Tag: Sulfa drugs

First introduced in the 1930s, sulfonamide drugs, often called sulfa drugs, were the world's first systemic antibacterial agents, revolutionizing infectious disease treatment before the advent of penicillin. While their role as a primary antibacterial has shifted due to resistance, this class of synthetic medications still plays a critical and diverse role in modern medicine.

Approximately 4–6% of the general population are considered “high steroid responders,” meaning they experience a significant rise in intraocular pressure (IOP) from corticosteroid use. While medication-induced glaucoma is a recognized risk, it is often preventable with proper awareness and patient education. Understanding what medications can cause glaucoma is critical for patients, especially those with pre-existing risk factors, to prevent vision loss.

Over 2 million Americans suffer from glaucoma, a condition for which acetazolamide is sometimes prescribed. However, acetazolamide is not safe for everyone and has several critical contraindications that can lead to severe health complications.

Drug-induced photosensitivity may account for up to 8% of all drug-related skin reactions [1.2.4]. A key question for many patients is, **do sulfa drugs cause photosensitivity?** The answer is yes; this class of medication is a well-known culprit for increasing your skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) light [1.2.9, 1.4.4].

In the United States, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is used to treat 26% of urinary tract infections (UTIs). This common antibiotic combination raises the question for many patients: beyond UTIs, what does sulfamethoxazole DS treat effectively and safely?

Developed in the 1930s as a powerful antibiotic, Sulphapyridine's use has evolved dramatically due to severe side effects and the emergence of safer alternatives. Today, it is primarily used to treat a specific inflammatory skin condition, dermatitis herpetiformis, though it is no longer widely available as a standalone drug in many countries.

Approved in 1941, sulfadiazine is a sulfonamide antibiotic used for various bacterial and parasitic infections. Understanding what infections does sulfadiazine treat is key to its clinical application, most notably for toxoplasmosis, often in combination with pyrimethamine.

The introduction of sulfonamide drugs in the mid-1930s caused a 28% drop in infectious disease deaths in the U.S. alone. Among these groundbreaking drugs was sulfanilamide, which belongs to a class of synthetic antimicrobial agents known as sulfonamides, or "sulfa drugs". This article explores the history, mechanism of action, and current status of this historically significant medication.

The introduction of sulfonamides in the mid-1930s led to a 28% drop in deaths from infectious diseases in the U.S. [1.4.3]. Once a revolutionary treatment, the question remains: what is sulfanilamide powder used for today in the landscape of modern medicine?

It is virtually impossible to have a true allergy to elemental sulphur, as it is the third most abundant mineral in the human body, found in essential amino acids. Therefore, the crucial question of 'who should not take sulphur' almost always refers to a sensitivity or allergy to a different, albeit related, compound, most commonly sulfa drugs (sulfonamides) or sulfites.