Mafenide (Topical)
Brand Names : Sulfamylon
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For mafenide, the following
should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to mafenide, acetazolamide (e.g., Diamox), oral antidiabetics
(diabetes medicine you take by mouth), dichlorphenamide (e.g., Daranide),
furosemide (e.g., Lasix), methazolamide (e.g., Neptazane), other sulfa medicines,
or thiazide diuretics (water pills). Also tell your health care professional
if you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives or dyes.
Pregnancy - Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done
in either humans or animals. However, use is not recommended in women during
their child-bearing years unless the burn area covers more than 20% of the
total body surface. In addition, sulfa medicines may increase the chance of
liver problems in newborn infants and should not be used near the due date
of the pregnancy.
Breast-feeding - Mafenide, when used on skin and/or burns, is absorbed
into the mother's body. It is not known whether this medicine passes into
breast milk. Sulfa medicines given by mouth do pass into the breast milk,
and may cause liver problems, anemia (iron-poor blood), and other unwanted
effects in nursing babies, especially those with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
deficiency (lack of G6PD enzyme). Be sure you have discussed the risks and
benefits of mafenide with your doctor.
Children - Use of mafenide is not recommended in premature or
newborn infants up to 2 months of age. Sulfa medicines may cause liver problems
in these infants.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been tested in older people.
Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they
do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in
older people. There is no specific information comparing use of mafenide in
the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care
professional if you are using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter
[OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of mafenide. Make sure you tell your doctor if
you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Blood problems - Use of mafenide may make the condition worse
-
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (lack of G6PD enzyme) - Use
of mafenide in persons with this condition may result in hemolytic anemia
-
Kidney problems or
-
Lung problems or
-
Metabolic acidosis - Use of mafenide in persons with any of these
conditions may increase the risk of a side effect called metabolic acidosis
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