Sulfacetamide
Clinical data
Trade namesBleph-10
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa601114
ATC code
Pharmacokinetic data
Elimination half-life7 to 12.8 hours
Identifiers
  • N-[(4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl]acetamide
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.005.128 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC8H10N2O3S
Molar mass214.24 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Melting point182 to 184 °C (360 to 363 °F)
  • O=S(=O)(c1ccc(N)cc1)NC(=O)C
  • InChI=1S/C8H10N2O3S/c1-6(11)10-14(12,13)8-4-2-7(9)3-5-8/h2-5H,9H2,1H3,(H,10,11) checkY
  • Key:SKIVFJLNDNKQPD-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  (verify)
Pure Sulfacetamide sodium salt is a white or slightly yellow crystalline powder

Sulfacetamide is a sulfonamide antibiotic.

Uses

Sulfacetamide 10% topical lotion, sold under the brand name Klaron or Ovace, is approved for the treatment of acne and seborrheic dermatitis.[1] When combined with sulfur, it is sold under the brand names Plexion, Clenia, Prascion, and Avar, which contain 10% sulfacetamide and 5% sulfur.[2][3][4][5]

Sulfacetamide has been investigated for use in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor[6] and rosacea.[7] It also has anti-inflammatory properties when used to treat blepharitis or conjunctivitis (in eye-drop solution). It is believed to work by limiting the presence of folic acid which bacteria need to survive. It has been suggested that sulfacetamide may also serve as a treatment for mild forms of hidradenitis suppurativa.[citation needed] Sulfacetamide has antibacterial activity and is used to control acne. Products containing sulfacetamide and sulfur (a keratolytic) are commonly promoted for the treatment of acne rosacea (rosacea with papules, pustules, or both). There are several prescription topical products containing sulfacetamide, such as foams, shampoos, cream and washes.

Some research indicates that sulfacetamide derivatives may act as antifungals by an CYP51A1-independent mechanism.[8]

Structure and chemical properties

These are organic compounds containing an benzenesulfonamide moiety with an amine group attached to the benzene ring.[9] The molecular formula is C8H10N2O3S. Its scientific name is N-(4-aminophenyl)sulfonylacetamide. At room temperature, it appears as a white powder.[10]

Degradation reactions and stability

Sulfacetamide is stable under normal temperatures and pressures. No dangerous reactions occur under known conditions of normal use.[11] It is an important bacteriostatic agent that is commonly used in human and veterinary medicine. Therefore it can accumulate in the environment (mostly surface water).[12]

It has a long lifetime in the environment so different degradation reactions are researched:

The photocatalytic degradation of sulfacetamide in water solutions during illumination of UV radiation with TiO2 was examined. It was found that sulfacetamide is resistant to biodegradation and that it is toxic to the green alga Chlorella vulgaris. It undergoes photocatalytic degradation and the toxicity of the intermediate products is significantly lower than the initial toxicity. The intermediates can be mineralized in contrast to sulfacetamide.[13]

Sulfonamide → organic intermediate products (degradation) (in presence of OH−).[13]

Oxidation of sulfacetamide by diperiodatocuperate(III)

At higher temperatures sulfacetamide solutions degrade to its hydrolysed product, sulphanilamide with a first-order rate constant.[14]

Also oxidation of sulfacetamide by diperiodatocuperate(III) in an aqueous alkaline medium can occur. Copper(III) is used, as it is involved in many biological electron transfer reactions.[12]

The sulphanilamide can oxidise to a blue product with a first order reaction and it can form azo dye with a second order reaction.[15]

Available forms

Sulfacetamide as a medicine is available as solution, eye drops, lotion, and powder.[16] It can also be found in the form of the sodium salt, sulfacetamide sodium.[17]

It is available in fixed-dose combinations with prednisolone.[18][19]

Mechanisms of action

Sulfacetamide is a sulfonamide antibiotic.[20] Sulfonamides are synthetic bacteriostatic antibiotics, that are active against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It blocks the synthesis of dihydrofolic acid by inhibiting the enzyme dihydropteroate synthase. It is a competitive inhibitor of bacterial para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). PABA is required for bacterial synthesis of folic acid and it is an essential component for bacterial growth.[9] The multiplication of bacteria is therefore inhibited by the action of sulfacetamide.

Biotransformation

Sulfacetamide is absorbed orally. The oral absorption of sulfacetamide is found to be 100%[21] and the plasma protein binding is 80–85%. In the liver it is metabolized to inactive metabolites.[22] Plasma half-life is 7 – 12.8 hours.[10]

Sulfonamides are usually metabolized by several oxidative pathways, acetylation, and conjugation with sulfate or glucuronic acid.[23] However, there are some differences in biotransformation between certain species. Acetylation, which reduces the solubility of sulfonamides, is for example poor developed in dogs. The acetylated, hydroxylated, and conjugated forms have little antibacterial activity. Furthermore, the hydroxylated and conjugated forms are less likely to precipitate in urine. The hydrolysis takes place by the action of amidases.[24]

It is excreted primarily in the urine.[22] Secretory routes of less significance are bile, feces, milk and sweat.[23] Glomerular filtration, active tubular secretion, and tubular reabsorption are the main processes involved.

Efficacy

Sulfacetamide is a sulfonamide antibiotic, that is used as a cream to treat skin infections and as eye drops to treat eye infections. On the skin it is used to treat acne and seborrheic dermatitis.[20] In cream form it is used to treat bacterial infections on the skin. It can also be used orally to treat urinary tract infections.[9] It kills the bacteria by restricting the production of folic acid, which is essential for bacterial growth.[25] It mainly inhibits the multiplication of bacteria as it acts in a competitive inhibitor.

Side effects

The most common side effects are irritation, stinging or burning of the skin. Other side effects include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tiredness and headache.[9] There are however also severe side effects including severe allergic reactions, like (nettle) rash, itch, tightness in chest, difficult breathing and swelling in either the face, mouth, lips or tongue. Other severe side effects include bloody or severe diarrhea, fever, joint pain, red, blistered or swollen skin and stomach pain.[25] In the eye, it can cause conjunctivitis. There are also life-threatening conditions which can be produced by the antibiotic, like Stevens Johnson syndrome and Erythema multiforme.[21] Higher exposure can also cause unconsciousness.[9] One case showed that sulfacetamide eyedrops can very rarely cause life-threatening skin condition toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).[26] These are however not all side effects. For more information the health care provider can be contacted.

Sulfacetamide should not be used by individuals who have a sensitivity to sulfur or sulfa.

Toxicity

The acute oral toxicity (LD50) in a mouse is 16.5 g/kg.[9][27] As this falls within Toxicity Category IV of the toxicity category rating for oral administration, it is practically non-toxic and also not an irritant when taken in orally. However, it is very hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), ingestion and inhalation.

Research proved that it is more toxic in the presence of light than in the dark. Sulfacetamide is slightly irritant when UV-A light is present. In the presence of light sulfacetamide gets sensitized and degraded which might cause irritation which will lead to toxicity when it is used continuously. In the dark only slight irritation has been shown. Therefore it should be stored in the dark.[28]

There are no known carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. It has a moderate toxicity according to the Chemwatch hazard ratings.[29]

First aid measures

First aid measures:[27][29]

Incident Measures taken
Swallowing Do not induce vomiting. If it does occur prevent aspiration by keeping the airway open. This can be done by leaning the patient forward or by placing him on the left side.

Observe the patient.

Do not give liquid when the patient is being sleepy or when his awareness is reduced.

Eye contact Hold eyelids apart and flush the eye continuously with running water.

Flush at least for 15 minutes and make sure that the entire eye is being cleaned.

Immediately transport to a hospital or doctor.

Skin contact Remove all contaminated clothing immediately.

Flush hair and skin with running water and preferably in combination with non-abrasive soap.

Cover the irritated skin with an emollient.

When irritated seek medical attention.

Inhalation Remove from contaminated area.

Lay patient down and keep him warm.

Let the patient rest in a well-ventilated area.

Make sure nothing blocks the airway.

Apply artificial respiration if the patient does not breath. Perform CPR when necessary.

Effects on organisms

Sulfonamides are generally effective against most gram-positive and many gram-negative organisms.[10] Specifically enteric bacteria and other eubacteria are affected by the antibiotic as it kills the bacteria by restricting the production of folic acid, which is essential for their growth.[21] However strains of bacteria can be resistant to the antibiotic. If a bacterium is resistant to a sulfonamide, it is resistant to all the forms. Furthermore, sulfacetamide is toxic to soil organisms.[29]

Synthesis

Sulfacetamide is synthesized either by direct alkylation of acetamide with 4-aminobenzenesulfonyl chloride, or by reacting 4-aminobenzenesulfonamide with acetic anhydride and subsequent selective, reductive deacylation of the resultant acetamide using a system of zinc-sodium hydroxide.[30][31]

References

  1. ^ "Klaron medical facts from Drugs.com".
  2. ^ "Avar cream: Indications, Side Effects, Warnings - Drugs.com".
  3. ^ "Plexion medical facts from Drugs.com".
  4. ^ "| Drug Information | Pharmacy | Walgreens". Archived from the original on 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
  5. ^ "Clenia Cream - FDA prescribing information, side effects and uses".
  6. ^ Hull CA, Johnson SM (June 2004). "A double-blind comparative study of sodium sulfacetamide lotion 10% versus selenium sulfide lotion 2.5% in the treatment of pityriasis (tinea) versicolor". Cutis. 73 (6): 425–9. PMID 15224788.
  7. ^ Del Rosso JQ (January 2004). "Evaluating the role of topical therapies in the management of rosacea: focus on combination sodium sulfacetamide and sulfur formulations". Cutis. 73 (1 Suppl): 29–33. PMID 14959943.
  8. ^ Mastrolorenzo A, Supuran CT (2000). "Antifungal Activity of Ag(I) and Zn(II) Complexes of Sulfacetamide Derivatives". Metal-Based Drugs. 7 (1): 49–54. doi:10.1155/MBD.2000.49. PMC 2365193. PMID 18475922.
  9. ^ a b c d e f DrugBank, ed. (2013-09-16). "Sulfacetamide". DrugBank.
  10. ^ a b c Pubchem. "sulfacetamide | C8H10N2O3S - PubChem". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  11. ^ Bausch and Lomb. (2015). Sulfacetamide Sodium 10% and Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate 0.25% Ophthalmic Solution.
  12. ^ a b Naik PN (2008). "Mechanistic study of oxidation of sulfacetamide by diperiodatocuparate(III)in aquous alkaline medium". Indian Journal of Chemistry.
  13. ^ a b Baran W, Sochacka J, Wardas W (November 2006). "Toxicity and biodegradability of sulfonamides and products of their photocatalytic degradation in aqueous solutions". Chemosphere. 65 (8): 1295–9. Bibcode:2006Chmsp..65.1295B. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.04.040. PMID 16750553.
  14. ^ Ahmad T (July 1983). "Stability of Suiphacetamide [sic] Eye drops at Higher Temperature". Journal of Pakistan Medical Association.
  15. ^ Ahmad T (August 1982). "Degradation studies on sulphacetamide eye-drops. Part 2: Spectrophotometric evaluation of decomposition products of UV-irradiated solutions of sulphacetamide". Die Pharmazie. 37 (8): 559–61. PMID 7146062.
  16. ^ "Sulfacetamide (sulfacetamide sodium) drug & pharmaceuticals. Sulfacetamide available forms, doses, prices". www.medicatione.com. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  17. ^ "Bleph-10- sulfacetamide sodium solution/ drops". DailyMed. 16 July 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  18. ^ "Blephamide- sulfacetamide sodium and prednisolone acetate ointment". DailyMed. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Blephamide- sulfacetamide sodium and prednisolone acetate suspension/ drops". DailyMed. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  20. ^ a b "Sulfacetamide ≥98.0% | Sigma-Aldrich". www.sigmaaldrich.com. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  21. ^ a b c "Sulphacetamide". www.druginfosys.com. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  22. ^ a b "SULFACETAMIDE SODIUM". www.robholland.com. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  23. ^ a b "Sulfonamides and Sulfonamide Combinations: Antibacterial Agents: Merck Veterinary Manual". www.merckvetmanual.com. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  24. ^ HSU, W.H. (2008). Handbook Of Veterinary Pharmacology. Ames, Iowa: John Wiley & Sons.
  25. ^ a b "Sulfacetamide cream: Indications, Side Effects, Warnings - Drugs.com". www.drugs.com. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  26. ^ Byrom L, Zappala T, Muir J (May 2013). "Toxic epidermal necrolysis caused by over the counter eyedrops". The Australasian Journal of Dermatology. 54 (2): 144–6. doi:10.1111/j.1440-0960.2012.00936.x. PMID 22897159. S2CID 37140124.
  27. ^ a b "Material Safety Data Sheet Sulfacetamide MSDS". ScienceLab.com. 2013.
  28. ^ Sahu RK, Singh B, Saraf SA, Kaithwas G, Kishor K (June 2014). "Photochemical toxicity of drugs intended for ocular use". Arhiv Za Higijenu Rada I Toksikologiju. 65 (2): 157–67. doi:10.2478/10004-1254-65-2014-2461. PMID 24846953.
  29. ^ a b c "Sulfacetamide" (PDF). CHEMWATCH. 2011.
  30. ^ U.S. patent 2,411,495
  31. ^ Crossley ML, Northey EH, Hultquist ME (1939). "Sulfanilamide Derivatives. IV. N1,N4-Diacylsulfanilamides and N1-Acylsulfanilamides". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 61 (10): 2950–2955. doi:10.1021/ja01265a107.
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