sulfadiazine

What is the most important information I should know about sulfadiazine?

What are sulfadiazine?

Sulfadiazine is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.

Sulfadiazine is used to treat many different types of infection, such as urinary tract infections, ear infections, meningitis, malaria, toxoplasmosis, and others.

Sulfadiazine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking sulfadiazine?

To make sure sulfadiazine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• asthma, severe allergies; or
• a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.

How should I take sulfadiazine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Take your doses at regular intervals to keep a steady amount of the drug in your body at all times.

Do not share this medicine with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics. Sulfadiazine will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.

While using sulfadiazine, you may need frequent blood and urine tests.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking sulfadiazine?

What are the possible side effects of sulfadiazine?

• sudden weakness or ill feeling, fever, chills, sore throat, swollen glands, joint pain, mouth sores, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing;
• pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating;
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;
• increased or decreased urinating, pain in your side or lower back;
• hallucinations, seizure (convulsions);
• liver problems --nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• severe skin reaction --swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, loss of appetite;
• headache, ringing in your ears;
• dizziness, spinning sensation, loss of balance or coordination;
• numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands or feet;
• sleep problems (insomnia); or
• depressed mood.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect sulfadiazine?

Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with sulfadiazine, especially:

• methotrexate; or
• a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven).

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with sulfadiazine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about sulfadiazine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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