Author: Alex Thompson

What Condition Does Bactrim Treat: Uses, Dosage, and Side Effects

Sometimes after starting treatment with antibiotics, patients can develop watery and bloody stools (with or without stomach cramps and fever) even as late as two or more months after having taken the last dose of the antibiotic. If this occurs, patients should contact their physician as soon as possible. Levels of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim in breast milk are approximately 2–5% of the recommended daily dose for infants over 2 months of age. Caution should be exercised when BACTRIM is administered to a nursing woman, especially when breastfeeding jaundiced, ill, stressed, or premature infants because of the potential risk of bilirubin displacement and kernicterus. The incidence of congenital abnormalities was 4.5% (3 of 66) in those who received placebo and 3.3% (4 of 120) in those receiving sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.

If you use the injection form of this medicine, do not eat or drink anything that contains propylene glycol (an ingredient in many processed foods, soft drinks, and medicines). Approximately 70% of sulfamethoxazole and 44% of trimethoprim are bound to plasma proteins. The presence of 10 mg percent sulfamethoxazole in plasma decreases the protein binding of trimethoprim by an insignificant degree; trimethoprim does not influence the protein binding of sulfamethoxazole. BACTRIM is contraindicated for infants younger than 2 months of age (see INDICATIONS and CONTRAINDICATIONS sections). Sulfamethoxazole alone was positive in an in vitro reverse mutation bacterial assay and in in vitro micronucleus assays using cultured human lymphocytes.

Patients with renal dysfunction, liver disease, malnutrition or those receiving high doses of BACTRIM are particularly at risk. The usual adult dosage of Bactrim DS is 1 tablet every 12 hours, or 2 Bactrim tablets every 12 hours. Bactrim may also be prescribed to children over 2 months old, and the dosage is based on the child’s weight. Symptom relief is often seen within 3 days of starting treatment.

Description for Bactrim

Most adults with urinary tract infections are treated with one double-strength tablet or two single strength tablets twice a day for days. Flare-ups of chronic bronchitis symptoms are often treated using the same treatment regimen for two weeks. Bactrim is a prescription medicine used to treat ear infections, urinary tract infections, bronchitis, traveler’s diarrhea, shigellosis, and Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. Severe and symptomatic hyponatremia can occur in patients receiving BACTRIM, particularly for the treatment of P. jirovecii pneumonia. Evaluation for hyponatremia and appropriate correction is necessary in symptomatic patients to prevent life-threatening complications.

Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with Bactrim. You should refer to the prescribing information for Bactrim for a complete list of interactions. Medicines that interact with Bactrim may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with Bactrim. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed.

1. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to empiric selection of therapy.
2. In in vitro and in vivo tests in animal species, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim did not damage chromosomes.
3. Severe cases of thrombocytopenia that are fatal or life threatening have been reported.

Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration of antibacterial agents. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to empiric selection of therapy.

High dosage of trimethoprim, as used in patients with P. jirovecii pneumonia, induces a progressive but reversible increase of serum potassium concentrations in a substantial number of patients. Even treatment with recommended doses may cause hyperkalemia when trimethoprim is administered to patients with underlying disorders of potassium metabolism, with renal insufficiency, or if drugs known to induce hyperkalemia are given concomitantly. Bactrim is a combination of antibiotics called trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, which help treat different types of bacterial infections.

Side Effects for Bactrim

You should not take sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Yes, Bactrim DS contains sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use bactrim only for the indication prescribed. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. The free forms of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim are considered to be the therapeutically active forms.

To help reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Bactrim, this medicine should be used only to treat infections that are proven, or strongly suspected, to be caused by susceptible bacteria. Both sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim distribute to sputum, vaginal fluid and middle ear fluid; trimethoprim also distributes to bronchial secretion, and both pass the placental barrier and are excreted in human milk. BACTRIM, specifically the trimethoprim component, can interfere with a serum methotrexate assay as determined by the competitive binding protein technique (CBPA) when a bacterial dihydrofolate reductase is used as the binding protein. No interference occurs, however, if methotrexate is measured by a radioimmunoassay (RIA). Avoid coadministration of BACTRIM and leucovorin during treatment of P. jirovecii pneumonia (see WARNINGS). The sulfonamides should not be used for treatment of group A β-hemolytic streptococcal infections.

Can I take Bactrim (Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Oral/Injection) if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

Bactrim can be used for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs), ear infections, bronchitis, shigellosis, traveler’s diarrhea, and Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. An increased sensitivity to sunlight may be experienced by people who take Bactrim DS. If you are taking this medication, and you are not sure how this medication will affect you, then make sure that you avoid direct sunlight and do not spend much time in tanning beds and sunlamps. To prevent sunburn, it is important to use clothes that will protect you. This antibiotic should also be taken with 6-8 ounces of liquid to avoid the formation of crystals in the urine.

The patient should be monitored with blood counts and appropriate blood chemistries, including electrolytes. If a significant blood dyscrasia or jaundice occurs, specific therapy should be instituted for these complications. Peritoneal dialysis is not effective and hemodialysis is only moderately effective in eliminating sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.

It’s used to treat certain bacterial infections, including ear infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), intestinal infections, and others. Bactrim is sometimes also given to treat traveler’s diarrhea. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to sulfamethoxazole or trimethoprim; or to sulfa medications; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Overdose symptoms may include loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, blood in your urine, yellowing of your skin or eyes, confusion, or loss of consciousness. Diarrhea is a common problem caused by antibiotics which usually ends when the antibiotic is discontinued.