[kiaratrak]

Hi - Was chatting with Lesley about my history and she suggested i seek some advice here re the above antibiotic. I was prone to UTI's once and was given this drug on two occasions to which i reacted very badly the first time being hospitalised for 5 days before the second time around my hubby and i figured out what it was.... tsk! Laid up for another week poorly - thanks NHS!

Can anyone tell me if my body's dislike to this drug could be significant to an eventual diagnosis?

Thank you - Kiara

 

[Maia]

This is an antibiotic with a sulfa component to it; many (but not all) people with lupus also have a sensitivity to sulfa based antibiotics and should not take them. It can make lupus flare up, and some believe it could even cause lupus but that is not proven.

It's worthy mentioning to your rheumy for a variety of reasons, but is not going to be a major factor in getting a diagnosis of lupus. The ACR criteria are much more important in getting a diagnosis!

 

[kiaratrak]

Thanks Maia thats interesting. My reaction was quite bad - i was put on a drip, oxygen and heart monitor and the doctors never figured out what was wrong at the time. I remember my temperature shot up and then dropped right down, i was shaking, i could hardly move, everything hurt and on the fourth day i came out in a massive rash. The second time i was at home and i had all the same symptoms along with stomach cramps, toilet trips and oral thrush - which i think had something to do with my mouth/tongue swelling up. I hope i never get given that drug again!!!

 

[Clare.T]

Hello Kiara

You won't ever get given it again because you will have this severe reaction written in red very large all over your records and you can consider wearing bracelet or even getting a tatoo. This is the sort of thing that should be mentioned whenever you are giving your health history. Make sure it is noted on your GP's records.

In fact when giving a health history every single thing should be mentioned including ob/gyny stuff even if you think it is irrelevant. Something like an ingrowing toenail probably wouldn't have any relevance, but I am sure you get my point. Of course in any decent medical practice in normal circumstances you are asked about allergies. You will also mention it everytime you are given a prescription and to the pharmacist when you fill a prescription.

There is no point in badmouthing the NHS because this sort of thing happens all over the world in all healthcare systems and in first rate private practice too because there is no way of telling who is going to have an allergic reaction. Thousands of people take these drugs without any bad reactions at all. There unfortunately has to be a first time.

I could not ascertain that trimethoprim is in fact by itself a sulfanomide antibiotic. It was certainly used along with one in Bactrin and Septrin for example. If you get those brands there would be no way of telling if it was the trimethoprim or the sulfonamide you were reacting too. It's all quite complicated and I might have misunderstood it. See the link below

A bad reaction to sulfonamides is especially common in people with lupus. It is so common that it figures on the St Thomas list of so called Alternative Criteria. The top lupus doctors recommend using alternative antibiotics whenever possible.

http://www.allergy.org.au/content/view/110/1/



Clare

 

[kiaratrak]

Thanks Clare - i was not meaning to bad mouth the NHS because as you know ive also had positive experiences with them which outweigh any bad ones. I was merely joking on the fact the if the doctors had picked it up first time around they could have saved another frightening reaction for me the second time - especially seeing as second time around i wasnt even given any information with the drugs listing side effects and i had to wait for my husband to go to work and look it up on the internet for me.