Sulfa drugs or sulfonamides are one of the earliest antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections and are still commonly prescribed. These drugs are used as oral medications and medicated creams or ointments and work by inhibiting bacterial growth. Sulfa drugs are available in varying strengths. They are used to treat a variety of infections including ulcerative colitis, skin sores and eye infections. As with all drugs, sulfa antibiotics can cause side effects that are general or specific to types of sulfa drugs.
General Effects
Common side effects of sulfa drugs include headache pain, digestive pain and discomfort, itching, skin rash and anemia. All sulfa antibiotics can cause general adverse effects as listed by the MayoClinic.com, including coughs, shortness of breath, dizziness, joint pain, insomnia and diarrhea.
Sulfacetamide Effects
Side effects that are specific to the sulfa antibiotic sulfacetamide, which is sold under the brand name Bleph-10 and used in the treatment of eye infections. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library lists these side effects as itching, skin rash and burning, corneal ulcers and conjunctivitis.
Sulfanilamide Effects
The sulfa antibiotic sulfanilamide, or AVC, is commonly used to treat lower stomach, intestinal and vaginal infections. This specific drug can cause severe reactions in some individuals such as hives, swelling of the face, tongue and lips, chest tightness and difficulty breathing.
Sulfamethoxazole Effects
The antibiotic sulfamethoxazole is often sold in preparations combined with other sulfa drugs such as trimethoprim. Adverse effects to these antibiotics include symptoms of allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, mouth and throat, hives, difficulty breathing and sudden low blood pressure.
Silver Sulfadiazine Effects
The sulfa drug silver sulfadiazine is a topical antibacterial skin ointment that is prescribed to treat wounds such as severe burns, skin ulcers and skin infections. Side effects of this treatment include skin discoloration inflammation, rashes, burning and pain as well as loss of sensation and skin necrosis or cell death.
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