This medication is sometimes prescribed
for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
How should Bactrim be used?
Co-trimoxazole comes as a tablet and a liquid to take by mouth.
It usually is taken two times a day but may be taken up to
four times a day for severe lung infections.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Take Co-trimoxazole with food or milk if it upsets your stomach.
You may crush the tablets and put them in water or a soft
food like applesauce or pudding if you cannot swallow them
whole.
To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the liquid
form of Co-trimoxazole with a special dose-measuring spoon
or cup, not with a regular tablespoon. If you do not have
a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can
get one. Shake the suspension well before measuring a dose.
Take all of the Co-trimoxazole that has been prescribed for
you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start
to improve before the infections is completely treated.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking co-trimoxazole,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to co-trimoxazole,
diuretics ('water pills', oral diabetes medications, any sulfa
drug, or any other drugs.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription
medications you are taking, especially methotrexate, phenytoin
(Dilantin), warfarin (Coumadin), and vitamins.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver or kidney
disease, asthma, severe allergies, or glucose-6-phosphate
dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency (an inherited blood disease).
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant,
or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking
co-trimoxazole, call your doctor.
- plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight
and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Co-trimoxazole may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
Co-trimoxazole may cause an upset stomach. Take co-trimoxazole
with food.
Possible drug interactions when taking Bactrim
If Bactrim is taken with certain other drugs, the effects
of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is
especially important to check with your doctor before combining
Bactrim with the following:
Amantadine (Symmetrel)
Blood thinners such as Coumadin
Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Indomethacin (Indocin)
Methotrexate (Rheumatrex)
Oral diabetes medications such as Micronase
and Glucotrol
Pyrimethamine (Daraprim)
Seizure medications such as Dilantin
Tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil, Norpramin, Sinequan,
and Tofranil
Water pills (diuretics) such as HydroDIURIL
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Bactrim should not be taken during pregnancy. If you are pregnant
or plan to become pregnant, notify your doctor immediately.
Bactrim does appear in breast milk and could affect a nursing
infant. It should not be taken while breastfeeding.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if
it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed
and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take
a double dose of this medication to make up for a missed one.unless
otherwise directed by your doctor.
If you have only missed one dose, you can take the rest of
your scheduled doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals.
What happens if I overdose?
Symptoms of a co-trimoxazole overdose include nausea, vomiting,
decreased appetite, diarrhea, headache, yellowing of the skin
or eyes, decreased urine production, bloody urine, and coma.
What side effects can Bactrim
cause?
Although side effects from co-trimoxazole are not common,
they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms
are severe or do not go away:
- upset stomach
- vomiting
- loss of appetite
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your
doctor immediately:
- skin rash
- itching
- sore throat
- fever or chills
- mouth sores
- unusual bruising or bleeding
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- paleness
- joint aches
What storage conditions are needed for Bactrim?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly
closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature
and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).
Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.
Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your
medication.
Bactrim Full Prescribling Information
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