Title: Sulfa allergies: Overview and what to avoid
Headings: What to know about sulfa allergies
What to know about sulfa allergies
Symptoms
Medications that contain sulfa
Medications to avoid
Sulfa vs. sulfite allergy
Complications
Anaphylaxis
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Treatment
Outlook

Content: A person who thinks they have a sulfa allergy should either avoid the following medications or talk to their doctor about taking any of them: antibiotic combination drugs, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Septra and Bactrim) and erythromycin-sulfisoxazole
dapsone, a treatment for leprosy, dermatitis, and some types of pneumonia
sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), which treats Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis
sulfacetamide (BLEPH-10), which are eye drops for treating eye infections
sulfadiazine silver (Silvadene), a cream that doctors prescribe to treat burn infections
However, not every medication that contains sulfonamides will trigger a reaction in people with a sulfa allergy. People should discuss with their doctor whether it is safe to use the following medications. The doctor should evaluate the benefits on a case-by-case basis, as there may be cross-reactivity in some instances. These include: diabetes medications, such as glyburide (Glynase, Diabeta) and glimepiride (Amaryl)
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as celecoxib (Celebrex)
diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide) and furosemide (Lasix)
Other medications that contain a sulfonamide do not appear to cause allergic reactions in people with a sulfa allergy. These include: medication for migraines, such as naratriptan (Amerge) and sumatriptan (Imitrex, Sumavel, Dosepro)
Anyone who has a sulfa allergy should make sure they tell their doctor and pharmacist. Sulfa vs. sulfite allergy
Sulfa allergies and sulfite allergies are different. While sulfites occur naturally in foodstuffs, sulfa medications do not.