Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim)

Drug Description

Bactrim(sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) Tablets
Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) is a synthetic antibacterial combination product available in DS (double strength) tablets, each containing 800 mg sulfamethoxazole and 160 mg trimethoprim; in tablets, each containing 400 mg sulfamethoxazole and 80 mg trimethoprim for oral administration (480 mg).

What does Bactrim treat?

Bactrim is a prescription antibiotic approved to treat a variety of different infections. In addition to treating infections, it is approved to prevent one particular infection, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, in people with a weakened immune system.

Bactrim DS

The "DS" stands for "double strength." Bactrim DS contains exactly twice as much of the active ingredients as regular Bactrim. There are no other important differences between these two forms. Taking two regular Bactrim tablets is the same as taking one Bactrim DS tablet.

Bactrim dosage

Adults

The usual adult dosage in the treatment of urinary tract infections is 1 Bactrim DS (double strength) tablet or 2 Bactrim tablets every 12 hours for 10 to 14 days. An identical daily dosage is used for 5 days in the treatment of shigellosis.

Children

The recommended dose for children with urinary tract infections or acute otitis media is 40 mg/kg sulfamethoxazole and 8 mg/kg trimethoprim per 24 hours, given in two divided doses every 12 hours for 10 days. An identical daily dosage is used for 5 days in the treatment of shigellosis.

Bactrim side effects

Bactrim was approved long before the United States Food and Drug Administration required manufacturers to include detailed information about side effects. Therefore, only vague side effect information is available; the exact percentages of individual side effects are not provided.

Based on this limited information, the most common side effects of Bactrim include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Allergic skin reactions (such as a rash or itching).

Even though a skin rash due to Bactrim is quite common, it should always be reported to your healthcare provider. In general, it is recommended that you stop taking Bactrim at the first sign of a skin rash, as very dangerous reactions can develop (although this happens only rarely).

How Bactrim supplied

Bactrim™ TABLETS are supplied as follows:
Bactrim™ DS (double strength) TABLETS (white, oval shaped, scored) containing 160 mg trimethoprim and 800 mg sulfamethoxazole - bottles of 100 (NDC 13310-146-01) and 500 (NDC 13310-146-05). Imprint on tablets (debossed): (front) Bactrim DS

Bactrim™ TABLETS (white, round, scored) containing 80 mg trimethoprim and 400 mg sulfamethoxazole - bottles of 100 (NDC 13310-145-01) and 500 (NDC 13310-145-05). Imprint on tablets (debossed): (front) Bactrim