Formulary
Sulfadiazine silver: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Sulfadiazine silver clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Sulfadiazine silver: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Sulfadiazine silver clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Prophylaxis and treatment of infection in burn wounds**
- **Child** (To The Skin): Apply daily, may be applied more frequently if very exudative.
- **Adult** (To The Skin): Apply daily, may be applied more frequently if very exudative.
**General use**
- **Child** (To The Skin): Apply every 2-3 days, consult product literature for details.
- **Adult** (To The Skin): Apply every 2-3 days, consult product literature for details.
**Adjunct to prophylaxis of infection in skin graft donor sites and extensive abrasions**
- **Adult** (To The Skin): (consult product literature).
**Adjunct to short-term treatment of infection in pressure sores**
- **Adult** (To The Skin): Apply once daily or on alternate days.
**As an adjunct to short-term treatment of infection in leg ulcers**
- **Adult** (To The Skin): Apply once daily or on alternate days, not recommended if ulcer is very exudative.
**Prophylaxis and treatment of infection in burn wounds for sulfadiazine silver**
- **Child** (To the skin): Apply daily, may be applied more frequently if very exudative.
**For conservative management of finger-tip injuries for sulfadiazine silver**
- **Child** (To the skin): Apply every 2-3 days, consult product literature for details.
**Adjunct to prophylaxis of infection in skin graft donor sites and extensive abrasions for sulfadiazine silver**
- **Child** (To the skin): (consult product literature).
**Adjunct to short-term treatment of infection in pressure sores for sulfadiazine silver**
- **Child** (To the skin): (consult product literature).
Cautions
G6PD deficiency Cautions, further information Large areas Plasma-sulfadiazine concentrations may approach therapeutic levels with side-effects and interactions as for sulfonamides if large areas of skin are treated.
Contraindications
Not recommended for neonates (in children)
Side effects
Common or very common Leucopenia; skin reactions Rare or very rare Argyria (following treatment of large areas of skin or long term use); renal failure Side-effects, further information Leucopenia developing 2-3 days after starting treatment of burns patients is reported usually to be self-limiting and sulfadiazine silver need not usually be discontinued provided blood counts are monitored carefully to ensure return to normality within a few days.
Pregnancy
Risk of neonatal haemolysis and methaemoglobinaemia in third trimester.
Breast feeding
Small risk of kernicterus in jaundiced infants and of haemolysis in G6PD-deficient infants.
Hepatic impairment
Manufacturer advises caution in significant hepatic impairment.
Renal impairment
Manufacturer advises caution if significant impairment.
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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