Title: Sulfonamides - Side Effects & Warnings | Everyday Health
Headings: What Are Sulfonamides?
What Are Sulfonamides?
Common Sulfonamides
Side Effects of Sulfonamides
Allergies to Sulfonamides
Sulfonamide Warnings
Sulfonamides and Pregnancy
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Content: Sulfonamides - Side Effects & Warnings | Everyday Health
Sulfonamides
What Are Sulfonamides? By Lynn Marks Medically Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD
Last Updated: December 1, 2015
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Medically Reviewed
‘Sulfa drugs’ were some of the original antibiotics, and are still in use today. Sulfonamides, or "sulfa drugs," are a group of medicines used to treat bacterial infections. They may be prescribed to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), bronchitis, eye infections, bacterial meningitis, pneumonia, ear infections, severe burns, traveler's diarrhea, and other conditions. Sometimes, the medicines are also used to help control seizures and treat other medical concerns. The drugs won't work for viral infections, such as a cold or the flu. Sulfonamides work by preventing the growth of bacteria in the body. They come in different formulations and may be taken as an oral, topical, vaginal, or ophthalmic (eye) medicine. The discovery of sulfonamides paved the way for the widespread use of antibiotics.