Are you allergic to sulfa drugs? Don't worry, let's be aware of this!

Have you ever had a fever, a cough, and taken an antibiotic that the doctor gave you, and then after a while, you started to have red, itchy rashes all over your body? Or your eyes got red and swollen? When something like this happens, we often think, "Oh, I'm allergic to this medicine." Sulfa allergy is a common drug allergy that many people have. This is nothing to be afraid of, but it's important to be aware of it.

Simply put, what is sulfa allergy?

Sulfa allergy is an unwanted, excessive response by our body's immune system to a class of drugs called sulfa drugs. These drugs are medically known as sulfonamides. These sulfa drugs are used to treat a variety of conditions, from eye infections to rheumatoid arthritis.

Most often, this allergy is caused by sulfa antibiotics. According to surveys, about 3 out of 100 people may have some kind of reaction to these medications.

What are the symptoms of a sulfa allergy?

These symptoms can occur even if you are allergic to any medication, not just sulfa drugs. Let's see what these are.

In addition, some people may experience headaches, insomnia, crystalluria, and low blood cell counts. Very rarely, a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis may occur.

If you have a sulfa allergy, what medications should you avoid?

Sulfa antibiotics are a class of drugs that have been used for more than 70 years. If you are allergic to one sulfa antibiotic, you are likely to be allergic to all other antibiotics in that class.

Here are some commonly used sulfa drugs:

• Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim, Sulfatrim): A pill or liquid medicine given to treat a variety of infections.
• Sulfacetamide (BLEPH-10): Drops for eye infections.
• Sulfadiazine silver (Silvadene): A cream used to prevent infection in burn wounds.
• Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine): Tablets used for rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
• Dapsone (Aczone): A drug used to treat leprosy, skin diseases, and some types of pneumonia.

So, aren't other sulfa drugs a problem?

This is where many people get confused. Even if you are allergic to sulfa antibiotics , you may be able to use some other medications in the sulfa class without any problems. But this is not something you can decide for yourself.

For example, medications such as Glyburide, a diabetes medication, Celecoxib, a pain reliever, Sumatriptan, a migraine medication, and Furosemide, a diuretic, also have a 'sulfa' structure.

How do you treat an allergy?

The doctor will take immediate action to treat the symptoms of your allergic reaction.

• Antihistamines: These are given for minor symptoms such as itching and hives.
• Corticosteroids: This type of medication may be given if there are more severe symptoms, such as swelling.
• Epinephrine: This is given as an emergency treatment in case of a life-threatening, severe reaction like anaphylaxis. In such cases, you should immediately go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.

Sometimes, if you need a medicine that is in the sulfa class and you are allergic to it, your doctor may recommend a special procedure. It is called Drug Desensitization . This involves starting with a very small dose in a hospital, under medical supervision, and gradually increasing the dose to get your body used to the medicine.

Are sulfa and sulfite the same thing?

This is also something that confuses many people. Although the words "sulfa" and "sulfite" sound similar, they refer to two completely different things.

• Sulfa: These are medications that treat diseases.
• Sulfites: These are preservatives used to preserve food and beverages (especially wine).

People with asthma are often sensitive to sulfites. Just because you have an allergy to sulfa drugs doesn't mean you have to stop eating sulfite-containing foods like raisins and wine. There is no connection between the two.