Description
Sulfonamides, or sulfa medicines, are used to treat bacterial infections. They work by killing bacteria or preventing their growth.
Vaginal sulfonamides are used to treat bacterial infections. These medicines may also be used for other problems as determined by your doctor.
Vaginal sulfonamides are available only with your doctor's prescription.
Before Using
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group 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
Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients and there is no specific information comparing the use of vaginal sulfonamides in children with use in other age groups.
Geriatric
Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing the use of vaginal sulfonamides in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Pregnancy
Studies have not been done in humans. However, vaginal sulfonamides are absorbed through the vagina into the bloodstream and appear in the bloodstream of the fetus. Studies in rats and mice given high doses by mouth have shown that certain sulfonamides cause birth defects.
Breastfeeding
Vaginal sulfonamides are absorbed through the vagina into the bloodstream and pass into the breast milk. Use is not recommended in nursing mothers. Vaginal sulfonamides may cause liver problems in nursing babies. These medicines may also cause anemia in nursing babies with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
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 any of these medicines, 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 medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Dofetilide
- Ketorolac
- Levomethadyl
- Methenamine
Using medicines in this class 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.
- Acecainide
- Aceclofenac
- Acemetacin
- Acenocoumarol
- Ajmaline
- Amiodarone
- Amitriptyline
- Amoxapine
- Amoxicillin
- Amphetamine
- Amtolmetin Guacil
- Aprindine
- Arsenic Trioxide
- Asciminib
- Aspirin
- Astemizole
- Azathioprine
- Azimilide
- Balsalazide
- Benzphetamine
- Bismuth Subsalicylate
- Bretylium
- Bromfenac
- Bufexamac
- Calcifediol
- Capmatinib
- Carbamazepine
- Celecoxib
- Ceritinib
- Chloral Hydrate
- Chloroquine
- Chlorpromazine
- Cholera Vaccine, Live
- Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate
- Choline Salicylate
- Clarithromycin
- Clonixin
- Cyclosporine
- Danicopan
- Darolutamide
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. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using medicines in this class with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use your medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.
- Ethanol
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of medicines in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency—Anemia (a blood problem) can occur if sulfonamides are used.
- Kidney disease
- Porphyria—Sulfonamides can cause porphyria attacks.
Proper Use
Vaginal sulfonamides usually come with patient directions. Read them carefully before using this medicine.
This medicine is usually inserted into the vagina with an applicator. However, if you are pregnant, check with your doctor before using the applicator.
To help clear up your infection completely, it is very important that you keep using this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if your symptoms begin to clear up after a few days. If you stop using this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return. Do not miss any doses. Also, do not stop using this medicine if your menstrual period starts during the time of treatment.
Dosing
The dose medicines in this class 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 these medicines. 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 sulfanilamide
- For vaginal dosage form (cream):
- For bacterial infections:
- Adults and teenagers—One applicatorful (approximately 6 grams) inserted into the vagina one or two times a day for thirty days.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For bacterial infections:
- For vaginal dosage form (suppositories):
- For bacterial infections:
- Adults and teenagers—One suppository inserted into the vagina one or two times a day for thirty days.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For bacterial infections:
For triple sulfa
- For vaginal dosage form (cream):
- For bacterial infections:
- Adults and teenagers—At first, one applicatorful (approximately 4 to 5 grams) inserted into the vagina two times a day for four to six days. Then, your doctor may lower your dose to one-half to one-quarter applicatorful two times a day. Use when you wake up and just before you go to bed.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For bacterial infections:
- For vaginal dosage form (tablets):
- For bacterial infections:
- Adults and teenagers—One tablet inserted into the vagina two times a day for ten days.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For bacterial infections:
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
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Precautions
If your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
Vaginal medicines usually will slowly work their way out of the vagina during treatment. To keep the medicine from soiling or staining your clothing, a sanitary napkin may be worn. Minipads, clean paper tissues, or paper diapers may also be used. However, the use of tampons is not recommended since they may soak up too much of the medicine. In addition, tampons may be more likely to slip out of the vagina if you use them during treatment with this medicine.
To help clear up your infection completely and to help make sure it does not return, good health habits are also required.
- Wear cotton panties (or panties or pantyhose with cotton crotches) instead of synthetic (for example, nylon or rayon) underclothes.
- Wear only freshly washed underclothes.
If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
Many vaginal infections are spread by sexual intercourse. The male sexual partner may carry the fungus or other organism in his reproductive tract. Therefore, it may be desirable that your partner wear a condom (prophylactic) during intercourse to keep the infection from returning. Also, it may be necessary for your partner to be treated at the same time you are being treated to avoid passing the infection back and forth. In addition, do not stop using this medicine if you have intercourse during treatment.
Some patients who use vaginal medicines may prefer to use a douche for cleansing purposes before inserting the next dose of medicine. Some doctors recommend a vinegar and water or other douche. However, others do not recommend douching at all. If you do use a douche, do not overfill the vagina with douche solution. To do so may force the solution up into the uterus (womb) and may cause inflammation or infection. Also, do not douche if you are pregnant since this may harm the fetus. If you have any questions about this or which douche products are best for you, check with your health care professional.
Side Effects
Studies in rats have shown that long-term use of sulfonamides may cause cancer of the thyroid gland. In addition, studies in rats have shown that sulfonamides may increase the chance of goiters (noncancerous tumors of the thyroid gland).
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:
Less common
- Itching, burning, skin rash, redness, swelling, or other sign of irritation not present before use of this medicine
Rare
- Burning at site of application
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:
Less common or rare
- Rash or irritation of penis of sexual partner
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.
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