Indications
- Combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.
- Treats various bacterial infections (middle ear, urine, respiratory, intestinal).
- Prevents and treats a specific pneumonia type (pneumocystis).
- Not suitable for children under 2 months due to serious side effect risk.
- Effective only against certain infections, not viral (e.g., flu).
- Avoid unnecessary or misuse to prevent decreased antibiotic effectiveness.
Dosage and administration
- Take medication orally with a full glass of water as directed by your doctor.
- If stomach upset occurs, take with food or milk.
- Drink plenty of fluids to reduce the unlikely risk of kidney stones, unless advised otherwise by your doctor.
- Dosage based on medical condition and treatment response.
- Take antibiotic at evenly spaced times for best effect.
- Take at the same time(s) every day to help remember.
- Complete the full prescribed amount even if symptoms improve before completion.
- Inform doctor if condition persists or worsens.
Side effects
- Possible side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite.
- Inform doctor/pharmacist if these effects persist or worsen.
- Medication prescribed based on doctor’s judgment of benefit outweighing risks.
- Report serious side effects promptly: muscle weakness, mental/mood changes, signs of kidney problems, extreme drowsiness, signs of low blood sugar.
- Seek immediate medical help for very serious side effects: persistent headache, neck stiffness, seizures, slow/irregular heartbeat.
- Rarely may cause severe intestinal condition (C. difficile); inform doctor if persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, blood/mucus in stool.
- Avoid anti-diarrhea or opioid products if experiencing symptoms.
- Prolonged/repeated use may lead to oral thrush or new yeast infection; contact doctor if new symptoms arise.
- Rare but serious side effects include allergic reactions, severe skin rash, blood disorders, liver damage, lung injury.
- Seek immediate medical help for symptoms like sore throat, persistent cough, skin rash/blisters, severe itching/swelling, difficulty breathing, yellowing eyes/skin, unusual tiredness, dark urine.
- Not an exhaustive list; contact doctor/pharmacist for other effects.
Precautions
- Inform doctor/pharmacist of sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, sulfa medication allergies, or any other allergies.
- Disclose medical history, especially kidney/liver disease, blood disorders, history of trimethoprim or sulfa medication-induced blood disorders, vitamin deficiency, severe allergies, asthma, bone marrow suppression, G6PD deficiency, underactive thyroid, mineral imbalances.
- This medication may affect live bacterial vaccines; inform healthcare professional before immunizations/vaccinations.
- Inform surgeon/dentist of all products used before surgery.
- May increase sensitivity to the sun; limit sun exposure, avoid tanning booths, use sunscreen and protective clothing; seek medical help for sunburn or skin issues
- Check blood sugar regularly if diabetic; report low blood sugar symptoms to doctor.
- Older adults more sensitive to side effects, especially skin reactions, blood disorders, bleeding/bruising, high potassium
- AIDS patients may be more sensitive to side effects, including skin reactions, fever, blood disorders.
- Inform doctor if pregnant or planning pregnancy; avoid becoming pregnant while using sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim; discuss risks and benefits with doctor if pregnant.
- Medication passes into breast milk; consult doctor before breastfeeding, especially for infants with certain conditions.