Silver sulfadiazine is an antibiotic. It fights bacteria and yeast on the skin.

Silver sulfadiazine topical (for the skin) is used to treat or prevent serious infection on areas of skin with second- or third-degree burns.

Silver sulfadiazine topical may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to silver sulfadiazine.

Silver sulfadiazine topical may cause serious medical problems in a newborn if you use this medicine during late pregnancy (close to your delivery date). This medicine should also not be used on premature babies or any child younger than 2 months old.

To make sure silver sulfadiazine topical is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease;
• kidney disease;
• a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency; or
• an allergy to sulfa drugs.

FDA pregnancy category B. Silver sulfadiazine topical is not expected to harm an unborn baby. However, this medicine can cause serious medical problems in a newborn and should not be used during late pregnancy.

It is not known whether silver sulfadiazine topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Use SSD AF (Topical) exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Although the risk of serious side effects is low when silver sulfadiazine is applied to the skin, side effects can occur if the medicine is absorbed into your bloodstream.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• sudden weakness or ill feeling, fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing;
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;
• pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;
• kidney problems--red or pink urine, little or no urinating, swelling, rapid weight gain;
• liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Do not take by mouth. Silver sulfadiazine topical is for use only on the skin. If this medicine gets in your eyes, nose, or mouth, rinse with water.