Bactrim Forte 800mg/160mg

Indication

Used to treat bacterial infections susceptible to sulfonamide-trimethoprim combination, including urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections (including Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia), gastrointestinal infections caused by Shigella, and acute otitis media. Sulfamethoxazole inhibits dihydropteroate synthesis; trimethoprim inhibits dihydrofolate reductase, creating a synergistic bactericidal effect.

Ingredients

• Sulfamethoxazole
• Trimethoprim

Direction

Adults: One tablet (800 mg/160 mg) every 12 hours for 10–14 days (standard infections) or as directed. For Pneumocystis pneumonia: higher doses under specialist guidance. Take with a full glass of water. Maintain adequate fluid intake.

Side effects

• Common: nausea
• vomiting
• anorexia
• skin rash.
• Uncommon: photosensitivity
• diarrhoea.
• Rare: serious skin reactions (Stevens
• Johnson syndrome
• toxic epidermal necrolysis) — potentially fatal.
• Rare: agranulocytosis
• aplastic anaemia
• thrombocytopenia.
• Rare: hepatic necrosis
• hyperkalaemia.
• Very rare: aseptic meningitis
• interstitial nephritis.

Precautions

• Contraindicated in hypersensitivity to sulfonamides
• trimethoprim
• or co
• trimoxazole.
• Contraindicated in severe renal or hepatic impairment
• blood dyscrasias
• porphyria.
• Contraindicated in neonates under 6 weeks and premature infants.
• Contraindicated in late pregnancy and breastfeeding (risk of neonatal haemolysis and kernicterus).
• May cause serious skin reactions (Stevens
• Johnson syndrome
• toxic epidermal necrolysis) — stop immediately if rash develops.
• Monitor blood counts with prolonged use — risk of folate deficiency and haematological toxicity.
• Maintain high fluid intake to prevent crystalluria.
• Caution with patients on warfarin
• methotrexate
• or diuretics — significant interactions.
• Keep out of reach of children.