Scientists at EPFL have uncovered the molecular basis behind
some of the neurological side effects of sulfonamide antibiotics, providing doctors
with possible means to minimize them in patients.
Since the discovery of Prontosil in 1932, sulfonamide
antibiotics have been used to combat a wide spectrum of bacterial infections,
from acne to chlamydia and pneumonia. However, their side effects can include
serious neurological problems like nausea, headache, dizziness, hallucinations
and even psychosis. In a recent Science publication, EPFL researchers have
shown for the first time how sulfonamides can interfere with a patient’s
nervous system.