Sulfamethoxazole and hives

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 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.

I was taking sulfamethoxazole for 9 days and woke up on the lasttay with whatr looked like the measels all over my entire body, it is now two days later and I am still covered in hives and really itchy. I, too had a fever of 100.7 at the highest. It's terrible because I work with the public, and everyone I come across looks at me as though I have the plague. Well, I guess there have been more severe allergicreactions. I should count my blessings. It's also nice to know I'm not the only one. You never know when a health professional; is gonna slip up and misdiagnose you.

I have been taking this medication for 6 days for a UTI. I feel like crap and haven't been able to work. Thank goodness I don't have hives or anything else. But my stomachs is cramping really bad and I have been acting like an evil $%#@&, I also have the worst stiff neck. Anyways I was extremely nauseated and felt like I was pregnant but I have a prescription for pot and it seems to help the majority of the side effects. Massive amounts of water will take away the anxiety. I am going to wean myself slowly starting tomorrow and I will never take this drug again.

I had to stop 8 days into my 10 day prescription. Very hot, headache - woke up with hives and then discovered my entire body was red with a rash like sunburn. Turned itchy on my chest and arms. Face swelled a bit and looked sunburned also. Was happy to stop the medication early. Starting live yogurt to clear my system, eating garlic and drinking water.

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.

made me have welts and hives and pain in the chest and tightness in chest and I itch like crazy!!

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.

On day 12 of a 14 day treatment of Septra DS the backs of my thighs began to itch. I thought I might have gotten a heat rash from the vinyl padded chairs at my work. Just to be safe I stopped the meds because I have a history of antibiotic allergies. That was on a Friday. By Monday afternoon I had to leave work early to rush to my doc who said I probably had a rash from the bronchitis I was treated for (something called viral exanthem). I didn't buy it but trusted the doc. Two days later I was in agony. I itched EVERYWHERE! Relentless horrible itching. I took 2 full strength benadryls every 3 hours to no avail. Tried calamine lotion,etc. Nothing worked. The doc finally gave me 40 mg of prednisone for 5 days. But it's day 3 of the steroid and I started itching horribly again last night.
I know it's the sulfa because I now remember some slight itching the last time I took it. So beware... itching on sulfa is a red flag... your skin is telling you something!

My dermatologist prescribed Sulfameth for a bacterial infection with manifested as a bad rash on my leg. After three days, the rash cleared. Since my doctor wanted me on a 21 Sulfameth cycle I still had to take it. After one week, I started to feel a little blue, like I was in a fog. I didn't immediately think it was the medicine. Then two days after I started feeling a down, I got really bad hives on my chest and arms. These hives wer of the pins and needles kind, not too itchy, but very distressing. I started having severe chills and my irratibility went through the roof. My neck and back were in pain. The day after that I called my dermatologist and he told me to stop taking the Sulfameth immediately. By then, the hives spread all over my body, and my eyes are completely bloodshot. I look like I have swelling and severe sunburn. At least I'm not as irritable and the chills are gone. When I had the chills it felt the same as going through nicotine withdrawal. Just ... AWFUL. Hopefully the rash will clear soon, so far it's only gotten worse.

My husband was prescribed sulfameth for a bladder infection on 9/27 /06 after being in his system the medicine has him breaking out with hives with severe itching. On 11/14/06 he had a procedure done due to all meds had to be stopped 10 days before. As of this day he is still experencing complications from the sulfameth. When he urinates its discolored and blood appears.This medicine has his body feeling very uncomfortable.

Taking Sulfameth for a kidney infection/UTI. Hives, sweating/feverish, my entire left side of my neck and face hurts and I feel like I have an ear infection or something. The hives seem mostly on my left as well. I have had vivid dreams and nightmares all week that I am attributing to this as well. I am taking no other medication. This has happened to me before with Sulfa drugs.

started taking it for a possible infection. 5 days later I have hives/rash all over. hot/cold chills. no appitite, nausia. I stopped taking it today, will see doc tomorrow.

I was put on SULFAMETH/TRIMETHOPRIM 800/160 TABS for a sinus infection about two weeks ago. I was almost done taking all the pills when I took two Midol (the ladies know why). within an hour, I broke out into hives! At the time, I just assumed it was the midol only; I investigated and it appeared that the diurectic in the Midol caused it. Then I continued my Sulfameth that night and I woke up with worse hives. I called the doctor becuase OTC Benydryl didn't help. She suspected the Sulfameth versus the Midol. Upon my own investigation, I found on MedlinePlus.com that you are supposed to tell your Doctor if you are taking a diurectic before taking the Sulfameth! I will never mix those two again!

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 given Sulfameth/Trimethoprim for a suspected spider bite that became infected. My prescription was one tablet by mouth twice a day for 10 days. Seven days after taking my first tablet I began to feel itchy all over my body. The next morning I woke and had hives from my feet to my ears. I went the urgent care clinic and they gave me some strong antihistamines. The next day my condition was worse and I went back to the urgent care clinic and was injected with steroids. The next day my condition was even worse; the hives were horrible, itchy, red and purple patches ALL over my body and I was feeling tightening in my throat. I immediately went to ER and was admitted.

I spent 2 days in the hospital receiving steriods and fluids by IV. The thing that surprised me about this allergy was the delay from first taking the medication to the first signs that something was not right.

I took this medication before going to bed and woke up out of a sound sleep with severe itching and burning in vagina area after being perscribed for a bladder infection. This is the second time this has happened but I forgot the name of the medication since it had been so long since I had it. Now I have sores, almost like what is described as herpe sores but I think it is a result of the hives from this reaction.

I was prescribed this medication for 7 days, one tablet twice a day. After just taking two of these tablets (one @ 0830 and one @ 2030) I broke out with hives/rash, burning (like fire) itch, around my pelvic area and thighs, dry mouth, unable to sleep, and a constant urge to urinate. I have not been in the sun, and have drank plenty of water with this medication as advised. These symptoms have only appeared since taking this medication, therefore I have stopped taking this awful drug. Dr's. office is closed today, but will be in to see her tomorrow. I will never take this drug again, it is truly horrible.

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.

When I took this medication I experienced hives, high fever, a red swollen face, NIGHTMARES, HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HEADACHES horrible pain in my arms and legs, swollen feet........and all this for a mild uti........thanks alot DOCTOR IDIOT

I started taking this on 7/21/05 along with metronidazole for diverticulitis. On Thursday started with severe vomiting; Friday called the doctor because I was still vomiting; they told me to go to the ER if it continued which it did. Sunday went to ER and they gave me two prescriptions for nausea, one a prescritpon pill and the other suppositroy I did not use. This afternooon I got hives; I too have a a hard time sleepng and having very jittery thoughts. Hard time sitting still. This has been a nightmare for me.

MAY 25, 2005..10:09 -

*AFTER TAKING THIS MEDICATION I BEGAN BREAKING OUT
WITH HIVES ALL OVER MY BODY
* PRESSURE IN MID-STERNUM AREA
*SEVERE COUGH
* WEAKNESS IN MY VOICE SEVERAL DAYS AFTER TAKING
THIS MEDICATION

I was given sulfameth for a sinus infection. I suffered drymouth, lack of appetite, anxiety,high fever, extreme thirst, aches, pains in arms, legs and neck, numbness in fingers, rushes in my head, dizziness,bad headaches, and finally, hives all over my body. It was horrible.

I took it due to a bacterial infection that I got while getting a pedicure. I had gotten severe hives and burning from the infection that I got. Since taking the medication that took away those symotoms, I have had insomnia, lack of appitite, and abdominal pain.

began with heartburn, excessive thirst, loss of appetite, and insomnia- by day 5, joint pain and chills, day 7 severe cramps and nausea, and by day 8, severe hives. stopping med. today!!

Allergic Reaction - Hives/Rash all over body.

september 2004 taken it for an abcess on breast side affect severe could not walk vomitting dyhdration hives all over body sweating and temperture of 103 doctor said i was allergic severly to sulfameth

After about two weeks of use, I started having dry mouth, severe swelling of different portions of my upper an lower lip and sides of my face. Also, ! had hives all over my body, which would subside after around 8 to 12 hours after taking an antihistamine. I also experienced difficulty swallowing.