sulfadiazine

This medication is used to treat and prevent a wide variety of infections. Sulfadiazine belongs to the class of drugs known as sulfa antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria and other organisms. This antibiotic treats only certain types of infections. It will not work for viral infections (e.g., common cold, flu). Unnecessary use or misuse of any antibiotic can lead to its decreased effectiveness. This medication should not be used in infants younger than 2 months because of the risk of serious side effects, unless treatment is for a very serious infection (congenital toxoplasmosis).

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Take this medication by mouth with a full glass of water (8 ounces or 240 milliliters) as directed by your doctor. Drink plenty of fluids during treatment with this medication unless your doctor advises you otherwise. This will help prevent unlikely side effects such as crystals appearing in the urine and kidney stones. The dosage is based on your medical condition, weight, and response to treatment. Children must not take more than 6 grams per day (same as 6,000 milligrams per day) of this medication. Antibiotics work best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, take this drug at evenly spaced intervals throughout the day and night. Continue to take this medication for the full time prescribed, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may result in a return of the infection. Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. This drug should not be used with the following medication because very serious interactions may occur: methenamine. If you are currently using the medication listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting sulfadiazine. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: certain anti-diabetic medications (sulfonylureas such as glipizide, glyburide, tolbutamide), cyclosporine, hydantoins (e.g., phenytoin), live bacterial vaccines, methotrexate, PABA taken by mouth, warfarin. This medication may decrease the effectiveness of combination-type birth control pills. This can result in pregnancy. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for details. Discuss whether you should use additional reliable birth control methods while using this medication. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Do not share this medication with others. This medication has been prescribed for your current condition only. Do not use it later for another infection unless told to do so by your doctor. A different medication may be necessary in that case. If you are using this medication for an extended period, laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., complete blood count, kidney function tests) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: dizziness, drowsiness, blood in the urine, fever, loss of consciousness.

Before taking sulfadiazine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to sulfa medications; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: a certain metabolic disorder (porphyria). Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease, severe allergies, asthma, diabetes, blood disorders (e.g., anemia due to folate vitamin deficiency), decreased bone marrow function (bone marrow suppression), a certain other metabolic disorder (G6PD deficiency). This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. Kidney function declines as you grow older. This medication is removed by the kidneys. Therefore, the elderly may be more sensitive to the side effects of the drug, especially skin reactions and blood disorders. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. This medication should not be used near the expected delivery date because of possible harm to the unborn baby. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This drug passes into breast milk. While there have been no reports of harm to healthy infants, this drug may have undesirable effects on infants who are ill or premature or have certain disorders (jaundice, high blood levels of bilirubin, G6PD deficiency). Therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended in infants with these conditions. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding any infant.

Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or headache may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: sun sensitivity (sunburn), mental/mood changes (e.g., depression, hallucinations), crystals in the urine, painful urination, change in the amount of urine, lump/growth/swelling in the front of the neck (goiter), signs of low blood sugar (e.g., shaking, dizziness, blurred vision, unusual hunger). Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: confusion, persistent/severe headache, neck stiffness, seizures. This medication may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) allergic reactions and other side effects such as a severe peeling skin rash (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome), blood disorders (e.g., agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia), liver damage, or lung injury. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following: skin rash/blisters, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, persistent cough, trouble breathing, signs of a new infection (e.g., persistent sore throat, fever), pale skin, easy bleeding/bruising, yellowing eyes/skin, persistent nausea/vomiting, unusual tiredness, dark urine, stomach/abdominal pain, joint pain. This medication may rarely cause a severe intestinal condition (Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea) due to a type of resistant bacteria. This condition may occur while receiving treatment or even weeks to months after treatment has stopped. Do not use anti-diarrhea products or narcotic pain medications if you have the following symptoms because these products may make them worse. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop: persistent diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain/cramping, blood/mucus in your stool. Use of this medication for prolonged or repeated periods may result in oral thrush or a new vaginal yeast infection. Contact your doctor if you notice white patches in your mouth, a change in vaginal discharge, or other new symptoms. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.