IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using this drug.
Table of Contents
- Uses and How to Use
- Dosage and Storage
- Precautions and Side Effects
- Drug Interactions
- Drug Images
Pronounced: (sull-fuh-meth-OX-uh-zole/try-METH-oh-prim)
Bactrim Oral Side Effects
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or headache may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur:
- muscle weakness
- mental/mood changes
- new lump/growth in the neck (goiter)
- signs of low blood sugar (e.g., shaking, dizziness, blurred vision, unusual hunger)
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur:
- change in the amount of urine
- blood in the urine
Seek immediate medical attention if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur:
- neck stiffness
- seizures
- persistent headache
- confusion
This medication may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) allergic reactions and other side effects such as a severe peeling skin rash (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome), blood disorders (e.g., agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia), liver damage, or lung injury. If you notice any of the following, seek immediate medical attention:
- skin rash/blisters
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- persistent sore throat or fever
- paleness
- joint pain/aches
- persistent cough
- trouble breathing
- easy bleeding/bruising
- yellowing eyes or skin
- persistent nausea/vomiting
- unusual fatigue
- dark urine
This medication may rarely cause a severe intestinal condition (Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea) due to a type of resistant bacteria. This condition may occur during treatment or weeks to months after treatment has stopped. Do not use anti-diarrhea products or narcotic pain medications if you have any of the following symptoms because these products may make them worse. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop:
- persistent diarrhea
- abdominal or stomach pain/cramping
- blood/mucus in your stool
Use of this medication for prolonged or repeated periods may result in oral thrush or a new vaginal yeast infection (oral or vaginal fungal infection). Contact your doctor if you notice white patches in your mouth, a change in vaginal discharge or other new symptoms.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US -
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
Bactrim Oral Precautions
Before taking sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to sulfa medications or trimethoprim; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have:
- a certain blood disorder (anemia due to folate vitamin deficiency)
- a certain metabolic disorder (porphyria)
- severe kidney disease
- severe liver disease
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- alcohol use
- severe allergies
- asthma
- decreased bone marrow function (bone marrow suppression)
- diabetes
- a certain other metabolic disorder (G6PD deficiency)
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- certain intestinal conditions (e.g., malabsorption)
- anti-seizure medication use
This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths or sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.
Kidney function declines as you grow older. This medication is removed by the kidneys. Therefore, older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially skin reactions, blood disorders, easy bleeding/bruising, and a high potassium blood level.
Patients with AIDS may be more sensitive to the side effects of the drug, especially skin reactions, fever, and blood disorders.
This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. This medication should not be used near the expected delivery date because of possible harm to the unborn baby. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
This drug passes into breast milk. While there have been no reports of harm to healthy infants, this drug may have undesirable effects on infants who are ill or premature or have certain disorders (jaundice, high blood levels of bilirubin, G6PD deficiency). Therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended in infants with these conditions. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding any infant.
Previous Section
CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.
Copyright 2007 First DataBank, Inc.
