Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Descriptions

Sulfadiazine is used to treat or prevent infections in many different parts of the body. It belongs to the group of medicines known as sulfonamide antibiotics. It works by preventing the growth of bacteria. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Tablet

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Because of sulfadiazine's toxicity, use in infants younger than 2 months of age is not recommended.

Geriatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of sulfadiazine in geriatric patients. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney and liver problems, which may require caution in patients receiving sulfadiazine.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful infant effects. An alternative to this medication should be prescribed or you should stop breastfeeding while using this medicine.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Methenamine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Methotrexate
• Porfimer

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acetohexamide
• Aminolevulinic Acid
• Cyclosporine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Asthma or
• Blood problems (e.g., agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia) or
• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (an enzyme problem) or
• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease—Use with caution. May have an increased chance of side effects.

Proper Use

This medicine should not be given to infants younger than 2 months of age unless directed by your child's doctor. Sulfadiazine may cause serious unwanted effects in this age group.

Take this medicine with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Several additional glasses of water should be taken during the day, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Drinking extra water will help to prevent some unwanted effects.

This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood or urine. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is best to take the doses at evenly spaced times during the day. If you need help in planning the best times to take your medicine, check with your doctor.

To help clear up your infection completely, keep using this medicine for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses. If you stop taking this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For treatment of infections:
    • Adults—2000 to 4000 milligrams (mg) per day, divided and given in 3 to 6 doses per day.
    • Children and infants 2 months of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The starting dose is usually 75 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day (mg/kg/day), divided and given in 4 to 6 doses per day. Your doctor may increase your dose to 150 mg/kg/day, but the total dose is usually not more than 6000 mg per day.
    • Infants younger than 2 months of age—Use is not recommended.
  • For prevention of rheumatic fever:
    • Adults and children 30 kilograms (kg) or more—1000 milligrams (mg) per day as a single dose.
    • Adults and children less than 30 kilograms (kg)—500 milligrams (mg) per day as a single dose.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Check with your doctor right away if you have fever, chills, pale skin, pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin, sore throat, pain in the upper stomach, or yellow eyes or skin. These may be symptoms of a serious blood problem.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

1. Anxiety
2. blurred vision
3. changes in menstrual periods
4. chills
5. cold sweats
6. coma
7. confusion
8. cool, pale skin
9. decreased sexual ability in males
10. depression
11. dizziness
12. dry, puffy skin
13. fast heartbeat
14. feeling cold
15. headache
16. increased hunger
17. nausea
18. nervousness
19. nightmares
20. seizures
21. shakiness
22. slurred speech
23. swelling of front part of the neck
24. unusual tiredness or weakness
25. weight gain

Incidence not known

1. Abdominal or stomach pain
2. back, leg, or stomach pains
3. black, tarry stools
4. bleeding gums
5. bleeding under the skin
6. blindness or vision changes
7. blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
8. bloating
9. blood in the urine or stools
10. bluish-colored lips, fingernails, or palms
11. burning of the face or mouth
12. burning, crawling, itching, numbness, painful, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
13. chest pain
14. cloudy urine
15. clumsiness or unsteadiness
16. constipation
17. continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
18. cough or hoarseness
19. cracks in the skin
20. darkened urine
21. decrease in the amount of urine
22. diarrhea
23. difficulty with breathing
24. difficulty with moving
25. dizziness or lightheadedness
26. feeling of discomfort
27. fever with or without chills
28. general body swelling
29. general feeling of tiredness or weakness
30. headache
31. hearing loss
32. indigestion
33. itching
34. joint or muscle pain
35. light-colored stools
36. loss of appetite and weight
37. loss of heat from the body
38. lower back or side pain
39. muscle pain or stiffness
40. nosebleeds
41. not able to pass urine
42. pain or burning while urinating
43. painful or difficult urination
44. pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
45. pale skin
46. pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin
47. rapid heart rate
48. rash
49. red skin lesions, often with a purple center
50. red, irritated eyes
51. red, swollen skin
52. redness of the white part of the eyes
53. scaly skin
54. seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
55. seizures
56. shakiness and unsteady walk
57. shortness of breath
58. sore throat
59. soreness of the muscles
60. sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
61. sudden decrease in amount of urine
62. swelling around the eyes
63. swelling of the face, hands, legs, and feet
64. swelling or inflammation of the mouth
65. swollen lymph glands
66. swollen or painful glands
67. tightness in the chest
68. unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
69. unusual bleeding or bruising
70. upper right abdominal pain
71. vision changes
72. vomiting
73. weakness in the hands or feet
74. wheezing
75. yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

1. Feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
2. hives or welts
3. sensation of spinning
4. sleeplessness
5. trouble with sleeping
6. unable to sleep

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/ar/drugs-supplements/sulfadiazine-oral-route/precautions/drg-20072992