Flu vax and sulfa allergies

Mamasaurus

I was dead against getting a flu vax because of previous reaction, but I heard on the news today that this year we will have H1N1 again--it's a new strain of it that spreads more easily according to some researchers at MIT. I looked it up and they aren't 100% sure about that, but they're saying if that's the case, it could be like the 1918 flu. So, I decided to look into the vax more and found out that some of them have polymyxin, a sulfa antibiotic. I am allergic to sulfa antibiotics, and this probably accounts for why I had such a bad time with the flu vax in the past. I don't know why my doc didn't warn me away from that brand since he knew about my allergy!

My question now is how to find a brand that is safe/good for me to take. Anything with polymyxin or neomycin is out; I know that will give me a high fever and will be dangerous for me and baby. Ideally, I want one that can be delivered with the pre-loaded syringe since that delivery method has the least amount of preservatives (like formaldehyde). I am having a hard time finding info on some brands for this year's vaccines and hoped that maybe somebody here would have a recommendation.

I am not looking to start an argument here--some people will remember from past threads that I think the flu vax is way over-hyped, but I also think a rapidly-spreading H1N1 strain is not something I want. I seriously am just looking to hear about anybody's experiences with getting it this year and if any women with sulfa allergies like I have found a specific brand that works for them.

Angel002

I am not getting the flu vaccine...but can your dr recommend one or a place to get one that has what you are looking for?

I know there is a website that lists all vaccine ingredients that you can look at yourself...I'll try to see if I can find it (it's been a year since I looked at it).

ETA:

It might be on this website:  https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm

Kristinmo

What was your reacction before?

DragonflyBelle

I am deathly allergic to sulfa drugs (antibiotics) and have never had a flu shot reaction. In fact, I have never been told any of the components contained the same sulfa compounds as the antibiotics.

 

ETA: I know there is a difference between ingested and injected drugs and reactions, so this may play a factor.

PetitePomme

DragonflyBelle:

I am deathly allergic to sulfa drugs (antibiotics) and have never had a flu shot reaction. In fact, I have never been told any of the components contained the same sulfa compounds as the antibiotics.

 

ETA: I know there is a difference between ingested and injected drugs and reactions, so this may play a factor.

I'm also deathly allergic (and so is my husband) to sulfa drugs and I have never been told that there were any sulfa compounds in a flu shot.  I remind my doctor of my allergy every year right before getting my shot and she always tells me that the shot is safe. Maybe you could just remind your doctor right before getting the shot?

katcarls

I'm allergic to sulfa and I've never had a problem with any vaccines, including the flu shot.  You're way over-researching and over-thinking this.

blackbirdmoment

I just wanted to speak up like a few of the PP on here.  I also am allergic to all sulfa medications (and others in the sulfa family) and have never had even the slightest reaction to the flu vaccine.  While I'm not disregarding your poor reaction in the past (and that is definitely an important thing to consider before getting one while pregnant) but I'm doubtful it was your sulfa allergy that caused it.  I would talk to your doctor more about your concerns regarding the vaccine.

Mamasaurus

katcarls:

I'm allergic to sulfa and I've never had a problem with any vaccines, including the flu shot.  You're way over-researching and over-thinking this.

Good for you, but my symptoms with Fluvirin were the same, almost exactly, as when I was given the antibiotic that led to my doc discovering my allergy--the rash looked the same, I had the same sudden high fever, plus fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, and shortness of breath. This happened the next day, just like with the bactrim. My blood tests came back anemic both times as well, although there's no way to be sure that wasn't just because I wasn't eating well. The main difference between the two incidents was that I had constant hot and cold flashes from the bactrim and only a few after the flu shot. When I went to the doctor thinking I was sick, he even asked me if I had accidentally taken some of the left over Bactrim he'd given me the year before because of the specific type of rash I had. Since my rash was the worst at the injection site, we figured it was a reaction to my flu vax, but he didn't make the connection between the sulfas. He said something along the lines of, "There are so many ingredients in that vaccine that we can't be sure what caused this reaction," but in retrospect, it was pretty much for sure the sulfas.

Fluvirin, according to the insert I looked up, should not be taken by people with previous known reactions to sulfa antibiotics. The manufacturer specifically states this--do you think there perhaps is a reason for this, such as adverse reactions in a study? There is medical literature linking sulfa allergy to severe seizures in people who took sulfa-containing vaccines. Maybe your flu vax didn't have sulfas, because some brands do not, but mine did. I would like to avoid having a horrible rash, a 102 degree fever, an exploding anus, anemia, and trouble breathing. Wouldn't you? I don't think I can possibly do enough research to find out how to avoid having a potentially-deadly seizure while pregnant. I don't think it is really possible to "over research" something if it means I can be protected from H1N1 and still avoid the raging fever, breathing problems, and uncontrollable puking I had with my last flu vax.

Instead of being rude, you could have posted something that's actually useful, like a PP did. If you really want to change my or anyone else's mind about something, including actual medical information instead of a two-sentence opinion/insult is a good place to start.

katcarls

Mamasaurus:

katcarls:

I'm allergic to sulfa and I've never had a problem with any vaccines, including the flu shot.  You're way over-researching and over-thinking this.

Good for you, but my symptoms with Fluvirin were the same, almost exactly, as when I was given the antibiotic that led to my doc discovering my allergy--the rash looked the same, I had the same sudden high fever, plus fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, and shortness of breath. This happened the next day, just like with the bactrim. My blood tests came back anemic both times as well, although there's no way to be sure that wasn't just because I wasn't eating well. The main difference between the two incidents was that I had constant hot and cold flashes from the bactrim and only a few after the flu shot. When I went to the doctor thinking I was sick, he even asked me if I had accidentally taken some of the left over Bactrim he'd given me the year before because of the specific type of rash I had. Since my rash was the worst at the injection site, we figured it was a reaction to my flu vax, but he didn't make the connection between the sulfas. He said something along the lines of, "There are so many ingredients in that vaccine that we can't be sure what caused this reaction," but in retrospect, it was pretty much for sure the sulfas.

Fluvirin, according to the insert I looked up, should not be taken by people with previous known reactions to sulfa antibiotics. The manufacturer specifically states this--do you think there perhaps is a reason for this, such as adverse reactions in a study? There is medical literature linking sulfa allergy to severe seizures in people who took sulfa-containing vaccines. Maybe your flu vax didn't have sulfas, because some brands do not, but mine did. I would like to avoid having a horrible rash, a 102 degree fever, an exploding anus, anemia, and trouble breathing. Wouldn't you? I don't think I can possibly do enough research to find out how to avoid having a potentially-deadly seizure while pregnant. I don't think it is really possible to "over research" something if it means I can be protected from H1N1 and still avoid the raging fever, breathing problems, and uncontrollable puking I had with my last flu vax.

Instead of being rude, you could have posted something that's actually useful, like a PP did. If you really want to change my or anyone else's mind about something, including actual medical information instead of a two-sentence opinion/insult is a good place to start.

You need to relax and stop being so sensitive.  All I said, like several other people, was that I have a sulfa allergy and never had a problem with the flu shot.  I never said that your previous reaction wasn't due to your sulfa allergy so the 3 paragraph rant was completely unnecessary.    Use the link PP provided and make a decision already.

ETA: Check out this table from the CDC.  You'll probably want to double check the manufacturers websites of the ones you think you can get to make sure things haven't changed for this year.  Hopefully you can stop agonizing over this now.