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- $Unique_ID{BRK03334}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim combination}
- $Subject{Bactrim Roche DS Bethaprim Major Lemmon Cotrim Pediatric Septra
- Burroughs Wellcome Sulfatrim Sulfatrim Antibiotic sulfamethoxazole
- trimethoprim infections urinary tract respiratory gastrointestinal otitis
- media middle ear infection}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{
- Bactrim*0333401.scf}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim combination
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- Bactrim (Roche)
- Bactrim DS (Roche)
- Bethaprim DS (Major)
- Cotrim (Lemmon)
- Cotrim DS (Lemmon)
- Cotrim Pediatric (Lemmon)
- Septra (Burroughs Wellcome)
- Septra DS (Burroughs Wellcome)
- sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (various manufacturers)
- Sulfatrim (various manufacturers)
- Sulfatrim DS (various manufacturers)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Antibiotic
-
- INGREDIENTS
-
- sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim
-
- DOSAGE FORMS
-
- Tablets (400 mg sulfamethoxazole and 80 mg trimethoprim)
- Double-strength (DS) tablets (800 mg sulfamethoxazole and 160 mg
- trimethoprim)
- Oral suspension (200 mg sulfamethoxazole and 40 mg trimethoprim per 5-ml
- spoonful)
-
- STORAGE
-
- Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim combination tablets and oral suspension
- should be stored at room temperature in tightly closed, light-resistant
- containers. The oral suspension does not need to be refrigerated. This
- medication should never be frozen.
-
- USES
-
- Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim combination is used to treat a broad
- range of infections, including urinary tract infections, certain respiratory
- and gastrointestinal infections, and otitis media (middle ear infection).
- Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim acts by preventing production of the
- nutrients that are required for growth of the infecting bacteria.
-
- 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.
- The oral suspension form of this medication should be shaken well just
- before measuring each dose. The contents tend to settle on the bottom of the
- bottle, so it is necessary to shake the container to distribute the
- ingredients evenly and equalize the doses. Each dose should then be measured
- carefully with a specially designed 5-ml measuring spoon. An ordinary kitchen
- teaspoon is not accurate enough.
- This medication works best when the level of medicine in your bloodstream
- (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. Try not to skip any
- doses.
- 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 (wait about six
- hours if you are taking two doses a day); and then return to your regular
- dosing schedule.
- 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, loss of appetite, nausea,
- sore mouth, or vomiting. These side effects should disappear as your body
- adjusts to the drug.
- 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.
- If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down for a while; get up slowly from a
- sitting or reclining position, and be careful on stairs.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- bloody urine, convulsions, difficult or painful urination, difficulty in
- breathing, difficulty in swallowing, fever, hallucinations, itching, joint
- pain, lower back pain, pale skin, rash, ringing in the ears, sore throat,
- swelling of the front part of the neck, swollen or inflamed tongue, tingling
- in the hands or feet, unusual bleeding or bruising, unusual fatigue, or
- yellowing of the eyes or skin. Also, if your infection seems to be getting
- worse rather than improving, 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, methotrexate,
- aspirin, 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.
- 4. Rifampin can increase the elimination of trimethoprim from the body,
- decreasing its antibacterial effects.
- 5. Concurrent use of trimethoprim with antineoplastic agents (anticancer
- drugs) can increase the risk of developing blood disorders.
- 6. Trimethoprim can decrease the elimination of phenytoin from the body
- and increase the chance of side effects.
- BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
- taking, especially any listed above.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- any medications, especially to trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, or other sulfa
- drugs (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, porphyria, or megaloblastic anemia (folate-deficiency anemia).
- * 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.
- * If there is no improvement in your condition several days after
- starting to take this medication, check with your doctor. This medication may
- not be effective against the bacteria causing your infection.
- * Before having surgery or any other medical or dental treatment, tell
- your doctor or dentist you are taking this drug.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Small amounts of
- sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim cross the placenta. Although these drugs
- appear to be safe during pregnancy, extensive studies in humans have not been
- conducted. Trimethoprim has been shown to cause birth defects in the
- offspring of animals that received very large doses during pregnancy. Tell
- your doctor if you are breast-feeding. Small amounts of sulfamethoxazole pass
- into breast milk and may temporarily alter the bacterial balance in the
- intestinal tract of the nursing infant, resulting in diarrhea. Also, small
- amounts of trimethoprim pass into breast milk, and there is a chance that it
- may cause anemia in the nursing infant. This combination medication should
- not be used in an infant less than two months of age (to avoid side effects
- involving the liver).
-
- ----------------
-
- 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.
-