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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
People with a sulfa allergy typically need to avoid sulfonamide antibiotics (antibiotics containing sulfa), including:Septra and Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim)Pediazole (erythromycin-sulfisoxazole)Whether other nonantibiotic sulfa-containing drugs need to be avoided with sulfa allergy is unclear and considered on a case-by-case basis.Sulfa can be found in many different drugs, but sulfonamide antibiotics cause the majority of sulfa allergies. Research is mixed on whether there is an association between allergies to antibiotic sulfa drugs and nonantibiotic sulfa drugs. Experiencing an allergic reaction to a sulfonamide antibiotic does not mean that you will react poorly to sulfonamide nonantibiotic drugs.While the risk is low, people with an allergy to sulfa antibiotics may have a higher risk of reacting poorly to nonantibiotic sulfa drugs. It may be that sulfa antibiotic allergies are associated with a greater risk of drug allergies overall. One study reported in a review in Canadian Family Physician found that penicillin, which is substantially different from sulfa antibiotics, was more likely to cause an allergic reaction than sulfa nonantibiotics among people allergic to sulfa antibiotics.Besides antibiotics, some of the drugs that contain sulfa include:Antivirals, such as amprenavir and fosamprenavirCarbonic anhydrase inhibitors, such as acetazolamide and brinzolamideCOX-2 inhibitors, such as celecoxib and rofecoxibLoop diuretics, such as bumetanide and furosemideSulfonylureas, such as acetohexamide and chlorpropamideThiazide diuretics, such as benzthiazide and chlorothiazideTriptans, such as almotriptan and eletriptanIt is important for your doctor to be aware of your history of drug allergies so that you and your doctor can make careful decisions and weigh the risks and benefits in each case.Related questionsDoes Bactrim cause headaches?Does Bactrim make you tired?How long does it take for a boil to heal while taking Bactrim? ReferencesAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI). Drug Allergies. February 28, 2018. Available at: https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/drug-allergies/. [Accessed September 28, 2021].Ponka D. Approach to managing patients with sulfa allergy: use of antibiotic and nonantibiotic sulfonamides. Can Fam Physician. 2006;52(11):1434-1438. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1783707/.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). Acetazolamide and sulfonamide allergy. June 23, 2019. Available at: https://www.aaaai.org/Allergist-Resources/Ask-the-Expert/Answers/Old-Ask-the-Experts/acetazolamide. [Accessed September 28, 2021].Giles A, Foushee J, Lantz E, et al. Sulfonamide Allergies. Pharmacy (Basel). 2019;7(3):132. 2019 Sep 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy7030132. Read next Can you take hydroxyzine for anxiety and sleep? Hydroxyzine is a sedating antihistamine that can be used short-term to treat anxiety and trouble sleeping, but is not meant for long-term use. Medicines typically used first-line for the treatment of anxiety are the antidepressants like the SSRIs or SNRIs (for example:
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