Sulphamethoxazole + Trimethoprim

Dosage Forms Available

• Sulphamethoxazole + Trimethoprim is available in the form of tablets and as a suspension for oral administration.

• This combination can also be administered intravenously as an infusion.

Age and Dose Restrictions

• This medicine is meant for adults and children over 6 weeks of age.

Contraindications

• Sulphamethoxazole + Trimethoprim is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to sulphamethoxazole, trimethoprim or any component of the formulation.

• It is also contraindicated in patients with documented megaloblastic anaemia due to folate deficiency.

Other Medications to Avoid

• This combination may interact with anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin, heparin), medications affecting folate metabolism (e.g., methotrexate, pyrimethamine), cardiac glycosides (e.g., digoxin, digitoxin), antiepileptic medications (e.g., phenytoin, phenobarbital), medicines used to manage diabetes (e.g., glibenclamide, glipizide), antibiotics (e.g., rifampicin), medicines for HIV infections (e.g., zidovudine, lamivudine), potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., spironolactone), steroids (e.g., prednisolone), ACE inhibitors (e.g., captopril, enalapril), and immunosuppressants (e.g., ciclosporin, azathioprine).

Overdose and Missed Dose

• An overdose of Sulphamethoxazole + Trimethoprim can cause symptoms ranging from nausea, vomiting, and dizziness to more severe effects such as kidney damage or blood disorders. If you suspect an overdose, contact your doctor immediately.

• If you forget to take a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed one.

Management of Side Effects

Most side effects are temporary and generally harmless, resolving after discontinuing this medicine. However, if you experience severe side effects or worsening symptoms, consult your doctor.

• For gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea or diarrhoea, try taking this medicine with food.

• Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight and wear sunscreen to manage photosensitivity reactions.

Use in Driving and Operating Machinery

• This medication may cause dizziness. Hence, driving or operating heavy machinery is not advised until you know how this medicine affects you.

Use in Pregnancy and Lactation

• It is advisable to consult your doctor before using Sulphamethoxazole + Trimethoprim during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Caution in Other Conditions

• Sulphamethoxazole + Trimethoprim should be used with caution in patients with severe renal impairment or hepatic dysfunction.

• This medicine should also be used with care in patients with folate deficiency.

Special Dietary and Lifestyle Recommendations

• Maintain good personal hygiene to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections, one of the conditions managed by Sulphamethoxazole + Trimethoprim.

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. This helps to clear bacteria from your urinary tract, reducing the risk of infection.