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Diuretics and Allergies

11/21/2011

Question:

what are the diuretics that can be taken if a person is allegic to both sulfa and to all fish and seafood? (Fish and seafood allergy that causes anaphylactic shock)

Answer:

Many patients are allergic to sulfa, which may include a wide variety of medications. Most patients with a sulfa allergy have reacted to the antibiotic forms of sulfa, and tend to tolerate other forms without problems.
 
Other medications with a sulfa ingredient include oral diabetes medications like glipizide (Glucotrol®)and glyburide (Diabeta®), diuretics like furosemide (Lasix®) and hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril®), and the popular prescription pain medication celecoxib (Celebrex).

In patients with a severe sulfa allergy, or in those with a confirmed allergy to diuretics, the only alternative is ethacrynic acid. Ethacrynic acid is a loop diuretic, similar to furosemide.

There are no problems with fish or seafood with these medications; however, these allergies tend to indicate an allergy to organic iodine products. These products are used as contrast or dye with certain imaging studies or special types of X-rays.

For more information:

Go to the Pharmacy and Medications health topic.