Drug Groups

approved

Description

Sulfathiazole is a short-acting sulfa drug. It used to be a common oral and topical antimicrobial until less toxic alternatives were discovered. It is still occasionally used, sometimes in combination with sulfabenzamide and sulfacetamide.

Indication

Sulfathiazole is effective against a wide range of gram positive and gram negative pathogenic microorganisms. Although no longer used in humans, it is used in cattle.

Toxicity

Acute oral toxicity (LD50): 4500 mg/kg [Mouse].

Biotransformation

Metabolism of sulfonamide drugs in animals includes conjugation at the N4-position (acetyl, sulfate, glucuronic acid, and glucose), conjugation at the N1-position (sulfate and glucuronic acid), removal of the p-amino group (formation of the desamino metabolite), ring hydroxylation, and conjugation of the ring hydroxylation products. Dietary nitrite enhances the production of the desamino metabolite of sulfathiazole. The intermediate leading to the desamino metabolite of sulfamethazine is weakly mutagenic in the Ames test (Nelson et al., 1987; Paulson et al., 1987).

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