Sulfamethoxazole and allergic reaction

A few months ago I was diagnosed with a UTI and was prescribed Sulfamethoxazole (1 pill twice a day for 10 days). After a few days, my UTI was cured, but I continued to use the medication as I was instructed by my doctor and pharmacist. I had no side effects or allergic reaction for the entire period. However, on day 11 I noticed a small splotchy red rash on the right side of my body near my armpit. The next day the rash had spread to my legs, stomach and other side of my body. It was not raised and did not itch, so it didn't worry me. My boyfriends suggested that it might be a reaction to the medication, but the rash did not appear until at least 24 hours after taking my last pill. Five days ago, I became worried that I had contracted another UTI, so yesterday I visited the doctor again (a different one). She asked if I was allergic to any medications and I told her that I wasn't aware if I was. I did not think about the rash from a few months ago because I did not believe it was related to sulfamethoxazole. So she wrote me another prescription for the medication, but this time I was instructed to take 1 pill twice a day for 3 days. I took one pill around 4 PM yesterday and within 30 mins my entire body began to tingle and itch slightly. 2.5 hours later my face was bright red and severely hot and puffy. My eyes were as red and puffy as my face. Around 9 PM I began to chill and shake severely and I took Excedrin for a mild, dull headache. I took a warm shower, but I felt extremely fatigued and became nauseated simply from standing. So I got out with intentions of vomiting, but when I sat down in my bathroom floor I no longer felt nauseated. But my shaking became even more severe. I was cold, but also I was nervous and anxious because I felt mentally unstable. I have never battled depression, but I felt a slight bit of depression last night. I was very irritable and short tempered, which is very unlike me. My skin became so sensitive that I could not even stand feeling my boyfriend's breath on my shoulder. My body began to ache, specifically my ankle and knee joints, and it hurt to walk. I woke up around 2:30 AM with a fever of 100.4, so I took two Tylenol and the fever broke quickly, but I did not feel much better. This morning I feel a little better with no fever, but I still have slight chills and my whole body is red and itchy. Yesterday evening was a nightmare.

Started with fever, then rashes, then swollen face, then rashes all over the body, then no taste buds and did not feel like eating. Very tired all the time. Stopped taking the drug after the 8th day when fever and rashes started to appear. Took lots of water after that to try to flush out of system. After 12 days, taste bud seem to be coming back. Skin has started to become flaky and peeling. More like extremely dry skin. This was an extremely bad reaction and can cause very bad side effects. See you doctor as soon as an allergic reaction starts. Blood tests seem to be necessary to make sure the drug hasn't affected other organs. Good luck to any one who has to go through this reaction.

Was prescribed Sulfameth/Trimethoprim for acne when erythromycin and doxycycline were not enough. Dermatologist simply asked "Is there anything that are you allergic to?" I said, "Not that I know of." Took it well for first six days. Looking back, I felt probably the most lethargic during this time, at a job that I loved the most. On the 7th day, after having a great time with the new love in my life, I noticed a heaviness, tingling, and warmness affecting my legs. Went into work feeling too warm. Left about 20 mins in. Had incredibly bad fever this night. Went home, took another Sulfa/Trimeth pill (hadn't linked the problem). Woke up about two hours later, worse than ever. Flu like symptoms, blurred vision, couldn't sleep, and red rash developing over body. Took next night off of work. Went into emergency room with a panic attack and left side of body numb. Docs didn't know what it was. Blood pressure: 159/100 Temperature: 104 F Rapid heart beat. Completely dehydrated. Fever continued ... released same day and told to take Tylenol for fever. Stayed off sulfa/trimeth for two days. Got much better. Just took it tonight (foolishly) then found this page. Now realized that my body has been rejecting this drug. Currently itchy and cannot sleep. Took vicodin and ibuprofen - no effect to counter this drug. Must wait for it to leave the system. Will contact dermatologist in the morning about my allergic reaction to sulfa. Also experienced severe depression on this medication.

Hi my name is Chistopher.
I just have a bad experience with this medicament, my reaction is wired
my peanus start eaching realy bad it feels like is burning and then my left
hand start turning red and burning until it got black purple. I didn't know I was alergic to sulfamethoxazole, as soon as this happened I just stop taking this medicine, then I eate a lot of garlics and cactus nopales and all my allergic reaction go away like ten minutes after I eate that.

I was given 6 pills to take, 2 a day for three days for a UTI. On day 2 I start to itch on my legs and in between my fingers by the end of the day I had a rash in the most private areas and was itching pretty much all over. Lotion or no other moisturizer helped to calm this burning, itching rash. I called the pharmacist on day 3 and he told me to call my doctor immediately and not to finish the medicine because I was having a severe allergic reaction. I called the after hours number because this happened over the weekend. The nurse on call also told me not to finish the last dose and to take Benadryl, 2 pills every 6 hours and to sit in a tub of baking soda to help relieve some of the itching. Well, this didn't help because there was a high dosage of the medicine in my system I was still in excruciating pain. I ended up at the doctors office bleeding from my genitals all because of this medicine. Not only did I have an allergic reaction but I developed a yeast infection also. It took a little over a week for it to clear my system, the Sulfamethoxazole. Thank God I don't have scars from the rash, the blessing stopped and things are pretty normal now.
If you're taking this medication and having symptoms that are out of the norm or some of what I mentioned don't continue to take it. Call your doctor IMMEDIATELY!!!!

I was given this for acne and about one week into it I started having body aches. I read that it is a side effect so I thought I'd just Motrin it up. I was not sleeping, but I thought it was because of my body aches so I took some Tylenol pm for a couple nights. I ended up with itchy hives because I'm allergic to benadryl and I did not know that Tylenol pm contained benadryl. So my doctor told me it was the allergic reaction to the benadryl and to keep taking the sulfameth. I feel worse today and I will not take another sulfer pill. Everything on my body hurts! I'm shakey and disoriented. Tomorrow is thanksgiving, my husband is away in the service, and it's up to me to make it a great holiday for my kids. I will NOT be taking this medication (or Tylenol pm) again.

About 7 years ago, my husband was prescribed Sulfamethoxazole and within days broke out in hives, fever, itching - as sick as he's ever been - worse than what he'd been prescribed the medication for. 2 months ago, our daughter was diagnosed with MRSA and her Dr. prescribed Bactrim - they told us to watch her since her dad had the reaction - 1 week later, she was covered in red spots and needed a prednizone shot - NOW, I'm on MY 3rd day of Sulfamethoxazole and have a terrible itch on my foot and feel itchy all over - don't know if it's just in my head or the beginnings of an allergic reaction :( Could all 3 of us really be allergic?

I was prescribed a sulfameth drug for a severe UTI which entailed terrible abdominal pain & blood in urine. I took it for 2 days and started feeling better. The third day, I was hit with a severe allergic reaction, which after reading some of the side effects, I realize now that i should have gone to the er or called 911. It started with a terrible headache, then vomiting. That night my fever shot up to 104 degrees!!! But, I was freezing. I was shaking uncontrollably, confused, joints aching, you name it. I thought I may have had a migrane and ended up falling asleep and never took any of the medicine on day three. On day four, I woke up feeling MUCH better, and noticed red blotches all over my hands. The second I saw this, I knew it was an allergic reaction. I went and showed the pharmacist and told him about what had happened, and he said, yes, it seemed that way to him too. He said to call my doctor and let them know I had a reaction. When I did that, all they said was they would put it in my chart. I was not even offered an alternative to it considering I still probly had a UTI. I think they did this because now that I have researched it quite a bit, I have learned that people who are allergic to penicillin are more likely to experience a reaction to sulfa drugs. And, yes...I am, and have always been extremely allergic to penicillin. I believe this was overlooked when I was prescribed with the sulfameth.

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 have been taking this medicine for a UTI for a few days and today all of the sudden I had an uncontrollable need to pee every few minutes. When I did there was a burning sensation and the immediate need to pee again. So I looked up the medication and saw online that you are supposed to drink a whole glass of water with each pill. I started chugging water and the burning and need to pee went away after and hour or so. Very strange, but maybe it will help someone else.

I began taking sulfameth about 1 week ago. Everything seemed ok until one morning I woke up and my neck was completely stiff! I started getting the hot and cold feeling and a splitting headache with nausea. I took tylenol and it seemed to improve a little. That evening I woke up every ten mins, just unable to get quality sleep. Next morning I woke up (after no sleep again), COVERED in hives. I mean, from my head to my ankles, these huge, red, itchy things all over! My throat, too. You know how it feels right when you swallow?..that's how my throat felt constantly. I was completely freaked out as hubby was at work and I was home alone with my 4 kids. So we hauled booty to the clinic and sure enough, allergic reaction to the antibiotic. I'm actually allergic to penicillin as well, so the doctor I saw said she was really surprised my other doctor would have prescribed a sulfer drug to me as it has a high instance of causing allergic reactions. hhhmmm...thanks.
Anyway she said I could take benadaryl, but better yet, Claritin. She said Claritin won't make you drowsy and will knock it right out (you should take benadryl instead of claritin if you're breastfeeding though). That was yesterday, and besides some weird mottled look on my legs (leftover rash), all seems well.

I started taking sulfameth last Tuesday. After today's first dose, I noticed that my face and chest started to become red and blotchy. I immediately regarded it as an allergic reaction to the pill and went to my doctor. He told me to stop taking the pill. Well, several hours later I have developed a rash that covers my face, chest, shoulders, torso and back...and who knows what will come next. The burning and itching and redness is intense and extremely uncomfortable. This medicine is terrible. Especially after reading all of these side-effect accounts. Not worth it.

Was prescribed this antibiotic at the er for an ear infection. Had been taking for five days with no feeling of relief from the pressure and pain. on the fifth day I noticed I was shaking and shivering but sweating at the same time. My ears and nose became very clogged, my eyes turned bloodshot and felt a lot of pressure. I was very dizzy, had a very dry mouth was drinking lots of water and urinating a lot. Began to have a panic attack because the symptoms I was experiencing, after about five hours of this I started to feel a bit better. I did not relate this to the drug at first but after I took my second dosage that day I began to feel the same symptoms intensify, only my throat began to swell and I had trouble swallowing. I immediately took two benadryl as I realized I was having a serious allergic reaction. Went to the doctor the next day and was prescribed a different antibiotic, so eight days later I am finally feeling better! Will never take this drug again!

I started taking Bactrim for impetigo, and a week later my whole body was itchy, red, swollen, and had huge welts everywhere. It was horrible. I'd never had an allergic reaction to a drug before, so it was very difficult.

Oh my God! The itching is horrible! I woke up and my eyes crossed from the severity. I could not even go to work. After taking Sufameth/trimethoprim for 2 days (2 pills/da) for a UTI, my scalp started to itch. I scratched all day with a pencil...to no avail. Later that day, the vaginal and rectal itch was unmerciful. Vagisil maximum COULD NOT TOUCH it. I scheduled a gyne appointment because I thought, maybe I was developing something else...yeast infection. But there were no other signs. My husband suggested it could be an allergic reaction to the medicine. My nurse suggested I take an antihistimine like Benadryl. That provided some relief. Now I see similar postings on the web about severe itching. Thank goodness I only have one more pill of this 3 day treatment.

I have been prescribed sulfameth/trimethoprim for frequent urinary tract infections, and even after the fourth time taking it now, I have yet to notice any abnormal side effects. I am also on birth control pills. I know how an allergic reaction is for me (I am allergic to pennicilin and broke out in a HORIBBLE rash all over my face last year), and I haven't experienced anything even approaching an adverse reaction, plus my infection clears up within the first couple of days.

About 2 months ago, I was prescribed Sulfameth/Trimethoprim 800/160 tabs for an inflamed, swollen nose which extended to puffiness and an apparent fluid sac under my left eye -- the actual cause for this infection has not been determined.

The doctor prescribed a 14-day supply (1 tablet, twice daily), and said I could stop taking it after 10 days if I wanted, or finish out the supply if I so desired. After about 5 days, the swelling had pretty much subsided, particularly under the eye, but I continued taking the medication through the 13th day. During the first 12 days, I did not notice any adverse reactions.

However, on the 13th day, just after getting out of the shower, I noticed red welts on my chest and back, purple splotches on the underside of my upper arms, and generalized redness across the rest of my body and limbs. I did not immediately associate these symptoms with the antibiotic, because the first 12 days had not caused me any problems.

However, a friend theorized that it might be an allergic reaction to the antibiotic, and suggested I stop taking it to see if the symptoms subsided. Since I had only two tablets left, I decided to heed the suggestion, and the redness did go away after about 2 days. I resolved to tell the doctor about this reaction on my next visit, but have not been back there yet.

Earlier this week, I experienced the beginnings of similar tenderness and swelling on the left side of my nose, and still do not know what might be the cause for this. I decided on Wednesday morning to take one of the remaining two tablets of Sulfameth/Trimethoprim, and within an hour or two began to itch a lot -- primarily on the back but also on the arms. I thought that taking a shower might relieve the symptoms, and it did somewhat.

Around dinner time, I took the second (my last one) remaining tablet, and about an hour later went out to join some friends. I had a slight headache and took an Ibuprofin tablet just before going out. Within the second hour, I began to feel chills (even though I was wearing ample layers of clothing), and the headache had not diminished -- so I took another Ibuprofin. The symptoms seemed indicative of a low-grade fever.

After excusing myself and going home, I laid down to watch TV, and the chills got so bad that I was obliged to curl up under a blanket, even after turning up the central heat. The headache got so intense, I had to hold an icepack against my temples and forehead for some relief. Later, when I took my temperature, the fever had progressed to 102 degrees; still later, it had climbed to 104. This worried me, since I have read that brain damage can occur at 105 degrees.

During this time, I decided to switch (from Ibuprofin) to taking three aspirins, to see if that might be more effective in reducing the fever, but it persisted at 104 degrees for all of the night and into the next morning. I made a point of drinking lots of fluids (water & juice) and tried sleeping, but woke up about every two hours.

On Thursday, about mid-day, the fever finally began to subside -- though I noticed a fatigue and soreness in my calf muscles, most pronounced if I stood in one position for more than a minute or so. The only relief was to move about, or to sit down.

By evening, my temperature was back to normal and I felt well enough to visit with some friends again. However, several hours after returning home, I felt dehydrated and had another headache; my temperature was back at 102 degrees. I drank more fluids, took aspirins, and had another night of fitful sleep.

By Friday afternoon, my temperature had reduced to about 100 degrees, and my calf muscles still displayed the same symptoms of soreness, as though I had over-exercised them. It's a very uncomfortable feeling.

Lesson learned: I will be asking my doctor to note in my file that I am allergic to sulfa-based meds, and hope that normalcy returns over the next few days. I have also gained a deeper appreciation for the manner in which the human body fights off foreign substances! ;-)

I was prescribed Sulfameth/Trimthoprim 800/160 by an ER Dr for UTI and took for 10 days as directed. I the drug did make me nausiated but if it was going to help my infection I thought I could indure that. It cleared up the infrection ok but within a week I broke out in a TERRIBLE rash from head to toe. I have never itched so badly in all of my life! I had no idea what it was and used every over the counter remedy until I was able to see my doctor who told me it was a delayed allergic reaction to the sulfur drug and gave me a steriod shot and a histamine pill to take. It has been the worse for me and I will NEVER take a sulfur drug again in my life especially this one.

I have read through all the side effects here and every problem here is attributed to allergic reaction to sulfer. A lot of people are allergic to sulfer and just don't know it. The doctor prescribing it should have asked you if you were allergic to sulfer. For now don't take anything containing sulfer.

yes i am having the same flu symptoms and today i broke out in a body rash. had a headache yesterday and body chills. skin sensitivity, head ache, dizzyness, loss of appitite, sleeplessness, fatigue, nausea. i believe it is an allergic reaction. glad i found this place so now i know i'm not sick like i thought i was. i have three days left on the medicine and i'm not going to continue to take it

I was prescribed sulfameth/trimethoprim 800/160 TABS for a kidney infection, on wednesday, i took it approximately 8 pm that same night, next day about 9 am i was breaking up i had a rash all over the inner part of my arms, on my thigh down to my feet. next thing i know i am itching all over. went to bed that night i had chills all night long. I had never had an allergic reaction to any medication until now.

I was prescribed this medication for an ear infection. For the first five days, I had severe headaches, dry mouth, and trouble sleeping. On the sixth day, I developed a fever of 101 and had chills bad enough to cause my teeth to chatter. I was also extremely tired and my whole body ached. I though I was coming down with the flu. I went to bed that night, but continued to suffer from chills and was unable to rest comfortably. I awoke at 4am on the seventh day and noticed I had hives all over my face and neck. By 9am, I had red blotches on my chest, stomach, back, and arms. I called the doctor and was told it was probably an allergic reaction and I should come in for a check-up. After seeing the doctor, he said this medication often has a "delayed allergic reaction" that usually shows up around 7 days after beginning the dosage. He told me stop taking the meds and that the rash would probably get worse before it gets better. That's true. It is now day 8 (late) and I have red blotches everywhere on my body and they itch a lot. I will make sure I remember to never take this medicine again. It didn't help with the ear infection either, but nothing has so far. This was the 4th different antibiotic tried.

I was prescribed sulfameth for a sinus infection. I took 15 pills. 2 each day. My symptoms got progressively worse. It started with constipation, weight gain, fatigue (I attributed this to the sinus infection), nausea, irritability. I was having trouble getting to sleep. I constantly had to get up to go to the bathroom. Once I would get to sleep I would wake up every few hours. Around day 5 or 6 I started getting a horrendous headache and my neck ached. The pain was intense! My legs ached as well. I started running a fever around 100 degrees. I would be sweating one moment and cold the next. I thought I was getting a bug that was going around minus the sore throat everyone else had. I was glad that I was already on an antibiotic. Today I woke up and have a rash from my shoulders to my feet! I still have the same fever. I called my nurse practitioner and she said to discontinue the medication, take Benadryl for the symptoms and increase my water to flush it out of my system. It's clearly an allergic reaction to the meds. I am throwing the last few doses out.

I was prescribed sulfameth for a sinus infection. I took 15 pills. 2 each day. My symptoms got progressively worse. It started with constipation, weight gain, fatigue (I attributed this to the sinus infection), nausea, irritability. I was having trouble getting to sleep. I constantly had to get up to go to the bathroom. Once I would get to sleep I would wake up every few hours. Around day 5 or 6 I started getting a horrendous headache and my neck ached. The pain was intense! My legs ached as well. I started running a fever around 100 degrees. I would be sweating one moment and cold the next. I thought I was getting a bug that was going around minus the sore throat everyone else had. I was glad that I was already on an antibiotic. Today I woke up and have a rash from my shoulders to my feet! I still have the same fever. I called my nurse practitioner and she said to discontinue the medication, take Benadryl for the symptoms and increase my water to flush it out of my system. It's clearly an allergic reaction to the meds. I am throwing the last few doses out. This medication is poison.

3 year old son, prescribed this med, due to possible allergic reaction last spring, with Amoxicilian, for a sinus infection, this year for ear infection. Took his last dose today, of 10 doses, began with a temp, yesterday of 102.4 (spike), and noticing, daily, cheeks getting progressively red, today the worst and still fever. Looks like an allergic reaction also, and I'm seeing the beginning signs of small red dots on his trunk, also increased urination, with hot and cold sweats. I'm hoping this clears up now that he's finished the Sulphameth, another red alert.

My daughter started taking Sulfameth aweek ago. She woke up with a rash and hives all over her body that itched badly. The doctor said it was an allergic reaction, but not the medicine. So she took another one the next night, and woke up worse. She won't take it again. When I read other comments here, now I am concerned. I will call her doctor again. Thank you for the help.

Had bacterial cyst on upper leg area. Was prescribed this medication. Within a few days I got a fever but not the type that puts me to bed. I was still active but restrained from heavy activity because I knew I was heating up. Got a cough as well. The medication still worked though. Got red dot all over chest, arms at day 8 after i was in the sun for a little bit and stopped immediately. Doctor says I had allergic reaction and that the sun triggered it. Felt well afterwards. I read about SJS and decided to pray to God all the time to avoid it from day 1. I think everyone should pray as it really does help. Just give it a try - I might have been destined for SJS but might have never gotten it as a result. Thanks God and please help everone else.

Allergic Reaction - Hives/Rash all over body.