Note: This document contains side effect information about mafenide topical. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Sulfamylon.
Applies to mafenide topical: topical cream, topical powder for solution.
Serious side effects of Sulfamylon
Along with its needed effects, mafenide topical (the active ingredient contained in Sulfamylon) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking mafenide topical:
Less common
- Itching
- skin rash or redness
- swelling of face or skin
- wheezing or troubled breathing
Rare
- Bleeding or oozing of skin
- drowsiness
- fast, deep breathing
- nausea
Incidence unknown
- Black, tarry stools
- chest pain
- chills
- cough or hoarseness
- dark urine
- dizziness
- fever
- fluid-filled skin blisters
- light-colored stools
- lower back or side pain
- numbness to feet, hands and around mouth
- painful or difficult urination
- rapid shallow breathing
- sensitivity to the sun
- shortness of breath
- skin thinness
- sore throat
- sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth
- swollen glands
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- yellow eyes or skin
Other side effects of Sulfamylon
Some side effects of mafenide topical may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Pain or burning feeling on treated area(s)
Incidence unknown
- Blisters
- flushing
- raised red swellings on the skin, lips, tongue, or in the throat
- redness of skin
- skin rash
- softening of the skin
- swelling
- unusually warm skin
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to mafenide topical: compounding powder, topical cream, topical powder for reconstitution.
General
In the clinical setting of severe burns, it is difficult to distinguish between an adverse reaction to this drug and burn sequelae. In a clinical study in pediatric patients with acute burns requiring autografts who received the topical solution in addition to double antibiotic solution (DAB) wound therapy (neomycin sulfate 40 mg and polymyxin B 200,000 units/L), the incidence of rash (4.6%) and itching (2.8%) in the group who received this drug was not different from that experienced with DAB dressings alone (5.7% and 1.3%, respectively).[Ref]
Local
Frequency not reported: Pain, burning sensation, rash, pruritus, excoriation, bleeding[Ref]
Dermatologic
Frequency not reported: Erythema, skin maceration, hives, blisters[Ref]
Respiratory
Frequency not reported: Tachypnea, hyperventilation, partial pressure of carbon dioxide decreased[Ref]
Metabolic
Frequency not reported: Metabolic acidosis, serum chloride increased[Ref]
Hematologic
Frequency not reported: Eosinophilia, bone marrow depression, fatal hemolytic anemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation[Ref]
Other
Frequency not reported: Face edema, swelling, porphyria[Ref]
