How do sulfas affect you?

[bravelegs]

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How do the sulfa's affect you? What I mean is what symptoms are worsened as a result of treatment by say bactrim? I am curious. My gp gave me 3 days treatment for a urinary tract infection/bronchitis. 4 days later I saw the neuro and was barely able to walk. My gp, said that my symptoms were worsened due to the infection, but the day I saw her, I was able to walk.
I knew when I began taking them that lupies, are sensitive, but the pharmisist said to just be aware of skin reactions. I did burn, but nothing else skin related, my increase of symptoms was neurological. When I saw the neuro, he put me on levachor.
Is the bactrim a likely suspect for the increase in symptom other than skin sensitivity?

[ClareTee]

Hi Bravelegs
Yes they can make you feel like death only slightly warmed up.
Many medications have a sulfa component ( Celebrex for example ) so it's always worth checking out and seeing if there isn't an alternative.
Hope you are feeling better and that the infections are gone
Clare

[Sannie]

Hi there

I had a horrendous reaction to Septrin, which is a similar sulpha med to Bactrim. I woke up in ICU!

It is known that lupies can be VERY sensitive to sulpha meds - particularly if you have the anti Ro antibodies. Fortunately, in the UK, they are not prescribed as often as they once were.

They are known to cause a flare of any, or all, symptoms - not just rashes!

I find that I can't eat dried fruits that are preserved in sulpha as they too make me very ill.

I would advise you to make sure you never take it again - and to tell your doctor that lupus patients are advised not to have it!

Take care.

Love
Sannie

[lupiehelen]

hi, lupies are sensitive to sulfa. my gp wasn't aware of it 'til i told him when he tried to prescribe them for a bladder infection. the problem with having so many different drs., (i have 5), is that they don't seem to know very much about lupus so i feel like i have to continually be on the alert re treatments. i once had a dr try to prescribe the "pill", i said no thanks. when i told my rheumy she almost "flipped". don't trust that your dr will know drug reactions and lupus. take care. helen.

[bravelegs]

I am not dx yet, and this is pure speculation, but is it possible that my gp, knew the potential reaction and perscribed it anyway as a way of adding to her diagnostic criteria?

[ClareTee]

Bravelegs
I would be absolutely amazed if your doctor even knew anything about it and absolutely outraged if she had prescribed it deliberately !
Diagnosis isn't done this way - for example people aren't told to stand in the sun until they get lesions.
It's useful tat it has happened because you can show her the alternative criteria list !

Do any of the others apply to you ?

Are you feeling better ?

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Clare