Indications
- Combination of two antibiotics – sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.
- Used to treat various bacterial infections (middle ear, urinary, respiratory, and intestinal infections).
- Also employed to prevent and treat a specific type of pneumonia (pneumocystis-type).
- Not suitable for children under 2 months due to the risk of serious side effects.
- Effective only against certain types of infections, not effective for viral infections like flu.
- Unnecessary use or misuse of this antibiotic may reduce its effectiveness over time.
Dosage and administration
- Take the medication with a full glass of water as directed by your doctor.
- If experiencing stomach upset, take the medication with food or milk.
- Drink plenty of fluids to reduce the unlikely risk of kidney stones, unless advised otherwise by your doctor.
- Dosage is determined based on your medical condition and response to treatment.
- Take the antibiotic at evenly spaced times for optimal effectiveness.
- Take the medication at the same time(s) every day to aid in remembering.
- Continue taking the medication until the full prescribed amount is finished.
- Do not stop the medication early, even if symptoms improve, to avoid the risk of the infection returning.
Side effects
- Possible side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
- Notify your doctor or pharmacist if these effects persist or worsen.
- The medication is prescribed because its benefits outweigh potential side effects.
- Serious side effects may include muscle weakness, mental/mood changes, signs of kidney problems, extreme drowsiness, and signs of low blood sugar.
- Seek immediate medical help for severe side effects like persistent headache, neck stiffness, seizures, and slow/irregular heartbeat.
- Rarely, the medication may cause a severe intestinal condition (C. difficile) with symptoms like persistent diarrhea and abdominal pain.
- Do not use anti-diarrhea or opioid products if experiencing these symptoms.
- Prolonged use may lead to oral thrush or a new yeast infection; contact your doctor for symptoms like white patches in the mouth or changes in vaginal discharge.
- Serious allergic reactions and other severe side effects, such as peeling skin rash, blood disorders, liver damage, or lung injury, may occur rarely.
- Seek immediate medical help for symptoms like persistent sore throat, fever, cough, skin rash/blisters, swelling, severe dizziness, joint pain, trouble breathing, easy bleeding, yellowing eyes/skin, unusual tiredness, or dark urine.
- This is not an exhaustive list of possible side effects; contact your doctor or pharmacist for any other observed effects.
Precautions
- Inform your doctor or pharmacist about any allergies to sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, sulfa medications, or other allergies before taking this medication.
- Discuss your medical history, including kidney disease, liver disease, blood disorders, history of blood disorders caused by trimethoprim or sulfa medications, vitamin deficiency, severe allergies, asthma, bone marrow suppression, G6PD deficiency, underactive thyroid, and mineral imbalances, with your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medication may impact the effectiveness of live bacterial vaccines; inform your healthcare professional before immunizations/vaccinations.
- Before surgery, disclose all products you use, including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products, to your doctor or dentist.
- Exercise caution in the sun, limit sun exposure, avoid tanning booths/sunlamps, and use sunscreen and protective clothing. Seek medical help for sunburn or skin blisters/redness.
- If you have diabetes, monitor blood sugar regularly and inform your doctor of any low blood sugar symptoms. Adjustments to diabetes medication, exercise program, or diet may be necessary.
- Older adults and patients with AIDS may be more sensitive to side effects such as skin reactions, blood disorders, easy bleeding/bruising, and high potassium blood levels.
- Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant; avoid becoming pregnant while using sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim due to potential harm to the unborn baby.
- The drug passes into breast milk, and while there have been no reports of harm to healthy infants, it may have undesirable effects on infants with certain conditions. Breastfeeding is not recommended for infants with jaundice, high bilirubin levels, or G6PD deficiency. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
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