Sulfadiazine — Compare Prices at US & Canada Pharmacies
Compare real Sulfadiazine prices at US and Canadian pharmacies, see official FDA uses and warnings, and find generic alternatives.
What is the typical cost of sulfadiazine without insurance coverage?
Patients typically face an average cost of $1,192.90 for sulfadiazine without insurance. However, actual out-of-pocket expenses can vary considerably based on your pharmacy, dosage, and quantity. Discount prescription cards and manufacturer coupons may reduce this cost substantially. Comparing prices across different pharmacies or using generic pricing tools can help you find lower rates in your area.
What should I expect to pay for sulfadiazine with insurance?
Your sulfadiazine copay depends entirely on your individual insurance plan's drug formulary and coverage tier. Copays for generic sulfadiazine are often reasonable, though this varies by insurer and plan type. It's wise to check your insurance details ahead of time or speak with your pharmacist about your expected copay. Discount programs may sometimes offer prices lower than your insurance copay, so comparing options is worthwhile.
Is sulfadiazine covered by Medicare, and what would I pay?
Medicare Part D and most Medicare Advantage plans typically include generic sulfadiazine in their prescription drug coverage. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on which plan you have and where the drug sits in your plan's formulary structure. Uninsured patients or those seeking lower costs can explore discount prescription cards and manufacturer coupons to reduce their sulfadiazine expenses.
Does sulfadiazine come as a brand-name medication?
No—sulfadiazine is available only as a generic medication in the United States.
Sulfadiazine prices at US pharmacies
(Sulfadiazine) — tablet, 500mg, qty 60
| Pharmacy | Retail price | With discount card |
|---|---|---|
| Kroger Pharmacy Lowest | $284.25 | $281.25 |
| Harris Teeter Pharmacy | $284.25 | $281.25 |
| Publix | $603.58 | $600.58 |
| Walgreens | $924.78 | $921.78 |
| Walmart Neighborhood Market | $968.76 | $965.76 |
| Walmart Pharmacy | $968.76 | $965.76 |
| Food Lion | $969.76 | — |
| Costco | $971.76 | — |
Sulfadiazine prices at Canadian pharmacies
No Canadian pharmacy pricing was found for Sulfadiazine in our latest data pull.
Canada prices are converted to USD at time of collection and shown per tablet where available. Ordering from Canadian pharmacies is legal for personal use in most cases but subject to FDA/CBSA rules — see US vs Canada, explained.
What is Sulfadiazine used for?
Oral sulfadiazine — the tablet form priced on this page, distinct from topical silver sulfadiazine burn cream, which uses the same active ingredient bound to silver for a completely different, external use — is an older sulfonamide antibiotic that's largely fallen out of routine use as newer, better-tolerated antibiotics became available. Today its main clinical role is as part of combination therapy with pyrimethamine (and usually leucovorin) for toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that's most dangerous in immunocompromised patients, including those with AIDS, and in newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis acquired from an infected mother during pregnancy. This combination remains a standard-of-care treatment for toxoplasmic encephalitis specifically because the two drugs act on complementary steps of the parasite's folate pathway, producing a synergistic effect neither drug achieves alone.
As a sulfonamide, sulfadiazine carries the class's full range of serious risks: dangerous cutaneous reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (a combined mortality rate around 50% when they occur), blood cell count disturbances, kidney stones from the drug crystallizing in urine, and hepatotoxicity. This risk profile is the main reason it's reserved for infections — like toxoplasmosis — where its specific activity is hard to replace, rather than used for routine bacterial infections that respond just as well to safer, more modern antibiotics.
Adequate hydration and urine alkalinization are sometimes used clinically to reduce the risk of sulfadiazine crystallizing in the kidneys, a mechanical form of kidney injury distinct from the immune-mediated hypersensitivity reactions the drug can also cause. As with any sulfa drug, a documented sulfonamide allergy is a hard stop before starting sulfadiazine.
How Sulfadiazine works
Blocks bacterial and parasitic folic acid production
Sulfadiazine inhibits an enzyme in the folic acid synthesis pathway that bacteria and the parasite Toxoplasma gondii both depend on.
Works synergistically with pyrimethamine
Paired with pyrimethamine, which blocks a different step in the same pathway, the combination is far more effective against Toxoplasma than either drug alone.
Clears the infection
With folic acid synthesis blocked at two points, the parasite can't produce the DNA and proteins it needs to survive, allowing the infection to be controlled.
Available forms
tablet
Warnings & interactions
This is a summary of the official FDA label text, not personalized medical advice. It does not list every possible interaction or side effect. Always tell your prescriber and pharmacist about every medicine and supplement you take.
Common, usually mild
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Headache
- Reduced appetite
Serious — seek care promptly
- Signs of Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis (widespread rash, blistering, skin peeling)
- Kidney stones or signs of kidney injury
- Signs of a blood cell count change (unusual bruising, fatigue, fever)
- Signs of liver injury (jaundice, dark urine)
Contraindications
CONTRAINDICATIONS Silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to silver sulfadiazine or any of the other ingredients in the preparation. Because sulfonamide therapy is known to increase the possibility of kernicterus, silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% should not be used on pregnant women approaching or at term, on premature infants, or on newborn infants during the first 2 months of life.
Warnings
WARNINGS Absorption of silver sulfadiazine varies depending upon the percent of body surface area and the extent of the tissue damage. Although few have been reported, it is possible that any adverse reaction associated with sulfonamides may occur. Some of the reactions which have been associated with sulfonamides are as follows: blood dyscrasias including agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and hemolytic anemia; dermatologic and allergic reactions, including life-threatening cutaneous reactions [Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and exfoliative dermatitis]; gastrointestinal reactions, hepatitis and hepatocellular necrosis; CNS…
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
PREGNANCY: TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Pregnancy Category B. A reproductive study has been performed in rabbits at doses up to three to ten times the concentration of silver sulfadiazine in silver sulfadiazine cream, USP 1% and has revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus due to silver sulfadiazine. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
Sulfadiazine, by the numbers
Additional public data points beyond retail pricing — useful context, not a price quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Sulfadiazine cost without insurance?
Is there a generic version of Sulfadiazine?
What drug class is Sulfadiazine in?
Learn more about Sulfadiazine
In-depth answers to common Sulfadiazine questions, fact-checked against the sources cited in each.
What exactly is sulfadiazine and how does it work?
Sulfadiazine is a generic antibiotic that halts bacterial growth by interfering with their ability to produce folate, also known as vitamin B9. This vitamin is essential for DNA replication; without it, bacteria cannot multiply. As a member of the sulfonamide (sulfa) class of antibiotics, sulfadiazine is potent but rarely prescribed in modern practice due to potential side effects. Doctors typically prescribe it only when other antibiotics prove inadequate for treating conditions like middle ear infections, chlamydia, rheumatic fever, chancroids, or Haemophilus influenzae infections. Most commonly, sulfadiazine is used alongside pyrimethamine to fight toxoplasmosis—a parasitic infection—particularly in people with AIDS or in newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis. The medication is taken by mouth in tablet form.
What side effects can sulfadiazine cause?
Common side effects include stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, headache, abdominal pain, and reduced appetite. More serious adverse effects involve blood and organ systems: anemia, blood disorders, clotting problems, thyroid dysfunction (goiter), kidney damage, kidney stones, pancreatic inflammation, and seizures. Mental and neurological changes—hallucinations and depression—are also considered serious. Allergic reactions occur frequently and range from mild (hives, itching, rash) to severe. The most dangerous allergic responses are toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome, both involving widespread blistering and skin cell death across the body. These two syndromes together carry approximately a 50% mortality rate. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop signs of an allergic reaction. This list does not cover all possible side effects—speak with your doctor or pharmacist about other risks before starting this medication.
Page info
Prices last checked 2026-08-21. Reviewed against FDA and DailyMed official sources — see our review process. Not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Aldon Li, M.D., FIDSA, Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine