Common uses

Bactrim is used to treat infections such as urinary tract infections, bronchitis, ear infections (otitis), traveler's diarrhea, and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Bactrim may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Before using

Bactrim is approved for use in adults and children above 2 months of age. Before taking this medicine notify your medical specialist of having such conditions as G6PD deficiency, kidney disease, liver disease, pregnancy or breast-feeding. Use Bactrim exactly as your doctor prescribed you. Do not start using this medicine without approval of your medical specialist.
Bactrim is not recommended for using while pregnancy or breast-feeding period. It is not approved whether Bactrim affects fetus. Bactrim is excreted in breast milk and may affect newborn. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby. Discuss all the details of taking Bactrim with your medical specialist in order to avoid possible risks and harms.

Directions

Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . Bactrim is coming in form of tablets and suspension. This drug is taken orally. Suspension dosing is measured out with the help of specially marked measuring spoon. Consult to your doctor for details of using this medicine. Follow the dosing and frequency of taking directly as prescribed by your doctor. Try to take Bactrim according to the schedule at the same time each day. Do not take this medicine more often than your doctor prescribed you.
Do not double your scheduled dose. Skip the dose if you missed it and wait until the time for your next dose comes.
Storage: Bactrim should be stored in at a room temparature. Do not freeze it. Keep this drug away from moisture and light.

Precautions

In patients receiving sulfamethoxazole, adequate fluid intake is necessary to reduce the risk of crystalluria; the daily urine output should be 1200 to 1500 mL or more. The administration of compounds which render the urine acidic may increase the risk of crystalluria; the risk may be reduced with alkaline urine.
Treatment with sulfonamides should be discontinued immediately a rash appears because of the danger of severe allergic reactions such as the Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Sulfamethoxazole should be given with care to patients with renal or hepatic impairment and is contra-indicated in patients with severe renal or hepatic failure or with blood disorders. Dosage reduction may be necessary in renal impairment. Complete blood counts and urinalyses with microscopic examination should be carried out particularly during prolonged therapy. Sulfamethoxazole should not be given to patients with a history of hypersensitivity to sulfonamides as cross-sensitivity may occur between drugs of this group. Care is generally advisable in patients with a history of allergy or asthma. Caution is also needed in the elderly, who may be more likely to have other risk factors for reactions. Some authorities consider sulfamethoxazole to be contra-indicated in lupus erythematosus as it may exacerbate the condition. Patients with glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency may be at risk of haemolytic reactions.

Possible side effects

Do not start or stop using Bactrim before consulting to a doctor or pharmacist. In case of any serious side affects you should consult to your doctor or apply for emergency care immediately. It is recommended to inform your doctor if you feel unusual weakness or dizziness. Sometimes using this medicine may result in fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite and vomiting.
Contact to your medical specialist if any other unusual side effects (yellowing of the skin or eyes, bleeding, bruising, etc.) took place. Sometimes taking this medicine may cause allergy, which appears in swelling of face, lips, tongue or hives, difficulty breathing and closing of your throat.

If you take too much

Bactrim should be taken only as prescribed. Patients who take a double dose of this medication or take doses too close together are risking an overdose. If a dose of Bactrim is missed, the dose should be taken when remembered unless it is close to the next dose in which case the missed dose can be skipped. An overdose requires immediate emergency medical assessment. An overdose of Bactrim is likely to present with symptoms which include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, loss of appetite, jaundice, difficulty in producing urine, bloody urine, coma, and death.

Additional information

Make sure your doctor knows if you have impaired kidney or liver function, have a folic acid deficiency, are a chronic alcoholic, are taking anticonvulsants, have been diagnosed as having malabsorption syndrome (abnormal intestinal absorption), are in a state of poor nutrition, or have severe allergies or bronchial asthma. Bactrim should be used cautiously under these conditions.
If you develop severe diarrhea, call your doctor. This drug can cause a serious intestinal inflammation.
Drug interactions

Notify your medical specialist of using any other prescription or non-prescription medicines. Sometimes interaction of Bactrim with some other drugs may result in undesired and dangerous side effects. Taking Bactrim together with Dilantin (phenytoin) may harm your body. Contact your doctor in case if any unusual side effect occurred.
You should consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using Bactrim together with some diabetes treating medicines (e.g. Glucotrol, Tolinase, Deabinese, Micronase, Diabeta, Orinase, etc.). Interaction of Bactrim and the drugs listed above may cause low blood sugar. You may need pass blood sugar tests regularly. Interaction of Bactrim and blood thinning drugs drug may cause bleeding.