Uses
What the official label says Silver sulfadiazine is used for
Silver sulfadiazine is a prescription antimicrobial cream in the sulfonamide group that is used on the skin.
The label says it is used, along with other care, to help prevent and treat wound infection (wound sepsis) in people with second- and third-degree burns.
Read the label's “Indications and usage” section (verbatim)
Silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% is a topical antimicrobial drug indicated as an adjunct for the prevention and treatment of wound sepsis in patients with second and third degree burns.
Names & forms
Brand names, forms and strengths
Brand names (from RxNorm; not every brand is still sold): SSD, Silvadene, Thermazene.
Generic name: silver sulfadiazine · RxNorm ID (RxCUI): 9793
| Form | Strengths listed in RxNorm |
|---|---|
| Topical Cream | 10 MG/ML |
Strengths are listed so you can recognise a product — not as dosing information. Only your prescriber can decide what is right for you.
Appearance
What Silver sulfadiazine looks like
The DailyMed product data we retrieved does not include colour or shape details for Silver sulfadiazine (common for topical products). Appearance varies by manufacturer — your pharmacist can confirm what yours should look like.
Read the label's “How supplied” section (verbatim)
Silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% - white to off-white cream NDC Number Size 67877-124-20 20g tube 67877-124-25 25g tube 67877-124-05 50g tube 67877-124-85 85g tube 67877-124-50 50g jar 67877-124-40400g jar 67877-124-101000g jar Store at room temperature. 15°-30°C (59°-86°F). Manufactured for: Ascend Laboratories, LLC Parsippany, NJ 07054 Manufactured by: Crown Laboratories, Inc. Johnson City, TN 37604 Product Information : 1-877-272-7901 Revised: DEC 2018 P1840.05
Safety
Important warnings for Silver sulfadiazine
In plain English, the label's key warnings include:
- The label says any side effect linked to sulfonamides may happen, including blood disorders, life-threatening skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, liver problems, nervous system reactions, and kidney damage.
- People allergic to other sulfonamides may also react to silver sulfadiazine.
- Fungal growth in and below the burn crust (eschar) may occur, though fungal superinfection is reported rarely.
- In some people with G6PD deficiency, use may be hazardous because red blood cells may break down (hemolysis).
Contraindications — who should not use it (verbatim)
Silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to silver sulfadiazine or any of the other ingredients in the preparation. Because sulfonamide therapy is known to increase the possibility of kernicterus, silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% should not be used on pregnant women approaching or at term, on premature infants, or on newborn infants during the first 2 months of life.
Warnings and precautions (verbatim excerpt)
Absorption of silver sulfadiazine varies depending upon the percent of body surface area and the extent of the tissue damage. Although few have been reported, it is possible that any adverse reaction associated with sulfonamides may occur. Some of the reactions which have been associated with sulfonamides are as follows: blood dyscrasias including agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and hemolytic anemia; dermatologic and allergic reactions, including life-threatening cutaneous reactions [Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and exfoliative dermatitis]; gastrointestinal reactions, hepatitis and hepatocellular necrosis; CNS reactions; and toxic nephrosis. There is a potential cross-sensitivity between silver sulfadiazine and other sulfonamides. If allergic reactions attributable to treatment with silver sulfadiazine occur, continuation of therapy must be weighed against the potential hazards of the particular allergic reaction. Fungal proliferation in and below the eschar may occur. However, the incidence of clinically reported fungal superinfection is low. The use of silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% in some cases of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient individuals may be hazardous, as hemolysis may occur.
Side effects — opening of the label's adverse reactions section
Several cases of transient leukopenia have been reported in patients receiving silver sulfadiazine therapy. 1,2,3 Leukopenia associated with silver sulfadiazine administration is primarily characterized by decreased neutrophil count. Maximal white blood cell depression occurs within two to four days of initiation of therapy. Rebound to normal leukocyte levels follows onset within two to three days. Recovery is not influenced by continuation of silver sulfadiazine therapy. An increased incidence has been seen in patients treated concurrently with cimetidine. Other infrequently occurring events include skin necrosis, erythema multiforme, skin discoloration, burning sensation, rashes, and interstitial nephritis. …
This is not a complete list of warnings or side effects. Read the full label and talk to your prescriber or pharmacist. To report a side effect to the FDA, use MedWatch.
Resources
If you were hurt at work
Whether a medicine is right for you is a decision for your prescriber. If you were injured on the job, these educational guides explain the next steps and who can help.
- Injured at work? →What to do after a workplace injury and how workers' comp generally works.
- Prescription home delivery →How mail-order pharmacies can deliver prescriptions to your door.
- Find help →Connect with workers' comp attorneys and doctors who take work-injury cases.
- Pharmacies near you →Search local pharmacies by ZIP code.