Sulfa allergy

Editor-in-Chief: Ann Slater, R.N.

Sulfa allergies refer to medications that contain sulfa that may result in an adverse reaction. It is important to note that just because the medication name does not contain the sulfa does not mean it does not contain sulfa, particularly true for the generic names.

Antibiotics that contain sulfonamides include

• Sulfamethoxazole
• Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Septra, Bactrim)
• Erythromycin-sulfisoxazole

Two medications that are closely related to sulfonamides and should be avoided by those with sulfonamide allergy are:

• Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
• Dapsone

Several other medications related to sulfonamides should be used with caution are show below. Though risk of an allergic reaction is significantly lower with these medications you should consult with your health care provider who will weight the risk and benefits.

• Diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix) and hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide)
• Diabetes medications such as glyburide (Glynase, Diabeta, Micronase) and glimepiride (Amaryl)
• Particular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as celecoxib (Celebrex)
• Migraine treatment with sumatriptan (Imitrex)

HIV/AIDS patients may be more sensitive to sulfonamides or medications similar to sulfonamides. Sulfites and sulfates food preservations are unlikely to cause adverse effects in people with a sulfa allergy.