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Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution (Sodium Sulfacetamide and Sulfur): Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, Interactions, Warnings

Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution

Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Last updated on RxList: 8/16/2022

Drug Summary

What Is Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution?

Sumaxin (sodium sulfacetamide 9% and sulfur 4%) Wash and Sumaxin (sodium sulfacetamide 8% and sulfur 4%) Topical Solution are a combination of an antibiotic and a peeling (keratolytic) agent indicated in the topical control of acne vulgaris, acne rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis.

What Are Side Effects of Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution?

Side effects of Sumaxin Wash or Topical Solution are uncommon and may include local irritation.

Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution may cause serious side effects including:

  • hives,
  • difficulty breathing,
  • swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat,
  • new or worsening skin rash,
  • joint pain,
  • fever, and
  • mouth sores

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

  • Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
  • Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in your chest; shortness of breath; and sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out;
  • Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

Dosage for Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution

Apply Sumaxin Wash or Sumaxin Topical Solution once or twice daily to affected areas, or as directed by your physician. Wet skin and liberally apply Sumaxin Wash or Sumaxin Topical Solution to areas to be cleansed. Massage gently into skin for 10-20 seconds, working into a full lather, rinse thoroughly and pat dry.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution?

Sumaxin Wash or Topical Solution may interact with other drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Sumaxin Wash or Topical Solution; it is unknown if it would harm a fetus. It is unknown if Sumaxin Wash or Topical Solution passes into breast milk or if it would affect a nursing infant. Small amounts of orally administered sulfonamides pass into breast milk. Use caution and consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Additional Information

Our Sumaxin (sodium sulfacetamide 9% and sulfur 4%) Wash and Sumaxin (sodium sulfacetamide 8% and sulfur 4%) Topical Solution Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

Description for Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution

Sodium sulfacetamide is a sulfon- amide with antibacterial activity while sulfur acts as a keratolytic agent. Chemically sodium sulfacetamide is N-[(4-aminophenyl) sulfonyl]- acetamide, monosodium salt, monohydrate. The structural formula is:

Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 9% & sulfur 4%) Structural Formula Illustration

Each mL of Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 9% & sulfur 4%) Wash contains 90 mg of sodium sulfacetamide and 40 mg of sulfur in a formula- tion consisting of: aloe, butylated hydroxytoluene, cetyl alcohol, disodium oleamido MEA sulfosuc- cinate, edetate disodium, fragrance, glyceryl stearate/PEG-100 stearate, green tea, magne- sium aluminum silicate, methylparaben, propyl- paraben, purified water, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, sodium thiosul- fate, stearyl alcohol, xanthan gum.

Each mL of Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 8% & sulfur 4%) TS contains 80 mg of sodium sulfa-cetamide and 40 mg of sulfur in a formulation consisting of: aloe, butylated hydroxytoluene, cetyl alcohol, disodium oleamido MEA sulfosuccinate, edetate disodium, fragrance, glyceryl stearate, green tea, magnesium aluminum silicate, methyl-paraben, PEG-100 stearate, propylparaben, puri-fied water, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, sodium thiosulfate, stearyl alcohol, xanthan gum.

Uses for Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution

Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 9% & sulfur 4%) Wash and Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 8% & sulfur 4%) TS are indicated for the topical control of acne vulgaris, acne rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis.

Dosage for Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution

Apply Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 9% & sulfur 4%) Wash or Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 8% & sulfur 4%) TS once or twice daily to affected areas, or as directed by your physician. Wet skin and liberally apply to areas to be cleansed. Massage gently into skin for 10-20 seconds, working into a full lather, rinse thoroughly and pat dry. If drying occurs, it may be controlled by rinsing off Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 9% & sulfur 4%) Wash or Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 8% & sulfur 4%) TS sooner or using less often.

HOW SUPPLIED

Sumaxin® (sodium sulfaceta-mide 9% & sulfur 4%) Wash is available in a 16 fl. oz. (473 mL) bottle, NDC 43538-130-16.

Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 8% & sulfur 4%) TS is available in a 16 fl. oz. (473 mL) bottle, NDC 43538-160-16.

Store at controlled room temperature 15°-30° C (59°-86° F). Protect from freezing.

KEEP THIS AND ALL MEDICATIONS OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.

Manufactured for: Medimetriks Pharmaceuticals Inc., 383 Route 46 West Fairfield, NJ 07004-2402 USA. Revised: May 2013

Side Effects for Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution

Although rare, sodium sulfacetamide may cause local irritation.

Drug Interactions for Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution

No information provided.

Warnings for Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution

Although rare, sensitivity to sodium sulfacetamide may occur. Therefore, caution and careful supervision should be observed when prescribing this drug for patients who may be prone to hypersensitivity to topical sulfonamides. Systemic toxic reactions such as agranulocytosis, acute hemolytic anemia, purpura hemorrhagica, drug fever, jaundice, and contact dermatitis indicate hypersensitivity to sulfonamides. Particular caution should be employed if areas of denuded or abraded skin are involved.

FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY.

Keep away from eyes. Keep out of reach of children. Keep container tightly closed.

Precautions for Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution

General

If irritation develops, use of the product should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted. Patients should be carefully observed for possible local irritation or sensitization during long-term therapy. The object of this therapy is to achieve desquamation without irritation, but sodium sulfacetamide and sulfur can cause reddening and scaling of the epidermis. These side effects are not unusual in the treatment of acne vulgaris, but patients should be cautioned about the possibility.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis And Impairment Of Fertility

Long-term studies in animals have not been performed to evaluate carcinogenic potential.

Pregnancy

Category C

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 9% & sulfur 4%) Wash and Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 8% & sulfur 4%) TS. It is also not known whether Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 9% & sulfur 4%) Wash and Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 8% & sulfur 4%) TS can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Sumaxin® (sodium sulfa-cetamide 9% & sulfur 4%) Wash and Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 8% & sulfur 4%) TS should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether sodium sulfacetamide is excreted in the human milk following topical use of Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 9% & sulfur 4%) Wash and Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 8% & sulfur 4%) TS. However, small amounts of orally admin-istered sulfonamides have been reported to be eliminated in human milk. In view of this and because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 9% & sulfur 4%) Wash and Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 8% & sulfur 4%) TS are administered to a nursing woman.

Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness in children under the age of 12 have not been established.

Overdose Information for Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution

No information provided.

Contraindications for Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution

Sumaxin® (sodium sulfa-cetamide 9% & sulfur 4%) Wash and Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 8% & sulfur 4%) TS are contraindicated for use by patients having known hypersensitivity to sulfonamides, sulfur or any other component of this preparation. Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 9% & sulfur 4%) Wash and Sumaxin® (sodium sulfacetamide 8% & sulfur 4%) TS are not to be used by patients with kidney disease.

Clinical Pharmacology for Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution

The most widely accepted mechanism of action of sulfonamides is the Woods-Fildes theory, which is based on the fact that sulfonamides act as competitive antagonists to para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), an essential component for bacterial growth.

While absorption through intact skin has not been determined, sodium sulfacetamide is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract when taken orally and excreted in the urine, largely unchanged. The biological half-life has variously been reported as 7 to 12.8 hours. The exact mode of action of sulfur in the treatment of acne is unknown, but it has been reported that it inhibits the growth of Propionibacterium acnes and the formation of free fatty acids.

Patient Information for Sumaxin Wash and Topical Solution

Avoid contact with eyes, eyelids, lips and mucous membranes. If accidental contact occurs, rinse with water. If excessive irritation develops, discontinue use and consult your physician.

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