Sulfadiazine, a sulfa drug, eliminates bacteria that cause infections, especially urinary tract infections. Antibiotics will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Sulfadiazine comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken three to six times a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take sulfadiazine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

The tablets should be taken with a full glass of water.

Continue to take sulfadiazine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking sulfadiazine without talking to your doctor.

Before taking sulfadiazine,

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to sulfadiazine, any other sulfa drugs, diuretic (‘water pills’), oral diabetes medications, or any other drugs.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin), diabetes medications, diuretics (‘water pills’), and vitamins.
• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver or kidney disease, asthma, severe allergies, or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD) deficiency (an inherited blood disease).
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking sulfadiazine, call your doctor.
• Plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Sulfadiazine may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.

You should drink plenty of fluids and take sulfadiazine on an empty stomach.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Sulfadiazine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• Diarrhea
• Upset stomach
• Loss of appetite
• Dizziness

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• Rash or skin changes
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Headache
• Joint or muscle aches
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Swelling of the lips or tongue
• Swallowing problems
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Blood in urine
• Difficulty breathing
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Ringing in ears

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Keep all appointments with your doctor.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Your prescription is probably not refillable.

If you still have symptoms of an infection after you finish sulfadiazine, call your doctor.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.