Bactrim is a commercial name of the generic product sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. It is available in tablet and liquid form. Bactrim is an antibiotic which is generally used to treat bacterial infection. It is a broad spectrum antibiotic. It means it can be utilized in variety of infection such as ENT infection, fever, urinary tract infection, bronchitis, traveler’s diarrhea, and many other diseases.
Allergic Reaction To Bactrim
As with any other antibiotics and drugs, bactrim can also cause host of allergic symptoms in a person who is allergic to sulfa drug.
If the patient has passed history of sulfa allergy, it is very important for him to inform his doctor about the allergy.
He should also inform his doctor if he is suffering from any major liver, kidney diseases. Folic acid deficiency, asthma and G6PD deficiency, and any other relevant diseases should also be mentioned while the doctor is taking history of the patient.
Most important is, pregnant woman should always avoid sulfa drug and bactrim is one such drug to be avoided.
Symptoms Of Bactrim Allergy
Symptoms of allergic reaction to bactrim occurs as soon as or within few hours after the medicine is consumed by the patient or as late as one or two days.
- Skin: allergic skin reactions such as hives, itching, blisters on skin, and later on peeling of skin.
- Angio edema of eyes, throat, lips.
- Difficulty in breathing
- Blood in stool
- Decreased urine
- Red urine
- Red or purple patches under the skin.
- Stomach cramps.
- Pale skin
- Skin turns yellow
- Depression and hallucination.
- Headache
- Convulsion.
- Vertigo
- Pain in leg muscles especially in calf muscles.
- Low white blood cell count
- Low platelet count.
Sulfa allergy in some cases can become life threatening situation.
Bactrim Allergy Treatment
- The first and most important thing a person should do if he has sulfa allergy, is to discontinue the drug, in this case it is bactrim.
- The second important step is to inform the doctor about the allergy symptoms.
- Your doctor may give antihistaminic drugs and other anti allergic drugs as per the symptoms.
- If the allergy is severe, he may advise the patient to do certain blood tests.
- It is very important on the part of the patient to keep a regular follow up with his doctor till all the symptoms of bactrim allergy subside.
- Person should avoid all the drugs which contain even a trace of sulfa medicine.