Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of Schiff bases obtained by condensation of sulfamethoxazole with salicylaldehyde/pyridoxal were prepared and characterized by microanalytical, thermogravimetric, magnetic, and spectroscopic data. The Cu (II) and Zn (II) complexes of salicylidenesulfamethoxazole were found to be five coordinate while all others were six coordinate. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectral lines exhibited rhombic distortion from axial symmetry, with g k [ g \ [ g e , in the case of the Cu (II) complexes. The geometry of the complexes appears to be square-pyramidal or octahedral. All the compounds under investigation possess antibacterial activity against the strains tested. The antibacterial activity showed the following trend: Cu (II) complexes [ Zn (II) complexes [ Schiff base ligands [ parent drugs. All the copper complexes were found to be active against kaolin paw edema whereas the parent drugs were inactive.