What is Sulfadiazine?
Sulfadiazine acts as an antibiotic that combats bacterial infections. Sulfadiazine can be used to treat various kinds of infections, like urinary tract infections and ear infections, meningitis, malaria, toxoplasmosis, and more. Sulfadiazine is also employed for other purposes that are not covered in this guideline.
Side effects of Sulfadiazine
See a doctor immediately. If you experience any of the following symptoms that indicate reactions to an allergen, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your lips, face, and tongue, Sulfadiazine may cause serious side effects. Consult your physician immediately in the event of:
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A sudden feeling of weakness or discomfort, fever, chills, sore throat, swollen glands, joint pain, or mouth sores. They may also have swelling, red gums, or difficulty swallowing.
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Pale skin and feeling lightheaded or shaky; high heart rate; difficulty concentrating;
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Easily bleeding, bruising that is not common (nose, vagina, mouth, or the rectum), either red or purple areas of skin;
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Increased or decreased urination and pain in your back or lower back
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Hallucinations, seizures (convulsions),
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Liver issues: nausea and stomach pains in the upper part of the stomach; itching; fatigue; lack of appetite; dark urine; stools that are clay-coloured; jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin);
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Extreme skin reaction: swelling in your tongue or face, burning eyes, skin irritation, and the appearance of a purple or red skin r
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Ash that can spread (especially on the face or the upper part of your body) and lead to blisters and peeling.
Common side effects of sulfadiazine include:
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Sickness, nausea, diarrhea, s stomach pain, and lack of appetite;
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Headache is ringing in your ears.
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Spinning sensation, dizziness, or inability to equilibrium or coordinate
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Numbness, tingling, as well as burning or numbness in your feet or hands;
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Sleep problems (insomnia); or
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Mood depressing.
This isn't a complete list of all the side effects. Other side effects could occur. Consult your physician for advice regarding medical adverse effects. You can report any adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Related drugs
Azithromycin, clindamycin, Bactrim, sulfamethoxazole,
trimethoprim, erythromycin, zithromax, and clarithromycin
Warnings
Do not use sulfadiazine during late pregnancy, just before you deliver. Do not use it if you are breastfeeding the infant.
Before you take this drug
It is not recommended to use sulfadiazine when you have an allergy to any drug containing sulfa. Do not use sulfadiazine during late pregnancy, just before you deliver. Do not use it if you are breastfeeding the infant. Don't give sulfadiazine to children younger than 2 months without a doctor's recommendation.
To ensure that sulfadiazine is appropriate for you, inform your physician if you suffer from:
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Kidney disease;
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The liver condition;
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Asthma, severe allergies, or
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A genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
The FDA classification for pregnant women is C. It isn't known whether sulfadiazine can cause harm to the unborn baby. Sulfadiazine may cause severe jaundice, which can cause brain damage in your baby if you are taking this medicine before giving birth. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
Sulfadiazine may be absorbed into breast milk and can harm the nursing infant. Do not breastfeed when you are taking sulfadiazine.
How to take Sulfadiazine?
Follow the directions on the prescription label. Do not take this medication in smaller or larger doses or for longer than prescribed. Use this medicine along with the full amount of eight ounces of fluid. Drink plenty of fluids when you take sulfadiazine in order to ensure that your kidneys are functioning properly.
Do your dosages at regular intervals so that you have an even amount of medication in your body throughout the day. Do not use sulfadiazine to treat any illness that hasn't been evaluated by your physician. Don't share this medication with anyone else, even if they share similar symptoms to yours.
Take this medication for the prescribed duration. The symptoms could improve after the infection is completely gone. In addition, skipping doses could increase the risk of subsequent infections that are resistant to antimicrobials. Sulfadiazine is not able to treat a viral disease like influenza or the typical cold.
Consult your doctor if your symptoms don't improve or if they become worse after taking sulfadiazine. If you take sulfadiazine for treatment, you might require frequent urine and blood tests. Keep at room temperature, free of heat, moisture, and light.
What happens If I miss a dose?
You should take the dose you missed as soon as you can remember. Do not take any missed doses if you are close to the time of the next dose. Don't take any extra medication to make up for the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
For medical emergencies, seek emergency medical attention or contact the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should be avoided?
Avoid exposure to the sun and tanning beds. Sulfadiazine could cause
burns
more quickly. Protect yourself with protective clothes and apply sunblock (SPF 30 or more) whenever you're outside.
Interaction with other drugs
Inform your doctor of any medications you are taking, as well as the medicines you take or stop taking when you are treated with sulfadiazine. Particularly:
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Methotrexate; or
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A blood thinner (warfarin, coumadin, or Jantoven).
This list is not exhaustive. Other medications can interfere with sulfadiazine, such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. There are not all interactions included in this guideline for medication.
