Bactroban is an antibiotic that prevents bacteria from growing on your skin.

Bactroban topical (for use on the skin) is used to treat skin infections such as impetigo or a “Staph” infection of the skin.

Bactroban may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

Use Bactroban cream or ointment for the full amount of time prescribed by your doctor or as recommended in the package even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely healed. Avoid your eyes, nose, mouth, and lips when applying Bactroban. If medication gets in any of these areas, wash with water.

Watch for signs of improvement in 3 to 5 days. If your condition gets worse or does not improve, see your doctor.

A separate formulation, Bactroban nasal ointment, is available for nasal use.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Bactroban cream or ointment if you are allergic to mupirocin.

To make sure Bactroban is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease.

Do not use Bactroban on a child without medical advice. The cream should not be used on a child younger than 3 months old. The ointment may be used on a child as young as 2 months old.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known whether mupirocin topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. If you apply this medicine to your breast or nipple, wash the areas thoroughly before nursing your baby.

How should I use Bactroban?

Use Bactroban cream or ointment exactly as directed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Do not take by mouth. Bactroban is for use only on the skin. If this medicine gets in your eyes, nose, or mouth, rinse with water.

Wash your hands before and after applying Bactroban.

Clean and dry the affected skin area. Use a cotton swab or gauze pad to apply a small amount of Bactroban cream or ointment as directed.

Do not spread Bactroban over large areas of skin.

Bactroban is usually applied 3 times per day for 10 days. Use only a small amount of the cream or ointment.

Use only a sterile gauze pad to cover the treated skin. Do not cover treated areas with a bandage, plastic wrap, or other covering that does not allow air to circulate.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve within 3 to 5 days, or if your skin condition gets worse.

Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze. Keep the medicine tube tightly closed when not in use.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Apply the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of Bactroban cream or ointment is not expected to be dangerous. Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line if anyone has accidentally swallowed the medication.

What should I avoid while using Bactroban?

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Avoid getting this medicine in your eyes, mouth, or nose. A separate product called Bactroban nasal is made for use in the nose. Bactroban topical is for use only on the skin.

Avoid using other medications on the areas you treat with Bactroban unless your doctor tells you to.

Bactroban side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Bactroban: hives; dizziness, fast or pounding heartbeats; wheezing, difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
• severe itching, rash, or other irritation of treated skin;
• unusual skin blistering or peeling; or
• any signs of a new skin infection.

Common Bactroban side effects may include:

• burning, stinging;
• itching; or
• pain.

What is Azulfidine?

Azulfidine is used to treat ulcerative colitis (UC), and to decrease the frequency of UC attacks. This medicine will not cure ulcerative colitis, but it can reduce the number of attacks you have.

Azulfidine is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis in children and adults who have used other arthritis medicines that did not work or have stopped working.

Azulfidine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Azulfidine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body. Symptoms may include: skin rash, fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.

You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as:

• fever, chills, sore throat;
• mouth sores, red or swollen gums;
• pale skin, easy bruising, unusual bleeding; or
• chest discomfort, wheezing, dry cough or hack, rapid weight loss.

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

• fever with headache, rash, and vomiting;
• a skin rash, no matter how mild;
• severe nausea or vomiting when you first start taking Azulfidine;
• little or no urination, urine that looks foamy;
• puffy eyes, swelling in your ankles or feet, weight gain; or
• liver problems–loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects of Azulfidine may include:

• nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, loss of appetite;
• headache;
• rash; or
• low sperm count in men.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Warnings

You should not use Azulfidine if you have porphyria, a blockage in your bladder or intestines, or if you are allergic to sulfa drugs, aspirin, or similar medicines called salicylates.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Azulfidine if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• a blockage in your bladder or intestines;
• porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system);
• an allergy to sulfa drugs; or
• an allergy to aspirin or other salicylates (such as Nuprin Backache Caplet, Kaopectate, KneeRelief, Pamprin Cramp Formula, Pepto-Bismol, Tricosal, Trilisate, and others).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• frequent infections;
• asthma;
• low blood cell counts; or
• liver or kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Taking Azulfidine can make it harder for your body to absorb folic acid, and folic acid helps prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain or spine. You may need to take folic acid supplements if you take this medicine during pregnancy. Follow your doctor’s instructions.

Sulfasalazine can pass into breast milk and may cause diarrhea or bloody stools in a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

Azulfidine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 2 years old.

How should I take Azulfidine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take Azulfidine after a meal.

Swallow the tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.

You will need frequent medical tests.

Drink plenty of liquids to keep your kidneys working properly while you are taking Azulfidine.

Azulfidine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medicine.

Azulfidine may cause your skin or urine to appear orange-yellow in color. Call your doctor if you also have yellowing of your eyes, brown urine, or stomach pain. These may be signs of liver problems.

If you are treating arthritis, do not stop using any of your other arthritis medicines until your doctor tells you to. Azulfidine may not improve your symptoms right away, and you may still need your other medicines for awhile.

Azulfidine is only part of a complete treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that may also include rest and physical therapy. Follow your doctor’s instructions very closely.