint pain as well as the infection problems. I called my doctor after doing research on the internet. He told me to stop levaquin and to take advil. This didn't help. When I went back to him he tested me for lupus, ms, and RA. He eventually sent me to an arthritis specialist that I am still seeing 5 months later. Although she had never heard of these side effects until I explained them she has supported my concern that I have been suffering from an adverse reaction to the medication. I still suffer from joint pain and swelling as well as an acute burning pain in my thigh. The only treatment that I am receiving is steriod shots in my joints which do offer some relief. As I sit here tonight my leg is extremely painful. Will it ever go away or are we all doomed to suffer these ill effects the rest of our lives. I hurt... if anyone knows of a class action lawsuit please share the information.
Gypsy
52 yrs old

I was prescribed sulfameth/trimethoprim for an infection, and the only side effect i've had was extreme fatigue and mild itching (but thats a problem ive always had before) It just depends on how your body reacts to the medication. A lot of people are allergic to sulfa based antibiotics.

A pharmacist heard my breathing and told me I was over medicated. My doctors prescribed 20/12.5 Benicar, olmesmartan, twice a day for systemic hbp and Toprol once a day for pulmonary hypertension. I gradually stopped taking the Benicar because I could barely function, felt like I had been beaten down all day, had the sharp pains from one point to another and couldn't remember anything short term. I'm also allergic to sulfa which is an ingredient in olmesmartan. I'm only taking Toprol. I feel 200% better. The "charlie horses" aren't nearly as bad and the sharp pains and muscle tenderness are gone. My short term memory is better as well. I drink lots of water and take a potassium supplement. As a result, I retain much less fluid.

I took levaquin for a few days. Had pain in tendons in legs, difficulty walking, rapid irregular heartbeat, weakness. Had to go to the emergency room. I am allergic to sulfa and quinadine. Dr. said levaquin was in the family of these drugs. After stopping the drug and drinking lots of water to rid it from my system problems stopped.

I have been reading all the mail on this site. I BELIEVE in Levaquin!!!! I have chronic sinus infections and am allergic to sulfa antibiotics. I do NOT have the side effects everyone talks about. Without Levaquin I would NEVER get over sinus infections and everything else that they lead into. Amoxicillian, Augmentin, Biaxin, and Cephzil are all good antibiotics, BUT they only prolong the pain for me. LEVAQUIN is the ONLY antibiotic that works for me and I cannot get over infections without it!!! I suggest people who are prescribed Levaquin and they do indeed have reactions to it, DON'T KNOCK IT... just get another antibiotic. There are others out there who need it like me!!.

i took levquin (250 mg) for three days three weeks ago for a UTI. i'm allergic to sulfa drugs, so i suspect that is why the medicine was prescribed. i didn't feel too badly while i took it, but in the weeks since i've been off of it i've had severe pains in my legs and ankles, wrist pain, stomach pains on and off and i've gained 13 pounds despite no change in my diet, etc. i will not take this again.

I have not had any adverse reactions to Levaquin. After age 30 I suddenly became allergic to penicillan AND erythromycin,clarithromycin,azithromycin-- making prescribing antibiotics very difficult, especially since I was already allergic to sulfa drugs, too. I have taken Levaquin approx 5 times for various upper-respiratory infections, ear infections, etc---works great, but very expensive.

I was given a 3 day course of Levaquin 500mg for a UTI as I am allergic to Sulfa medications. Right away after taking the first pill I felt very bloated and nauseated. I didn't think much of this, as some medications can have this side effect. I thought twice the next day however when I up most of the night with muscle pain, a horrible headache and anxiety. All during that day I felt so drained and achey you would have sworn I had the flu! I am so pissed that I feel worse now then I did when I had the UTI.... I even read the side effects on the printed sheet the pharmacy gave me and didn't expect this!

I have taken 5 doses . Today I noticed that my skin started to itch, and a very faint rash is all over my body. I am allergic to sulfa , and this is the same rash I would get from it. I called my pharmacist to check if Levaquin has sulfer in it. I was told that they didn't "think it did". Some companies use sulfa as a preservative I was told. I don't think I want to take this drug again!

I am on Levaquin, but my side effect is from reading these posts, not taking the drug. I have no patience with people that have no common sense. Yes, doctors should tell you about the drugs they prescribe, but it is your responsibility to ask about potential side effects, interactions with other drugs you are taking, etc. It is also your responsibility to read the detailed informa tion that comes with every prescription from a pharmacy that lists possible side effects, which ones are likely to go away after a dose or two, and which ones you should contact a doctor about. If you get the drug as a sample at your doctor's office, stop in at a pharmacy and ask for the information sheet or get on the internet and find it.

All antibiotics cause dstomach upset and sometimes diarrhea because they kill all the bacteria they find, the bad ones causing your infection as well as the good ones living in your digestive system that keep you healthy. All antibiotics can cause yeast infections for the same reason. As some smart European posters to this list suggested, eating yogurt with live acidophilus cultures or taking acidophilus pills from the healthfood store may mediate this effect.

Lastly, even if your doctors don't have common sense about the symptoms of an allergic reaction, you should know the signs, because severe reactions can lead to anaphylactic shock and even death. Rashes, hives, itching, dizziness, and shortness of breath ARE NOT SIDE EFFECTS! They are warning signs of an allergic reaction. You can become allergic to any drug at any time, even if you have taken it with no problem many times before, antibiotic allergies are very common, and it is vitally important for you to know what drugs you are allergic to because not every doctor reads every word in your medical file. I am allergic to sulfa drugs (which I learned from a severe case of hives while taking Bactrim), yet a doctor prescribed Celebrex for a knee injury, and if I hadn't known that Celebrex contained sulfa I would have been in trouble instead of safely taking sulfa-free Vioxx.

Bottom line, you are responsible for your own health, no one else. Know the difference between signs of an allergic reaction, standard side effects, and rare side effects that should cause concern. If you're concerned, CALL YOUR DOCTOR, HEALTH PLAN, or PHARMACIST rather than posting on an online newsgroup. It could save your life.

Common sense is needed!! With any type of medication there are bound to be a number of different side effects, some people experience all others none. But when any medication taken produces rash/hives you should stop taking that drug immediately and seek medical attention.

I"m deathly allergic to Pennicillins and now have also become allergic to Sulfa meds.

I'm not thrilled with being on antibiotics, but Levaquin for the most part only makes me nauseated. I work at a Hospital from 6:30 a - 3:00 p in the Medical Records dept. I normally take my antibiotic late afternoon / early evening so that I don't have the nasty side affects during work hours.

I don't like taking antibiotics all the time for other reasons, I don't want my body to resist them when I get older and need them. There are infections where your body either becomes immune to the drug or totally the drug fails and you have worse infections and may die from them. MRSA is just one to mention.

I have Urology problems and Levaquin is the drug of choice so I have to put up with them :( I also have chronic sinusitis and levaquin also helps there too.

Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids and most of all
USE YOUR HEAD/COMMON SENSE!!!