This medication is used with other treatments to help prevent and treat wound infections in patients with serious burns. Silver sulfadiazine works by stopping the growth of bacteria that may infect an open wound. This helps to decrease the risk of the bacteria spreading to surrounding skin, or to the blood where it can cause a serious blood infection (sepsis). Silver sulfadiazine belongs to a class of drugs known as sulfa antibiotics.
Silver sulfadiazine must not be used on premature babies or on newborns during the first 2 months of life because of the risk of serious side effects.
This medication is for use on the skin only. Avoid using this medication around your eyes unless directed to do so by your doctor.
Your health care professional will clean and remove the dead tissue from the wound to help the healing process.
Apply this medication to the wound using sterile technique (such as wearing sterile gloves and using sterile application tools), as directed by your doctor, usually 1 to 2 times daily. The layer of medication should be about one-sixteenth of an inch (1-2 millimeters) thick or as directed. The wound should be covered with the cream at all times. Dressings may be applied over the cream, but only if needed. If some of the cream rubs off the wound, reapply it immediately. The cream should also be reapplied immediately after hydrotherapy.
Treatment usually continues until the wound is completely healed or until the site is ready for skin grafting.
Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time(s) each day.
Tell your doctor if your condition persists or if it worsens.
Common side effects of Silver Sulfadiazine include:
pain
burning
itching
rash
cell death of the skin
localized eruption of the skin
transient skin discoloration
destruction of red blood cells (in patients with G6PD deficiency)
deficiency of granulocytes in the blood
discontinued production of blood cells
low blood platelet count
low white blood cell count
dermatologic and hypersensitivity reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, TEN)
adverse gastrointestinal effects
inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
toxic injury to the liver
adverse nervous system effects
acute kidney failure
swelling in the kidney
burning sensation
presence of harmful bacteria via infection of a wound (sepsis)
Store the US product at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom.
Store the Canadian product between 46-77 degrees F (8-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. To ensure that the medication is sterile, the Canadian 250- and 500-gram jars should be discarded 24 hours after opening. The Canadian tubes should be discarded 7 days after opening. Do not store in the bathroom.
Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Silver sulfadiazine has no known severe interactions with other drugs.
Silver sulfadiazine has no known serious interactions with other drugs.
Moderate interactions of silver sulfadiazine include:
collagenase
papain
trypsin
Mild interactions of silver sulfadiazine include:
collagenase
papain
trypsin
This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. 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 this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions, concerns or for more information about this medicine.
This medicine may be harmful if swallowed. If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.