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- $Unique_ID{BRK03333}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{sulfamethoxazole and phenazopyridine combination}
- $Subject{Azo Gantanol Roche Antibiotic urinary tract analgesic
- sulfamethoxazole phenazopyridine painful infections urinary tract excreted
- urine topical analgesic pain-relieving}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- sulfamethoxazole and phenazopyridine combination
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAME (Manufacturer)
-
- Azo Gantanol (Roche)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Antibiotic and urinary tract analgesic
-
- INGREDIENTS
-
- sulfamethoxazole and phenazopyridine
-
- DOSAGE FORM
-
- Tablets (500 mg sulfamethoxazole and 100 mg phenazopyridine)
-
- STORAGE
-
- Sulfamethoxazole and phenazopyridine combination tablets should be stored
- at room temperature in a tightly closed, light-resistant container.
-
- USES
-
- This medication is used to treat painful infections of the urinary tract.
- Sulfamethoxazole acts by preventing production of the nutrients that are
- required for growth of the infecting bacteria. Phenazopyridine is excreted in
- the urine, where it exerts a topical analgesic (pain-relieving) effect on the
- urinary tract. This medication is not useful for any pain other than that of
- a urinary tract infection.
-
- TREATMENT
-
- It is best to take this medication with a full glass of water on an empty
- stomach, either one hour before or two hours after a meal. However, if it
- causes stomach upset, check with your doctor to see if you can take it with
- food or milk.
- This medication works best when the level of medicine in your blood and
- urine is kept constant. It is best, therefore, to take the doses at evenly
- spaced intervals day and night. For example, if you are to take two doses a
- day, the doses should be spaced 12 hours apart.
- If you miss a dose of this medication, take the missed dose immediately.
- However, if you do not remember to take the missed dose until it is almost
- time for your next dose, take the missed dose immediately; space the following
- dose about halfway through the regular interval between doses; and then return
- to your regular dosing schedule. Try not to skip any doses.
- It is important to continue to take this medication for the entire time
- prescribed by your doctor (usually seven to 14 days), even if the symptoms
- disappear before the end of that period. If you stop taking the drug too
- soon, resistant bacteria are given a chance to continue growing and the
- infection could recur.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, indigestion, insomnia,
- loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting. These side effects should disappear as
- your body adjusts to the medication.
- Sulfamethoxazole can cause increased sensitivity to sunlight. It is,
- therefore, important to avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and sunlamps.
- Wear protective clothing and sunglasses, and use an effective sunscreen.
- However, a sunscreen containing para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) interferes with
- the antibacterial activity of this medication and should NOT be used.
- Phenazopyridine causes your urine to become orange-red in color. This is
- not harmful. However, it may stain your clothing. The urine will return to
- its normal color soon after the drug is discontinued.
- If you feel dizzy during treatment with this drug, sit or lie down for a
- while.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- aching joints and muscles, back pain, bloating, blood in the urine, chest
- pain, chills, confusion, convulsions, depression, difficult or painful
- urination, difficulty in breathing, difficulty in swallowing, fever,
- hallucinations, hives, itching, loss of coordination, pale skin, rash or
- peeling skin, ringing in the ears, sore throat, swelling of the front part of
- the neck, swollen ankles, unusual bleeding or bruising, unusual tiredness, or
- yellowing of the eyes or skin. Also, if your symptoms of infection seem to be
- getting worse rather than improving, you should contact your doctor.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- This medicine interacts with other types of drugs:
- 1. Sulfamethoxazole can increase the blood levels of oral anticoagulants
- (blood thinners, such as warfarin), oral antidiabetic agents, aspirin,
- methotrexate, and phenytoin, which can lead to serious side effects.
- 2. Methenamine can increase the side effects to the kidneys caused by
- sulfamethoxazole.
- 3. Probenecid, phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone, and sulfinpyrazone can
- increase the blood levels of sulfamethoxazole, which can lead to an increase
- in side effects.
- Before starting to take this medication, BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR
- about any medications you are currently taking, especially any of those listed
- above.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- any medications, especially to phenazopyridine, sulfamethoxazole, or any other
- sulfa drug (other sulfonamide antibiotics, diuretics, dapsone, sulfoxone, oral
- antidiabetic medications, oral antiglaucoma medication, or acetazolamide).
- * Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had
- glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, kidney disease, liver
- disease, or porphyria.
- * This medication has been prescribed for your current infection only.
- Another infection later on, or one that someone else has, may require a
- different medicine. You should not give your medicine to other people or use
- it for other infections, unless your doctor specifically directs you to do so.
- * This medication should be taken with plenty of water in order to avoid
- kidney stone formation.
- * If this drug makes you dizzy or drowsy, do not take part in any
- activity that requires alertness, such as driving a car or operating
- potentially dangerous machinery.
- * Diabetic patients using this medication (phenazopyridine) may get
- delayed reactions or false-positive readings for sugar or ketones with urine
- tests. Clinitest is not affected by this medication.
- * If there is no improvement in your condition several days after
- starting this medication, check with your doctor. This medication may not be
- effective against the particular type of bacteria causing your infection.
- * Before having surgery or any other medical or dental treatment, be sure
- to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Small amounts of
- sulfamethoxazole cross the placenta. Although this medication appears to be
- safe during pregnancy, extensive studies in humans have not been conducted.
- Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an infant. Small amounts of this
- drug pass into breast milk and may temporarily alter the bacterial balance in
- the intestinal tract of the nursing infant, resulting in diarrhea. This drug
- should not be used in an infant less than two months of age.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-