# Sulfadicramide
**Sulfadicramide** is a sulfonamide anti-infective drug used as a topical ophthalmic preparation, classified in the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) system under S01AB03, ophthalmologicals, antiinfectives, sulfonamides.[1](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=S01AB&showdescription=yes) Its International Nonproprietary Name (INN) is sulfadicramide (Latin: sulfadicramidum), and its chemical name is N1-(3,3-dimethylacroyl)sulfanilamide.[2](https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/international-nonproprietary-names-%28inn%29/rl03.pdf?download=true) The name belongs to the WHO "sulfa-" stem, which is used for anti-infective sulfonamide derivatives.[3](https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/379226/9789240099388-eng.pdf?sequence=1)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Drug class | Sulfonamide anti-infective; ATC code S01AB03 (ophthalmologicals, antiinfectives, sulfonamides)[1](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=S01AB&showdescription=yes) |
| Chemical identity | CAS 115-68-4; EC 204-099-3; molecular formula C11H14N2O3S[4](https://chemicalscan.com/index.php/substance/sulfadicramide-115-68-4) |
| IUPAC name | N-(4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl-3-methylbut-2-enamide; molecular weight 254.31 g/mol[5](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8281) |
| Synonyms | Irgamid, sulfauridin, sulfirgamid, sulfirgamide, sulfanildimethylacryloylamide[5](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8281) • [6](https://drugcentral.org/drugcard/3560) |
| Current use | Still used in some countries as a 15% ointment for application to the eye[7](https://www.un.org/esa/coordination/CL12.pdf) |
| Regulatory record | UNII 7WZ5EG263C (active moiety); sodium salt UNII 6Y6D6Z2GY8[8](https://precision.fda.gov/uniisearch/srs/unii/7WZ5EG263C) • [9](https://precision.fda.gov/ginas/app/ui/substances/27b61704-6534-4d04-b377-810fdbb89ad3) |
| Approval status | DrugCentral records no drug approvals, dosage entries, or veterinary products for the compound[6](https://drugcentral.org/drugcard/3560) |
## Chemistry
Sulfadicramide is a sulfanilamide derivative in which the sulfonamide nitrogen carries a 3,3-dimethylacryloyl group, giving the systematic name N-(4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl-3-methylbut-2-enamide.[2](https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/international-nonproprietary-names-%28inn%29/rl03.pdf?download=true) • [5](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8281) The molecule is achiral, with no defined stereocenters.[5](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8281) Computed properties include a molecular weight of 254.31 g/mol, an acidic pKa of 5.63 and a basic pKa of 1.98, a CLOGP of 0.40, and a topological polar surface area of 89.26 Ų.[5](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8281) • [6](https://drugcentral.org/drugcard/3560) A sodium salt is registered in the FDA Global Substance Registration System as SULFADICRAMIDE SODIUM, formula C11H13N2O3S·Na, molecular weight 276.29, with sulfadicramide listed as the active moiety.[9](https://precision.fda.gov/ginas/app/ui/substances/27b61704-6534-4d04-b377-810fdbb89ad3)
## Pharmacology
Sulfadicramide belongs to the sulfonamide class of antibacterial agents. Sulfonamides are bacteriostatic drugs that inhibit bacterial synthesis of dihydrofolic acid by preventing the condensation of [pteridine](https://www.edgepedia.org/pteridine) with aminobenzoic acid through competitive inhibition of the enzyme dihydropteroate synthetase.[10](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=fae0c19a-2177-4aa7-9266-320b8502065e) Bacteria must synthesize folate themselves, whereas mammals obtain it from the diet, which is the basis of the selective toxicity of this class.[11](https://stagetestdomain3.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-sulfa-drugs-work)
## Clinical use and history
The compound was introduced under the trade name Irgamid and evaluated as an eye ointment in the 1950s. A 1953 study in *Medicinski arhiv* by V. Cavka and S. Miletic assessed irgamide ointment in ophthalmology.[12](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/13144111/) A German-language paper in *Ophthalmologica* described the use of Irgamid, described there as a new sulfanilamide derivative, in eye medicine.[13](https://karger.com/oph/article-abstract/101/4/193/247043/Ueber-Anwendung-von-Irgamid-einem-neuen?redirectedFrom=fulltext) In 1955, F. H. Theodore published a report in the *American Journal of Ophthalmology* on the use of sulfirgamide, a synonym of the same compound, in external diseases of the eyes.[14](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/13248907/)
A United Nations listing of pharmaceutical trade names records the product under the names Ingamid, Ingamid ophtal, and Irgamid, and states that sulfadicramide is still used in some countries as a 15% ointment for application to the eye.[7](https://www.un.org/esa/coordination/CL12.pdf) The Council of Europe lists sulfadicramide among controlled substances in Schedule I of its pharmaceutical classification.[15](https://rm.coe.int/native/09000016804d24d4)
## Regulatory status
In the European Union regulatory system, sulfadicramide is registered with CAS number 115-68-4 and EC number 204-099-3; it is not on the SVHC Candidate List, does not require authorization, and is not specifically restricted or banned.[4](https://chemicalscan.com/index.php/substance/sulfadicramide-115-68-4) DrugCentral records no FDA or EMA approvals, no Orange Book patent or exclusivity data, and no FDA Adverse Event Reporting System entries for the compound, and lists no pharmaceutical products.[6](https://drugcentral.org/drugcard/3560) The FDA substance registration system notes that UNII availability does not imply any regulatory review or approval.[8](https://precision.fda.gov/uniisearch/srs/unii/7WZ5EG263C)
## References
1. [ATC/DDD Index, S01AB Sulfonamides, WHO Collaborating Centre](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=S01AB&showdescription=yes)
2. [Recommended International Nonproprietary Names list, World Health Organization](https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/international-nonproprietary-names-%28inn%29/rl03.pdf?download=true)
3. [Use of stems in the selection of INN, WHO](https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/379226/9789240099388-eng.pdf?sequence=1)
4. [Sulfadicramide, ChemicalScan](https://chemicalscan.com/index.php/substance/sulfadicramide-115-68-4)
5. [Sulfadicramide CID 8281, PubChem](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8281)
6. [Sulfadicramide drug card 3560, DrugCentral](https://drugcentral.org/drugcard/3560)
7. [Pharmaceuticals (Trade Names), Twelfth Issue, United Nations](https://www.un.org/esa/coordination/CL12.pdf)
8. [SULFADICRAMIDE UNII 7WZ5EG263C, FDA UNII Search Service](https://precision.fda.gov/uniisearch/srs/unii/7WZ5EG263C)
9. [SULFADICRAMIDE SODIUM, FDA Global Substance Registration System](https://precision.fda.gov/ginas/app/ui/substances/27b61704-6534-4d04-b377-810fdbb89ad3)
10. [Sulfacetamide Sodium ophthalmic solution label, DailyMed](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=fae0c19a-2177-4aa7-9266-320b8502065e)
11. [How Sulfa Drugs Work, NIH Research Matters](https://stagetestdomain3.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-sulfa-drugs-work)
12. [Cavka V, Miletic S (1953). Evaluation of irgamide ointment and irgapyrine in ophthalmology. Medicinski arhiv 7(6):105-15, PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/13144111/)
13. [Ueber Anwendung von Irgamid, einem neuen Sulfanilamidderivat, in der Augenheilkunde, Ophthalmologica, Karger](https://karger.com/oph/article-abstract/101/4/193/247043/Ueber-Anwendung-von-Irgamid-einem-neuen?redirectedFrom=fulltext)
14. [Theodore FH (1955). The use of sulfirgamide in external diseases of the eyes. American Journal of Ophthalmology 40(3):406-11, PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/13248907/)
15. [Council of Europe pharmaceutical substance schedule listing](https://rm.coe.int/native/09000016804d24d4)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Life and health › Human health and medicine › Medicines and therapeutics › Anti-infective drugs and resistance › Antibacterial drugs › Sulfonamides and related folate antagonists*
*Initially written Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license