Silver sulfadiazine is an antibiotic. It fights bacteria and yeast on the skin.

Uses

Silver sulfadiazine topical (for the skin) is used to treat or prevent serious infection on areas of skin with second- or third-degree burns.

Silver sulfadiazine topical may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Although the risk of serious side effects is low when silver sulfadiazine is applied to the skin, side effects can occur if the medicine is absorbed into your bloodstream.

Silver sulfadiazine topical may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• sudden weakness or ill feeling, fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing;

• easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;

• pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;

• kidney problems--red or pink urine, little or no urinating, swelling, rapid weight gain;

• liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

• severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, 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.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Warnings

Silver sulfadiazine topical may cause serious medical problems in a newborn if you use silver sulfadiazine topical during late pregnancy (close to your delivery date). This medicine should also not be used on premature babies or any child younger than 2 months old.

Silver sulfadiazine topical dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Burns - External:

Apply to the affected area 1 to 2 times a day to a thickness of about 1/16 of an inch

Comments:

-This drug should be reapplied to any areas from which it has been removed by patient activity and immediately after hydrotherapy.

-Treatment should be continued until satisfactory healing has occurred or until burn site is ready for grafting.

-This drug should not be withdrawn from the therapeutic regimen while there remains the possibility of infection except if a significant adverse reaction occurs.

Use: As an adjunct for the prevention and treatment of wound sepsis in patients with second and third degree burns

Usual Adult Dose for Wound Sepsis:

Apply to the affected area 1 to 2 times a day to a thickness of about 1/16 of an inch

Comments:

-This drug should be reapplied to any areas from which it has been removed by patient activity and immediately after hydrotherapy.

-Treatment should be continued until satisfactory healing has occurred or until burn site is ready for grafting.

-This drug should not be withdrawn from the therapeutic regimen while there remains the possibility of infection except if a significant adverse reaction occurs.

Use: As an adjunct for the prevention and treatment of wound sepsis in patients with second and third degree burns.

Disclaimer: 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.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.