home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- $Unique_ID{BRK03328}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{sodium sulfacetamide (ophthalmic)}
- $Subject{AK-Sulf Akorn Forte Bleph-10 Allergan Cetamide Alcon Isopto Cetamide
- Alcon Ophthacet Vortech Sodium Sulamyd Schering Sulf-10 Iolab Pharm. Sulfair
- 15 Pharmafair Sulten-10 Bausch Lomb Ophthalmic antibiotic sodium sulfacetamide
- bacterial eye infections corneal ulcers bacteria}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- sodium sulfacetamide (ophthalmic)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- AK-Sulf (Akorn)
- AK-Sulf Forte (Akorn)
- Bleph-10 (Allergan)
- Cetamide (Alcon)
- Isopto Cetamide (Alcon)
- Ophthacet (Vortech)
- Sodium Sulamyd (Schering)
- sodium sulfacetamide (various manufacturers)
- Sulf-10 (Iolab Pharm.)
- Sulfair 15 (Pharmafair)
- Sulten-10 (Bausch & Lomb)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Ophthalmic antibiotic
-
- INGREDIENT
-
- sodium sulfacetamide
-
- DOSAGE FORMS
-
- Ophthalmic drops (10%, 15%, and 30%)
- Ophthalmic ointment (10%)
-
- STORAGE
-
- Sodium sulfacetamide drops and ointment should be stored at room
- temperature in tightly closed containers. This medication should never be
- frozen. If the eye drops discolor or turn brown, they should be discarded.
-
- USES
-
- Sodium sulfacetamide is used to treat bacterial eye infections and
- corneal ulcers. Sodium sulfacetamide is an antibiotic that is effective
- against a wide range of bacteria. It acts by preventing production of the
- nutrients that are required for growth of the infecting bacteria. This
- medication, however, is not effective against infections that are caused by
- viruses or fungi.
-
- TREATMENT
-
- Wash your hands with soap and water before applying this medication. To
- avoid contamination of the eye drops or ointment, be careful not to touch the
- tube of the dropper or the tip of the ointment tube or let them touch your
- eyes; DO NOT wipe off or rinse the dropper after use.
- To apply the drops, tilt your head back and pull down the lower eyelid
- with one hand to make a pouch below the eye. Drop the prescribed amount of
- medicine into this pouch and slowly close your eyes. Try not to blink. Keep
- your eyes closed, and place one finger at the corner of the eye next to your
- nose for a minute or two, applying a slight pressure (this is done to prevent
- loss of medication through the duct that drains fluid from the surface of the
- eye into the nose and throat). Then wipe away any excess with a clean tissue.
- To apply the ointment, tilt the head back, pull down the lower lid to
- form a pouch below the eye, and squeeze a small amount of ointment
- (approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch) in a line along the pouch. Close the eyes,
- and place your finger at the corner of the eye next to your nose for a minute
- or two. Do not rub your eyes. Wipe off excess ointment with a clean tissue.
- Since this medication is somewhat difficult to apply, you may want to
- have someone else apply it for you.
- It is important to continue to take this medication for the entire time
- prescribed by your doctor, even if the symptoms disappear before the end of
- that period. If you stop applying the drug too soon, resistant bacteria are
- given a chance to continue growing, and the infection could recur.
- If you miss a dose of this medication, apply the missed dose as soon as
- possible, unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, do not
- apply the missed dose at all; just return to your regular dosing schedule. Do
- not use twice as much medication at the next dose.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Sodium sulfacetamide may cause blurred vision or burning or stinging in
- the eyes immediately after it is applied (especially the 30% solution). This
- effect should last only a few minutes.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- signs of irritation in the eyes (such as redness, swelling, or itching) that
- last more than several minutes, chills, fever, itching, or difficulty in
- breathing. If your symptoms of infection are getting worse rather than
- improving, contact your doctor.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- This drug should not be used concurrently with preparations containing
- silver, such as silver nitrate opthalmic. Be sure to tell your doctor about
- any medications you are currently taking.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- any medications, especially to sodium sulfacetamide or to any other sulfa
- medication (diuretics, oral antidiabetic medications, sulfonamide
- antibiotics).
- * This medication may cause allergic-type symptoms, such as hives,
- itching, wheezing, or anaphylaxis, in sulfite-sensitive patients.
- * Sodium sulfacetamide may cause eye sensitivity to bright light; wearing
- sunglasses may help to lessen this problem.
- * This medication has been prescribed for your current infection only.
- Another infection later on, or one that someone else has, may require a
- different medicine. You should not give your medicine to other people or use
- it for other infections, unless your doctor specifically directs you to do so.
- * In order to allow your eye infection to clear, do not apply makeup to
- the affected eye.
- * If there is no change in your condition two or three days after
- starting to take this medication, contact your doctor.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. The safe use of this
- medication in human pregnancy has not been established. Although an
- ophthalmic, if large amounts of this drug are applied for prolonged periods,
- some of it may be absorbed into the bloodstream. Also, tell your doctor if
- you are breast-feeding an infant. If this drug is absorbed, small amounts may
- pass into the breast milk and may temporarily alter the bacterial balance in
- the intestinal tract of the nursing infant, resulting in diarrhea.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-