If you have an increased sensitivity to silver sulfadiazine or the ingredients that make up the product, this medication may not be right for you. If you’re allergic to antibiotics in the sulfa family (like Septra, Bactrim, or erythromycin), discuss treatment options with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. In these cases, Silvadene could trigger an allergic reaction.
Silvadene may be contraindicated in people with certain liver, kidney, or blood diseases. These conditions may affect how the drug is metabolized and eliminated from the body. In some instances, the drug can accumulate in the body, and you and your healthcare provider will need to weigh the benefits of staying on the treatment or discontinuing it.
Be sure to let your healthcare provider know if you’re pregnant because Silvadene isn’t recommended for use in women who are at or approaching their pregnancy due date. This said, it’s worth noting that there is an absence of reliable studies about using the cream during pregnancy.
Theoretically, drugs in the sulfonamide family may cause kernicterus—brain damage that results from excessive levels of bilirubin—in newborns. Therefore, pregnant women should use the cream only with the approval of their physician.
Similarly, notify your healthcare provider if you’re nursing. It’s not known if Silvadene is excreted in breast milk, but because sulfonamides and its derivatives may contribute to kernicterus, it’s advised that you stop nursing or using the drug.