Sodium Sulfacetamide and Sulfur Aqueous Gel
Generic name: sulfacetamide sodium and sulfur
Dosage form: gel
Drug class:Topical antibiotics
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 22, 2021.
Disclaimer: This drug has not been found by FDA to be safe and effective, and this labeling has not been approved by FDA. For further information about unapproved drugs, click here.
On This Page
DESCRIPTION: Sodium sulfacetamide is a sulfonamide with antibacterial activity. Sulfur acts as a keratolytic agent. Chemically, sodium sulfacetamide is N-[(4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl]-acetamide, monosodium salt, monohydrate. The structural formula is:
Each mL of 10% Sodium Sulfacetamide 5% Sulfur Aqueous Gel (in a Urea vehicle) contains 100 mg of sodium sulfacetamide and 50 mg of sulfur in an emulsion base containing 10% Urea, propylene glycol, isopropyl myristate, mineral oil, polysorbate 60, sorbitan monostearate, cetyl alcohol, cocoglycerides, stearyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate and PEG 100 stearate, dimethicone, fragrance, disodium EDTA, xanthan gum, zinc pyrithione, sodium thiosulfate, purified water, magnesium aluminum silicate, and methyl paraben.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: 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.
INDICATIONS: 10% Sodium Sulfacetamide 5% Sulfur Aqueous Gel (in a Urea vehicle) is indicated in the topical control of acne vulgaris, acne rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis.
