Description

Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim combination is used to treat infections including urinary tract infections, middle ear infections (otitis media), bronchitis, traveler's diarrhea, and shigellosis (bacillary dysentery). This medicine is also used to prevent or treat Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia or Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), a very serious kind of pneumonia. This type of pneumonia occurs more commonly in patients whose immune systems are not working normally, including cancer patients, transplant patients, and patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim combination is an antibiotic. It works by eliminating the bacteria that cause many kinds of infections. This medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Directions

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects. Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim combination is best taken with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Several additional glasses of water should be taken every day, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Drinking extra water will help to prevent some unwanted effects (eg, crystals in the urine). . For patients taking the oral liquid, use a specially marked measuring spoon or other device to measure each dose accurately. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid. To help clear up your infection completely, keep using this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. If you stop taking this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return.

Ingredients

The active ingredient in Sulfatrim is trimethoprim – sulfamethoxazole

Cautions

It is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away. This medicine may cause serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), or acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (AFND). Check with your doctor if you have a skin rash, blistering, peeling, loosening of the skin, chills, cough, diarrhea, itching, joint or muscle pain, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, sore throat, sores, ulcers, white spots in the mouth or on the lips, black, tarry stools, chest pain, or painful or difficult urination. Check with your doctor right away if you have dark urine, clay-colored stools, stomach pain, or yellow eyes or skin. These may be symptoms of a serious liver problem. This medicine, especially if you are receiving high doses or for a long period of time, may lower the number of platelets in your body, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. Because of this, you may bleed or get infections more easily. Talk with your doctor if you have black, tarry stools, bleeding gums, blood in urine or stools, pinpoint red spots on the skin, unusual bleeding or bruising. This medicine may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop taking this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. If you have any questions or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have stomach cramps, bloating, watery and severe diarrhea, which may also be bloody, nausea or vomiting, or unusual tiredness or weakness. These may be symptoms of a serious intestinal infection. This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have a rash, itching, swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, trouble breathing, or chest pain after you use the medicine. This medicine may cause electrolyte problems, including high potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia) and low sodium in the blood (hyponatremia). Tell your doctor right away if you have confusion, weakness, muscle twitching, an irregular heartbeat, numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips, or trouble breathing. This medicine may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in some patients. Check with your doctor if you have anxiety, behavior change similar to being drunk, blurred vision, cold sweats, confusion, cool pale skin, difficulty with concentrating, drowsiness, excessive hunger, headache, nausea, nervousness, rapid heartbeat, shakiness, or unusual tiredness or weakness. Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you or your child are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine. Patients receiving anticonvulsant treatment (medicines to prevent seizures) may be at risk for a folate (vitamin B9) deficiency, which may increase the risk for side effects. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about this. Do not use this medicine if you are also using dofetilide (Tikosyn®). Do not use this medicine for Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) if you are also using leucovorin. Using these medicines together may cause these medicines to not work as well for you. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes leucovorin, other prescription or non-prescription (over-the-counter) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur: More common • Black, tarry stools • blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin • changes in skin color • chest pain or tightness • chills • clay-colored stools • cough or hoarseness • dark urine • diarrhea • dizziness • fever • general feeling of tiredness or weakness • headache • itching, skin rash • joint or muscle pain • light-colored stools • loss of appetite • lower back or side pain • nausea • pain, tenderness, or swelling of the foot or leg • painful or difficult urination • pale skin • red skin lesions, often with a purple center • red, irritated eyes • sore throat • sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips • stomach pain • swollen or painful glands • trouble breathing • unpleasant breath odor • unusual bleeding or bruising • vomiting of blood • yellow eyes or skin Incidence not known • back, leg, or stomach pains • bleeding gums • blindness or vision changes • bloating • blood in the urine or stools • bluish-colored lips, fingernails, or palms • burning, crawling, itching, numbness, painful, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings • burning of the face or mouth • cloudy urine • clumsiness or unsteadiness • confusion • constipation • continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears • cracks in the skin • decreased frequency or amount of urine • difficulty with swallowing • fainting spells • fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse • general body swelling • general feeling of discomfort or illness • hair loss • hearing loss • hives • increased thirst • indigestion • large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin • large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs • loss of heat from the body • muscle or joint pain • nosebleeds • not able to pass urine • numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips • pain or burning while urinating • pinpoint red spots on the skin • puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue • raised red swellings on the skin, the buttocks, legs, or ankles • redness of the white part of the eyes • redness, swelling, or soreness of the tongue • seizures • soreness of the muscles • stiff neck or back • stomach tenderness • swelling of the face, hands, legs, and feet • unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination • weakness in the hands or feet • weakness or heaviness of the legs • weight gain or loss Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them: More common • Passing of gas Incidence not known • discouragement • feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings • feeling sad or empty • increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight • lack of feeling or emotion • loss of interest or pleasure • muscle pain, stiffness, cramps, or spasms • nervousness • redness or other discoloration of the skin • seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there • sensation of spinning • severe sunburn • trouble concentrating • trouble sleeping • uncaring • weight loss Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.