What is sulfadiazine?
Sulfadiazine is an antibacterial prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent and treat certain types of bacterial infections, including treatment of chancroid (a sexually transmitted infection), Toxoplasma gondii encephalitis (also called toxoplasmosis), urinary tract infections, and others.
Toxoplasma gondii encephalitis is an opportunistic infection. An opportunistic infection is an infection that occurs more frequently or is more severe in people with weakened immune systems—such as those infected with HIV—than in people with healthy immune systems.
The Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents, prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), include recommendations on the HIV-related use of sulfadiazine to treat Toxoplasma gondii encephalitis and to prevent Toxoplasma gondii encephalitis from recurring (called secondary prophylaxis or maintenance therapy).
What should I tell my health care provider before taking sulfadiazine?
Before taking sulfadiazine, tell your health care provider:
- If you are allergic to sulfadiazine or any other medicines.
- About any medical conditions you have or have had, for example, diabetes or liver problems.
- About anything that could affect your ability to take medicines, such as difficulty swallowing or remembering to take pills.
- If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Whether sulfadiazine can harm an unborn baby is unknown.
- If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you are infected with HIV.
- About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Ask your health care provider if there are interactions between sulfadiazine and the other medicines you take.
Ask your health care provider about possible side effects from sulfadiazine. Your health care provider will tell you what to do if you have side effects.
How should I take sulfadiazine?
Take sulfadiazine according to your health care provider’s instructions. Your health care provider will tell you how much sulfadiazine to take and when to take it. Before you start sulfadiazine and each time you get a refill, read any printed information that comes with your medicine.
How should sulfadiazine be stored?
- Store sulfadiazine tablets at room temperature, 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
- Store sulfadiazine tablets in a tight container and protect from light.
- Safely throw away sulfadiazine that is no longer needed or expired (out of date).
- Keep sulfadiazine and all medicines out of reach of children.
Where can I find more information about sulfadiazine?
More information about sulfadiazine is available:
Last Reviewed: October 5, 2012
Last Updated: October 5, 2012