Re: DR SIEGEL

[Guest guest]

Joe, sulfasalazine almost did me in. That

is when I got off my dead ass and found the antibiotic protocol. Ask Dr Siegel

if

sulfasalazine is so safe why do you have to have frequent blood tests to

monitor

side effects while taking it.

---------------------------------

<<Only after critical appraisal should sulfasalazine be used in patients with

hepatic or renal damage or blood dyscrasias. Deaths associated with the

administration of sulfasalazine have been reported from hypersensitivity

reactions, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, other blood dyscrasias, renal and

liver damage, irreversible neuromuscular and CNS changes, and fibrosing

alveolitis. The presence of clinical signs such as sore throat, fever, pallor,

purpura or jaundice may be indications of serious blood disorders. Complete

blood counts as well as a urinalysis with careful microscopic examination

should be done frequently in patients receiving sulfasalazine. Oligospermia

and infertility have been observed in man treated with sulfasalazine. The most

common adverse reactions associated with sulfasalazine are anorexia, headache,

nausea, vomiting, gastric distress and apparently reversible oligospermia.

These occur in about one-third of the patients. Less frequent adverse

reactions are skin rash, pruritus, urticaria, fever, Heinz body anemia,

hemolytic anemia and cyanosis which may occur at a frequency of one in every

thirty patients or less. Experience suggests that with a daily dosage of 4 g

or more, or total serum sulfapyridine levels above 50 mcg/ml, the incidence of

adverse reactions tends to increase.

Blood dyscrasias: aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, leukopenia, megaloblastic

(macrocytic) anemia, purpura, thrombocytopenia, hypoprothrombinemia,

methemoglobinemia, congenital neutropenia, and myelodysplastic syndrome.

Hypersensitivity reactions: erythema multiforme (s- syndrome),

exfoliative dermatitis, epidermal necrolysis (Lyell's syndrome) with corneal

damage, anaphylaxis, serum sickness syndrome, pneumonitis with or without

eosinophilia, vasculitis, fibrosing alveolitis, pleuritis, pericarditis with

or without tamponade, allergic myocarditis, polyarteritis nodosa, L.E.

syndrome, hepatitis and hepatic necrosis with or without immune complexes,

parapsoriasis varioliformis acuta (Mucha-Habermann syndrome), rhabdomyolysis,

photosensitization, arthralgia, periorbital edema, conjunctival and scleral

injection and alopecia.

Gastrointestinal reactions: hepatitis, pancreatitis, bloody diarrhea, impaired

folic acid absorption, impaired digoxin absorption, stomatitis, diarrhea,

abdominal pains, and neutropenic enterocolitis.

CNS reactions: transverse myelitis, convulsions, meningitis, transient lesions

of the posterior spinal column, cauda equina syndrome, Guillain-Barre

syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, mental depression, vertigo, hearing loss,

insomnia, ataxia, hallucinations, tinnitus and drowsiness.

Renal reactions: toxic nephrosis with oliguria and anuria, nephritis,

nephrotic syndrome, hematuria, crystalluria, proteinuria, and hemolytic-uremic

syndrome.

Other reactions: urine discoloration and skin discoloration.

The sulfonamides bear certain chemical similarities to some goitrogens,

diuretics (acetazolamide and the thiazides), and oral hypoglycemic agents.

Goiter production, diuresis and hypoglycemia have occurred rarely in patients

receiving sulfonamides. Cross-sensitivity may exist with these agents. Rats

appear to be especially susceptible to the goitrogenic effects of sulfonamides

and long-term administration has produced thyroid malignancies in the

species.>> ---------------------------------

Drug-Induced Lung Diseases

Address:http://www.pneumotox.com/pneumotox/sulfasalazine.html

---------------------------------

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus

Address:http://www.healthanswers.com/database/ami/converted/000446.html

--------------------------------

SINCERELY,

ray