Bactrim consists of Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole, which are antibiotics that combat various infections caused by bacteria and affect different organs. The prescription medicine is classified as a sulfonamide antibiotic. It works by disrupting the formation required by bacteria for survival.
This medicine isn’t indicated for flu and other infections caused by virus because it isn’t an antiviral drug. It’s also important to note that misuse or excessive use of this medicine and other antibiotics may reduce their effectiveness later.
What’s Bactrim Used For?
This medicine treats the following bacterial infections:
- Pneumocystic Puemonia (it can also prevent pneumonia that’s caused by bacteria)
- Uncomplicated UTIs
- Shigellosis poisoning
- Bronchitis
- Infection in the middle section of the ear
- Digestive tract disorder
In order to decrease the probability of developing antibiotic resistance, use this medicine to treat only the recommended bacteria strains.
How to Utilize Bactrim
It can be ingested orally according to your doctor’s directives. You can consume it alongside a fatty food or on an empty stomach. Make sure to consume enough water to avoid the occurrence of kidney stones.
A physician will prescribe the right dosage for you based on:
- The infection severity
- Presence of a renal or hepatic condition
- The patient’s response to treatment
In any case, adhere to the prescribed dosage because under-usage or over-usage will heighten the ineffectiveness of the medicine if it happens that you’ll utilize it in the future. The drug can also be injected, usually available as eighty mg/ ml of Sulfamethoxazole & 16 mg/ ml of Trimethoprim.
Dosage for Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
A typical dosage for UTI in adults is eight hundred mg and one hundred and sixty mg of Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim respectively. It should be consumed orally every twelve hours for one to two weeks.
For pediatric patients above 2 months, the physician will determine the dosage based on their body weight. Forty mg/kg body weight of sulfamethoxazole and eight mg/kg body weight of Trimetoprim ingested in 2 separate doses every twelve hours for five to ten days will suffice.
Dosage for Shigellosis and Ear Infection
Generally, the dosage for adults is 800mg/160mg of sulfamethoxazole & trimethoprim consumed orally with water, every twelve hours for five to ten days.
Don’t administer this drug to children below 2 months old because safety isn’t established for that age.
Who Shouldn’t Consume Bactrim
Don’t consume this drug if you fall into these categories:
- Allergic to Bacreim ingredients
- Pregnant or lactating
- Infected kidneys or predisposed to kidney disease
- Suffering from hepatitis
- Low RBC count due to inadequate folic acid
- Consuming dofetilide medication
- Sulfur medications affect your blood platelet count
Precautions
Ensure you adhere to these precautions before ingesting Bactrim:
- Ensure you inform your physician or pharmacists about your allergies or a medical history of:
- Hepatic or renal issues
- Blood anomalies like anemia
- Bone marrow reduction
- Thyroid issues
- Fluctuating sodium levels
- Asthma
- Don’t take live vaccines while on Bactrim therapy as it will alter its potency.
- Your skin may become sensitive to sunlight. Therefore, avoid extreme sun exposure and visits to tanning booths. Don’t use sunlamps too. Instead, wear clothes with ultraviolet protection, scarves, hats or caps, and apply quality sunscreens when outdoors.