Sulfacetamide: profile and news

Medicis Announces FDA Approval of SOLODYN -- minocycline HCl, USP ... May 8, 2006
...prescription brands RESTYLANE(R), DYNACIN(R) (minocycline HCl), LOPROX(R) (ciclopirox), OMNICEF(R) (cefdinir), PLEXION(R) (sodium sulfacetamide/sulfur), SOLODYN ... - PharmaLive.com (press release),

Other information

Indication
For the treatment of bacterial vaginitis, keratitis, acute conjunctivitis, blepharitis

Pharmacology
Sulfacetamide is a sulfonamide antibiotic. The sulfonamides are synthetic bacteriostatic antibiotics with a wide spectrum against most gram-positive and many gram-negative organisms. However, many strains of an individual species may be resistant. Sulfonamides inhibit multiplication of bacteria by acting as competitive inhibitors of p-aminobenzoic acid in the folic acid metabolism cycle. Bacterial sensitivity is the same for the various sulfonamides, and resistance to one sulfonamide indicates resistance to all. Most sulfonamides are readily absorbed orally. However, parenteral administration is difficult, since the soluble sulfonamide salts are highly alkaline and irritating to the tissues. The sulfonamides are widely distributed throughout all tissues. High levels are achieved in pleural, peritoneal, synovial, and ocular fluids. Although these drugs are no longer used to treat meningitis, CSF levels are high in meningeal infections. Their antibacterial action is inhibited by pus.

Mechanism Of Action
Sulfacetamide is a competitive inhibitor of bacterial para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), an essential component for bacterial growth (according to the Woods-Fildes theory). The inhibited reaction is necessary in these organisms for the synthesis of folic acid.

Drug Category
Anti-Infectives Agents, Local; Anti-Infectives Agents, Urinary; Anti-bacterial Agents; ATC:S01AB04

Brand Names/Synonyms
A-500; Acetocid; Acetosulfamin; Acetosulfamine; Ak-Sulf; Albamine; Albucid; Alesten; Bleph-10; Bleph-10 Liquifilm; Cetamide; Formosulfacetamide; Gyne-Sulf; I-Sulfacet; Isopto Cetamide; Isopto-Cetamide; Klaron; N'-Acetylsulfanilamide; N-Acetylsulfanilamide; N-Acetylsulfanilamine; N-Sulfanilylacetamide; N-Sulphanilylacetamide; Oclucid; Ocusulf-10; Op-Sulfa 30; Ophthacet; Ophthel-S; P-Aminobenzenesulfonacetamide; P-Aminobenzenesulfonoacetamide; Region; Sebizon; Sodium Sulamyd; Sodium Sulfacetamide; Steramide; Steri-Units Sulfacetamide; Sulamyd; Sulf-10; Sulf-15; Sulfacel-15; Sulfacet; Sulfacetamide; Sulfacetamide Sodium; Sulfacetamide Sodium Anhydrous; Sulfacetamide Sodium Usp; Sulfacetimide; Sulfacyl; Sulfair; Sulfair 10; Sulfair 15; Sulfair Forte; Sulfair-15; Sulfamide; Sulfanilacetamide; Sulfanilazetamid; Sulfex; Sulphacetamide; Sulphacetamide Sodium; Sulphasil; Sulten-10; Sultrin; Triple Sulfa; Trysul; Urosulfon; Urosulfone; Vagilia

Dosage Forms
DROPS; LIQUID; OINTMENT

Absorption
Not Available

Interactions
Interactions for Sulfacetamide:

Sulfacetamide preparations are incompatible with silver preparations.

Chemical IUPAC Name
N-acetyl-4-amino-benzenesulfonamide

Chemical Formula
C8H10N2O3S

Half Life
7-12.8 hours

Drug Type
Approved Drug

# Accession No
APRD00452

CAS Registry Number
144-80-9