What is Flamazine cream used for?

• Flamazine is an antibacterial cream that's mainly used to prevent and treat infections of burn wounds.
• It's sometimes used in the short-term management of infected leg ulcers and pressure sores.
• It's also used to help prevent infections in skin grafts, skin with extensive abrasions and finger tip injures.

Key facts about Flamazine

• Flamazine is a brand name for silver sulfadiazine cream.
• The cream will usually be applied daily by the nurse looking after your wound.
• The most common side effects are a burning sensation, itching or rash around where the cream is applied.

How does Flamazine cream work?

• Flamazine cream contains the active ingredient silver sulfadiazine, which is a type of antibiotic called a sulfonamide. Silver sulfadiazine is active against a wide range of bacteria, as well as some viruses and fungi. It stops these microbes from multiplying and causing skin infections.

Who shouldn't use Flamazine cream?

Flamazine cream is suitable for use by most adults and children, however the cream should not be used on:

• premature babies and newborn babies in the first few months of life
• women in the last three months of pregnancy
• people who are known to be allergic to sulphonamide-type antibiotics
• people who are allergic to any ingredient of the cream.

Some people might need extra monitoring while using Flamazine cream. Make sure your doctor or nurse know if you:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• have kidney or liver problems
• have an enzyme deficiency called G6PD deficiency.

How do I use Flamazine cream?

For the treatment of burns

The burn wound should be cleaned, then Flamazine cream should be applied to the affected area using a sterile gloved hand or a sterile spatula. The layer of cream should be three to five millimetres thick. The wound should be cleansed and the cream reapplied every 24 hours, or more frequently if the burn is producing lots of discharge.

For the treatment of leg ulcers and pressure sores

These problems are usually managed by a nurse - every day, or every other day. The wound will first be cleaned and any discharge and dead tissue from the wound cleared. A layer of cream that is at least three to five millimetres thick will be applied into the cavity of the ulcer/sore, and this will be covered with an absorbent or gauze dressing and possibly further bandaging.

Flamazine cream should not be used on leg ulcers or pressure sores that are producing a lot of discharge.

For finger-tip injuries

A layer of cream three to five millimetres thick should be applied over the injured area and covered with a finger dressing. This should usually be changed every two to three days.

What are the side effects of Flamazine cream?

• Burning sensation, itching or rash around the application site.
• Temporary decrease in the number of white blood cells in the blood (leucopenia). Your doctor will want to monitor your blood counts to make sure this returns to normal after a few days.
• Skin discolouration due to absorption of silver if the cream is used for long periods of time.

Can I use other medicines with Flamazine cream?

• Don't use other medicines on the same area of skin as Flamazine cream unless your doctor, nurse or pharmacist say it's OK.
• If you're taking the antiepileptic medicine phenytoin, or oral diabetic medicines such as glibenclamide, gliclazide or glimepiride, you may need some extra monitoring if you are using Flamazine cream on large areas of your skin.

References:

https://www.lsebn.nhs.uk/website/X13911/files/Flamazine®%201pc%20Cream%20in%20Burn%20Wound%20Care.pdf

http://www.hpra.ie/img/uploaded/swedocuments/4e9c5a53-41a2-4509-985b-00ef1b711178.pdf

https://www.nps.org.au/medicine-finder/flamazine-cream

https://www.smith-nephew.com/canada/products/advanced-wound-management/flamazine1/

https://www.medbroadcast.com/drug/getdrug/flamazine

https://www.drugs.com/cons/flamazine-topical.html