Sulfasalazine allergy?

I was put on sulfasalazine in mid February I think it was and in a few weeks I had developed this rash on my arms that I thought was fiberglass from work guys also notice my face is red. Next day wake up with a fever miss work go to a doctor and he thinks it’s mono. I stopped taking the sulfasalazine and omeprazole (something I do when I get sick) got better after 4 or 5 days. Go back to work and start back on the medicine by That Friday my face is red again and that night it feels wind chapped and my arms start itching. Saturday I start having hives inside my arms and face is swelling so I got to emergency room doc feels like it’s definitely some kind of allergic reaction gives me steroids and Benadryl and sends me home. I felt a little better but by Monday morning it was all back and redness and hives were worse and hives spread to chest and back I go back to the doctor that said he thought was mono he sends me straight to an allergist. After allergist ask what meds I’m on and I tell him sulfasalazine and how long is been on it (almost a month by now) he immediately is like “that’s what this is” his nurse practitioner seemed to agree. They sent me to a burn clinic I guess in fear of Steven Johnson’s they say they thing it’s just allergic reaction and give me prednisone and antihistamine and tell me not to touch the sulfasalazine. Few days go by and by now my face is dried out and peeling my waste line is peeling. Hands are red and tingling so call allergist he ups the prednisone a lot. I get better for the most part go back to see him about a week or two later GI swapped me to Mesalamine but different brand so I could afford it and put me on Zantac instead of omeprazole just in case. Everything is way better but my face is still getting red and hot from time to time especially if I get warm or am working but my hands are almost always red and turn white if I move or touch them amd get really red if I wear gloves a while and sometimes they’re really cold so I tell allergist and he just tells me to ride it out and see... really frustrated been off sulfasalazine for a month and my hands seem to get better and worse and my face still gets red and hot a couple times a day. I have stopped the Mesalamine (which I had no problems with for almost two years before all this) and Zantac but still symptoms are lingering really frustrated and freaked out any advice?

quincy said...
Have you had complete blood testing done with a rheumatologist or a dermatologist specialising in that type of condition?

It could very well be a sulfa and salicylate allergy, but it could be autoimmune skin condition not related to meds.

q

No I wondered why we didn’t do that when they decided it was a drug allergy anyways.. but Talked to allergist yesterday and he wants to see me Monday so we’ll see if he does anything this time I guess

After 25 years of bliss-full sulfa that kept me very long in remission, I eventually became allergic to it. Blood test revealed a "never seen" increase of eosinophils (a type of white cells). Symptoms were rashes, dermatographia (skin writing - almost funny), swollen ankles, face, neck, knees, scrotum (occurring in random order), often combined with maddening itches. Symptoms were also triggered by heat/moisture.

After a few courses of steroids, tons of medical tests, and resulting osteoporosis, sulfa was eventually pointed as the culprit: once I quit everything (steroids, sulfa), my blood levels returned to normal. If I restarted the sulfa, symptoms returned. I had to quit sulfa eventually and switch over to harder drugs that, ironically, don't work half as good.

It did take a month or two to clear out the eosinofils (if this is the case here), I'd take a blood test if things don't clear up...

Post Edited (menos) : 4/16/2018 11:32:46 AM (GMT-6)

For sure test for sulphites, sulphates and salicylates.
There are all three in various foods, which may be something yiu will need to limit should either be positive.

Please keep us updated...
q