AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph Pregnancy
category ? Molar mass 250.278 g/mol | MedlinePlus a682130 CAS ID 68-35-9 | |
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Routes of
administration Topical cream, by mouth ATC code J01EC02 (WHO) QJ01EQ10 (WHO) Legal status In general: ℞ (Prescription only) | ||
Sulfadiazine is an antibiotic. Used together with pyrimethamine it is the treat of choice for toxoplasmosis. It is a second line treatment for otitis media, prevention of rheumatic fever, chancroid, chlamydia and infections by Haemophilus influenzae. It is taken by mouth.
Contents
Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, headache, fever, rash, depression, and pancreatitis. It should not be used in people who have severe liver problems, kidney problems, or porphyria. If used during pregnancy it may increase the risk of kernicterus in the baby. It is believed to be safe during breastfeeding if the baby is otherwise healthy. It is in the sulfonamide class of medications.
Sulfadiazine was approved for medical use in the United States in 1941. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. Sulfadiazine is available as a generic medication. The wholesale cost in the developing world is about 2.70 to 7.32 USD a month. In the United States treatment costs more than 200 USD a month.
Medical uses
It eliminates bacteria that cause infections by stopping the production of folate inside the bacterial cell, and is commonly used to treat urinary tract infections, and burns.
In combination, sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine, can be used to treat toxoplasmosis, a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii.
Mechanism of action
Sulfadiazine works by inhibiting the enzyme dihydropteroate synthetase. In combination with pyrimethamine (a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor), sulfadiazine is used to treat active toxoplasmosis.
Side effects
Side effects reported for sulfadiazine include: nausea, upset stomach, loss of appetite, and dizziness.
Brand names
Lantrisul; Neotrizine; Sulfa-Triple #2; Sulfadiazine; Sulfaloid; Sulfonamides Duplex; Sulfose; Terfonyl; Triple Sulfa; Triple Sulfas; Triple Sulfoid
