Sulfa drug symptoms and conditions

Today is 10/28. I am Weezie1 and I posted on 10/26 about my severe drug reactions. They have gotten worse since I wrote my first post. The fever and chills are gone. But now I have been dealing with a rash/hives over all parts of my body. They are worse where close contact to sleeping clothing are - back, chest, neck. The one side of my face that I usually sleep on is purple every morning, along with that same side of my neck. I managed to get myself back to the doctor on 10/26 and am now on a 6 day dosage of steroids for the rash/hives. The steroids have stopped the hives from getting any worse. But it is taking awhile to go away. Any heat, anxiety, frustration brings them out again. I see I will be dealing with this for awhile. I go back to the doctor on 10/29 for a recheck. I lost 2 days from work because of this. My skin felt like it was on fire with hundreds of bee stings. Now I feel like I have a severe case of poison ivy. I have found some relief using Aveeno's oatmeal powder to do a bathtub soaking at night. Then I follow that with Aveeno's rich moisturizing lotion. The doctor may want me on steroids for longer than first prescribed.....not a med you want to be on for too long. All because of an UTI last week that could have been simply treated with a regular antibiotic if my doctor was not able to prescribe this sulfa drug to me on 10/19. Next time I will go with my initial gut feeling and refuse to take a medication when I see its extensive side effect list. I wish I had done so last week. I am suffering much more now than I was last week with my UTI. I filed an online complaint at the FDA's website. They mention it at their phone number that Weezie1 reported in my 10/26 posting here. I, unfortunately, expect to see additional patient complaints here every few days when I check back at this great medications site. And now I see that someone has internal bleeding. What next? A death? My blood pressure and heart rate were both increased for several days due to this drug. I could feel my heart pounding when I was sitting still and laying in bed. Thankfully, my BP is normally on the low side, but all the numbers went up by 10. We have to band together to get this crap off the market and out of the hands of doctors and unsuspecting innocent patients. Our voices will be heard if we speak in large numbers. Keep talking!Good luck to all.

i grew up with many differently bladder problems. and almost every time when i was younger i was given bactrim for a uti or kidney infection. well eventually i was put on this medication so much i became immune to it so they stopped giving it to me for like ten years to see if i could continue using it. since that ten years has passed every time i now take bactrim i have a very strange side effect that i have never in a million years experienced before. after bactrim is in my system for about 24hrs i develop a rash. i know what your thinking normal but no not really. this rash like "burn" only shows up in my pubic area on the right side toward the top of where my pubic hair grows. and it itches like crazy. but whenever i go to itch it then it burns so badly it brings tears to my eyes it hurts. this "mark" only shows up in that spot. they have finally come to the conclusion that i am allergic to sulfa drugs. but even with that being said why doesn't the rash spread any where else. it is kinda embarrassing that it only shows up in that spot. now i'm concerned the ob-gyn wants me to get the gardasil injections and i was reading the ingredients in the vaccine and it contains hydroxyphosphate sulfate which i am concerned may be a sulfa drug which means i might not be able to have that vaccine.

I am a 38 year old female, not overweight but hbp runs on my dad's side of the family unfortunately! I was prescribed Diovan by my doctor who had a list of my allergies. So, i went to get it at walgreens and luckily they have my allergies also because this drug is a sulfa drug and I am highly allergic and they caught it before i took any. You would think my doctor would have done a better job as I could have gotten really sick. YOU NEED TO BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE WITH THESE DRUGS DOCTORS ARE PRESCRIBING, YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT! At that time my doctor then called in LISINOPRIL. I just got off of being on it for 10 months with horrible, horrible side effects.
If your doctor has prescribed LISINOPRIL for you, please look the drug up on this site before taking - WARNING! There are 1,800 entries from people who have/had debilitating symptoms. I have now chosen to be off of HBP meds for a while and monitor it 3 times a day and see if i still need to be on it. After what i have been through, i would rather run around the block 10 x's a night and change everything I eat and drink and lose weight before I would consider another pill!

I started taking generic Bactrim about 3 weeks ago for an ear infection. The first two weeks I had no problems, the third week I woke up one morning with one side of my neck sore. I thought I just slept on it wrong and didn't think it could be associated with Bactrim then over the next two days my neck became more stiff and sore it even hurt to touch. I could not move my neck at all without experiencing pain. Also I would get servere headaches when I moved my eyes to look up or to the sides. The sharp headaches would only last about a minute or so after moving my eyes. My arms and legs started to feel achy like when I have a fever. The third day after the first sign of neck pain I broke out in hives on my arms and hands. I stopped taking the Bactrim (because I found this site and similar ones) and two days later most of my hives were gone and my neck pain was noticeably less. Four days off of Bactrim and my neck is almost completely better and my hives gone. I will never take a sulfa drug again

I started taking two 160mg tablets of sulfameth a day about a week ago in conjunction with prednisone and hydroxyzine for a bad case of contact dermititis. Yesterday I woke up with a crazy fever, pressure in my sinuses and headache. I got off work and went to sleep at 5:30pm. Around 9pm I woke up covered in hives. The fever had broke, but this was a new beast. The hives started out all over, but there were not many. Over the next 24 hrs they spread so that now I am mostly a giant red splotch. It itches like hell and for some damn reason I feel wired. I can't get to sleep. I keep pacing around.

I went to the ER and they said it was probably the sulfameth. They told me to discontinue use and put me on a higher dose of prednisone, zantac and diphenhydramine.

I am almost sure it was the sulfameth. I have been on prednisone before without anything like this happening. I have never taken the sulfameth before this and I rarely took the hydroxyzine they gave me so I doubt it caused it.

The reaction to the sulfameth is seriously 100 times worse then what they gave it to me for. I would rather have just not gone to the doctor and suffered through what I had before than deal with this. It's a sleepless, itching hell. I will never take a sulfa drug again.

I can only wonder how bad it would have been had I not already been on prednisone when the allergic reaction hit. So 24 hrs into it and the hives are getting worse. Hopefully the prednisone and benadryl will end it soon.

I was prescribed Sulfamethoxazole-TMP tablets for a severe UTI that I developed. I was given 10 tablets total--and instructed to take two per day. Within an hour of taking the first tablet, my UTI felt much better, however, the rest of me felt horrible! I got nausea, dizziness, extreme confusion and depression, and stiffness and pain in my neck and shoulders. I continued the medication anyway, b/c I never had sulfur or ANY medicinal allergies. I had difficulty sleeping the next few nights, I would wake up in the middle of the night for no reason. The soreness of my neck and shoulders then extended to my butt and thighs. I can't describe how uncomfortable this was. I was sitting at work literally writhing in pain from what I felt in my legs. (and I blamed it on my poor desk chair!!) This happened on day three of five. Also, while at work I had an "episode" if you will, where I became extremely confused and disoriented, and nearly had a panic attack. It felt like the world was crashing down on me!! It only lasted for 15 minutes or so, but I will not forget the way I felt. All the while, my UTI symptoms were getting better and better. I was completely unable to have a bowel movement...sorry for this information...but it will start to make you worry if you can't poo for 5 days!! Day four of five is what I like to call "The Enlightenment". I was getting in the shower, still dizzy as hell, and noticed that I was very itchy. I looked at my lower back and I was covered in red, itchy bumps. I was say they looked like small mosquito bites, all in a cluster of about 8 on either side of my lower back. I realized then and there that this medication really was ravaging my body like I had feared. I found this site and others online which confirmed that I wasn't crazy...just poisoned. Later that day I was resting on my couch and looked in the mirror and saw that my entire face was covered in a red rash. (and I got a horrific headache) The worst part is you don't really look outwardly sick or anything...you just feel terrible. Everyone I told was very nonchalant about it..."Oh just take some Benadryl". I've lost my faith in the FDA. I stopped this medication one pill shy of my last dose. I am terrified of the possible lasting effects and will never take this drug again!! PLEASE!! NEVER TAKE THIS MEDICATION!! YOU WILL REGRET IT!!

I am a 38 yo female. Took bactrim for UTI. Two and half days into treatment, I could not sleep. Strange dreams, agitation. Next day, absolute feeling of panic, anxiety, restlessness, loss of appetite, weakness in hands, confusion, sweating, heavy heartbeat. Went to ER, they were unfamiliar with this reaction. Seems to take quite awhile to get the medication out of your system. I will never take bactrim again.

I had a severe allergic reaction to a Sulfa drug that I was taking to prevent infection . I had a skin cancer removed from my nose. As a precaution I was given Sulfa. I became very ill. I ran a high fever ( 103) . The Doctor said it was not from the Sulfa drug. Advised to go to Primary Care Dr to check for a Virus ( flu) . I ended up in the Emergencey Room at the Hospital the same day . By then I had broken out in a red rash all over my body. They immediateky asked if I was on Sulfa drug. I was given a steroid shot for the rash & tylenol for fever ;also prescription for Methylpred. It worked great. Now, after 2 months, I believe I am having side effects from the Methylpred. The instructions were to stay out of the sun whild taking Methylpred and for a while after the 6 days. It has been 2 months . When I get in the sun I break out in a rash that feels, looks & acts like a sunburn. I even peeled. I am 78 yrs old. I do not normally take drugs, so I had no idea I would be allergic to anything. The Pharmacy Dr. does not believe this side effect could last 2 months. What do you think? Ed

I have been on and off Levaquin for nearly 6 months while beeing treated for prostites. After about three weeks I noticed that the tendaons on the back of both feet were very sore making it very painful to get up and walk especially in the morning. I quit taking the drug and the soreness appeared to lessen. The my doctor told me to get back on it which I did and after about two week the soreness in the tendons on the back of both legs reappeared. I got scared of taking the drug so I requested a switch to a sulfa drug. I've been off the levequin for about a week now and the soreness in both legs continues.

My grandmother took Levaquin 500 mg for three days and on the 2nd and 3rd day when waking up in the middle of the night was paralyzed to the point she could not move her arms and legs to get up to go potty. She discontinued use and the next night was fine. The doctor put her on a sulfa drug to finish out her treatment.

I didn't ready any side effects of this sort on the prescription discription that listed all side effects.

I remember being on an antibiotic in the same family as levaquin and having the same result when waking up in the middle of the night. I could not move. I was ok when I woke up in the morning, but waking in the middle of the night before it wore off was paralyzing.

After being prescribed Cipro by an emergency room doctor while we were on vacation, my husband reacted with dizzyness and anxiety. He quit taking it on the third day. We came home and he saw his usual physician who prescribed a sulfa drug (Roy's problem was a feeling of rawness in his urinary tract, though no urine test EVER confirmed any bladder or unrinary tract infection). Roy had side effects from the sulfa drug.
Then he saw a third doctor, a urologist, who perscribed levaquin. (The doctor told him his symptoms were caused by "Prostatitus" - a psa test was normal.) Roy reminded the doctor that he had dizzyness with Cipro, and levaquin is a "relative" of Cipro. Roy took one tablet and felt the dizzyness come back. He phoned his doctor who encouraged him to "put up with the side effects" because levaquin would help his condition - whatever that was. It is now the third day of levaquin and Roy's dizzyness is unabated, his blood pressure is 156/97 and sometimes higher, (very unusual for him as his bp is usually low) and he had diarrea. He had vowed to take no more levaquin.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE Doctor's oath "First DO NO HARM. In reading these letters on the internet it seems 5 out of 6 people have adverse reactions to this drug. Certainly the people in the studies the drug company (hopefully) did before releasing this drug to the general public had adverse reactions in the same number. SO WHY DID THE FDA approve it? It is really scarry when you cannot trust your doctor, the pharmacists, or the FDA. Merilly

I went to ER yesterday via ambulance because of a kidney stone. The CAT scan showed I also have a UTI. The doctor ordered Levaquin through the IV. When I passed the stone and went home, she sent a prescription for Levaquin with me. I bought the prescription but read this website before I took it. I called the doctor and she said a certain percentage of patients will be very allergic to any medication. She said I did not have any reaction to it when given the IV. The alternative was Septra, which is a sulfa drug. That has serious, sometimes fatal, side effects as well. I asked for Ceftin (a cousin to penicillin), but she said that would not get rid of my UTI. I bought the Septra, but after researching both on the Internet, I decided to go with the Levaquin. I hope I don't get any of these awful side effects this site talks about. My prescription is for 500 mg once a day for 7 days. I'll keep you posted as to whether I have any sides.

I'm a 58 year old male in good health. Was riding a bike 5 to 6 miles each day and no problems or arthritis. In January I got a Urinary tract infection and was put on a Sulfa drug which gave me a rash so I was switched to Levaquin.

Started taking Levaquin 24 Feb.
Started having lower back pain and heat in two days.
28 Feb went to Physical therapist to see if she could do something for the pain and the heat in lower back. She could not find anything wrong and sent me back to my Doctor. He checked me out and said the infection was gone and not to lift anything over 10 lbs.

1 Mar. pain almost unbearable.
2 Mar. by evening could not control my back and was laying on the floor.
3 Mar called doctor and told him I couldn't get out of bed and he called in a prescription for a muscle relaxant and recommended heat and ice. Called my therapist and she recommended ice 20 min every hour and to come in as soon as I could get out of bed.
5 Mar finally able to get out of bed and went to therapy.
6 Mar took last Levaquin.

Continued therapy and things seemed to be getting better but kept injuring joints when I used them too much.
Since then it has been all downhill. Symptoms include aching in all joints. Unable to sit or lay on my back. Anytime anything touches my back it gets hot. One Rib has gone out of place twice. My back continues to go out of control. Unable to sleep due to the pain. Knees weak. Sometimes have hot spots on legs and arms. Doctor has taken blood tests and had Xrays thinking I had Arthritis which isn't the case. Any physical exertion compounds problems. Had to quit therapy as it causes more pain. Doctor has me on muscle relaxants, Vioxx and pain killers. He doesn't believe this ailment was caused by Levaquin or if it was the effects would already be gone.

It's over two months since I took the drug and no relief. Seems to get worse every day. Tried to go to a Neurologist and he needed me to have a MRI and so far the insurance company has denied it.

Tried going to a Chiropractor but any manipulations cause more pain.

If anybody has suggestion on how to get over this and back to a normal life please let me know.