Water Pill and Sulfa Drug Allergy Question.

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I am allergic to sulfa drugs. I was taking a water pill for over 10 years even though there is a Sulfa base (very small) in them. My body can no longer handle the Sulfa in any amounts. So I was wondering....

Does anyone else have this problem, and if you do, are there any water pills minus sulfa? If not what do you do to replace them, I read dandelion tea, green tea, etc. I already drink over the recommended water each day.

Thanks for any help.

I am editing to add that I take the water pill for a booster to my blood pressure meds, and my only symptoms up to know being off it are puffy fingers when I work out, and rings not fitting in the early morning.

 

[rie'smom]

I'm not sure about a prescription substitute. When I was pregnant I was on a prescription diuretic. In the years since then I have found that a cup or glass of warm water with some lemon (1/4-1/2 of 1 lemon) squeezed in it works just as well. Unsweetened tea works well too.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I'm not sure about a prescription substitute. When I was pregnant I was on a prescription diuretic. In the years since then I have found that a cup or glass of warm water with some lemon (1/4-1/2 of 1 lemon) squeezed in it works just as well. Unsweetened tea works well too.

That's simple enough. Will lemon juice work, I don't have real lemons in the house. Pretty much desperate, a month without the water pill and I feel like a big blob!

 

[rie'smom]

Yes, it should work. Just use whatever would equal 1/4 - 1/2 lemon. It really does work best in warm water. Don't use it now though or you'll be up running to the bathroom all night.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

No not tonight, but definitely right after breakfast.

 

[RNMOM]

Not sure about your water pill but think that might need some discussion with your pharmacist and/or doctor. I will say that my sister and I both have this problem and both have had a LOT of difficulty with any of the meds for type 2 diabetes. All the metformen/glyburides and such. She had rashes for over a year until she was finally able to convince her pharmacist to help intervene with her doctor. I just finally had to stop mine all together. They gave me GI difficulties, many times a day.

Sulfa is the base for a lot of medications and those of us sensitive to it just have to go by trial and error. I hope your doctor is supportive of you and can find a drug or food/herb to help.

 

[bumbershoot]

The one thing my midwives did that was beneficial for me was to give me an herbal tea mixture. OK they didn't give it to me, but they told me what herbs to get. Skullcap, dandelion root, dandelion herb, and 3 others...helped dump the extra water that was tweaking them so much. Also, eating watermelon (until that was the only thing I'd eaten that day, because it's all I wouldn't throw up, and I had sugar, OF COURSE after all that watermelon, on the peestick at the appointment, oy).

If you have an herbal shop with knowledgable people, mention those 3 to them, and see if they can figure out what the other herbs might be. I do not take herbs lightly (one of the least helpful things the same women did was give me tinctures that gave me the OPPOSITE effect, and then gave them to me a second time), and don't want you to, but it was VERY helpful for me. So if you have people who know their herbs, find them, if interested.

 

[EdiePA]

If you do need a prescription diuretic ("water pill"), there are some prescription choices without sulfa in them. A few that come to mind:

amiloride (Midamor)
spironolactone (Aldactone)
triamterene (Dyrenium)

They're older medications that some pharmacies might have to order to have in stock for you.

Edie

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

If you do need a prescription diuretic ("water pill"), there are some prescription choices without sulfa in them. A few that come to mind:

amiloride (Midamor)
spironolactone (Aldactone)
triamterene (Dyrenium)

They're older medications that some pharmacies might have to order to have in stock for you.

Thank you very much for this, and to everyone else who responded. I am going to pick up some tea for the time being, we have one right in our grocery store with some of the herbs bumber listed, so if they sell it there, I can give it a try.

I am going to try the lemon in the water this morning, that is what I have on hand. In the meantime, I will also be talking to the pharmacist re: those three meds. I don't have another drs. appt until the beginning of March, and I would like to go in with all my information in hand.

Sad to say, I am more efficient taking a pill every morning than I would be trying to remember to make tea etc. I hardly get enough food in each day.


Again, thanks to everyone. Please hope one of these tricks work, I really want to wear my wedding bands on our upcoming vacation.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Please inform your doctors now that you haven't been taking your diuretic for a month. I have no idea of your medical history or why you're taking it in the first place, but it's very common for people to get admitted to the hospital with severe fluid build up, unable to breathe, etc, after they've stopped on their own. Teas and lemon juice will not take the place of most diuretics and the extra fluid (teas, watery fruits, etc) can actually be harmful depending on your health issues (heart failure, for example).

My body can no longer handle the Sulfa in any amounts.

What happens to you? Are you sure it's the medication?

 

[rie'smom]

Please inform your doctors now that you haven't been taking your diuretic for a month. I have no idea of your medical history or why you're taking it in the first place, but it's very common for people to get admitted to the hospital with severe fluid build up, unable to breathe, etc, after they've stopped on their own. Teas and lemon juice will not take the place of most diuretics and the extra fluid (teas, watery fruits, etc) can actually be harmful depending on your health issues (heart failure, for example).


What happens to you? Are you sure it's the medication?

I was under the impression that her doctor had discontinued her medication. OP, definitely let your doctor know you stopped your meds!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Please inform your doctors now that you haven't been taking your diuretic for a month. I have no idea of your medical history or why you're taking it in the first place, but it's very common for people to get admitted to the hospital with severe fluid build up, unable to breathe, etc, after they've stopped on their own. Teas and lemon juice will not take the place of most diuretics and the extra fluid (teas, watery fruits, etc) can actually be harmful depending on your health issues (heart failure, for example).


What happens to you? Are you sure it's the medication?

He is the one who told me to stop and he upped my blood pressure meds. I turn beet red and itch. I usually have 100% faith in him, truly trust him with anything, but he said all water pills were sulfa based, and to just do the higher dose of blood pressure meds. When the previous poster noted the non-sulfa water pills, well I was a bit upset. My doctor should know that, and I will go into his office and call him on it. I plan on getting the info from the pharmacist and will bring it into his office my next visit. I would go now, but I have my dream trip coming up, my blood pressure is fine, I am just water-logged. I should have questioned it sooner.

I was under the impression that her doctor had discontinued her medication. OP, definitely let your doctor know you stopped your meds!

He did discontinue it, just didn't give me any alternatives. I asked in the office about green or herb tea, he said those were fine. I am a bit upset and off now, kind of actually worried. Just what one needs the week before vacation. I have a hard time starting new meds, so either way it will most likely need to wait until I get back. At least I know my blood pressure is under control right now, and I will more than quadruple my exercise walking Disney. I guess I will be elevating my feet though at night.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

He is the one who told me to stop and he upped my blood pressure meds. I turn beet red and itch. I usually have 100% faith in him, truly trust him with anything, but he said all water pills were sulfa based, and to just do the higher dose of blood pressure meds.

OK, that's good - I didn't see that in your OP. (I have a sulfa allergy, too, and do the same thing.)