Description

Bactrim is a trade name of the active ingredient Co-trimoxazole. This is a combined antibiotic which stops a development of the infectious process and neutralizes the activity of the pathogenic microflora.

Co-trimoxazole is an ingredient consisting of two active ingredients: Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole. These ingredients do not interact with each other but the antibacterial effect is increased due to their simultaneous use.

Bactrim is not a classical antibiotic. Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole have specific action and are a far cry from the bactericidal and bacteriostatic drugs. Both these ingredients affect the synthesis of dihydrofolic acid, one of the main enzymes of the bacterial cell. Bacteria are not able to grow due to it, and so a patient recovers.

Bactrim is used during many infectious diseases in the medical practice: inflammation of the mucous membranes of the larynx and sinuses, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia of various origins, infectious inflammation of the urethra in women and men, cystitis, prostatitis, gonorrhea, osteomyelitis, malaria, brucellosis, infection of wounds, acne, abrasions, cholecystitis, dysentery, and others.

In what dose is Bactrim used?

Bactrim is produced in tablets for the oral use which contain 480 mg or 960 mg of Co-trimoxazole. If a patient is 12 years old, s/he is prescribed Bactrim 480 mg 2-3 times per day. The pills should be used one hour before or in 2 hours after eating.

If an infectious process is chronic and has severe complications, the dose of Bactrim is increased up to 960 mg 2 times per day.

Children under 12 years old are prescribed Bactrim 480 mg once per day, in the morning, in an hour after breakfast.

Children at the age of under 6 years old should use suspension for the peroral use.

A standard antibacterial therapy with Bactrim lasts for 10 to 14 days. A length of the treatment is individual because some patients react to the use of Bactrim in already 5 days after the started treatment. In any case, the antibiotic should be used for more 2 days after the disappearance of the disease symptoms.

Precautions

• The use of Bactrim is impossible, if a patient has a stable allergic reaction to the use of the pills
• Bactrim is also not recommended during hepatic insufficiency, lactose intolerance, renal failure, deficiency of vitamin B12, severe anemia.
• In general, Bactrim is well tolerated but it should not be used during pregnancy and lactation. A woman should find out about the alternative antibiotics, or use safer drugs for the infection treatment

Side effects

The treatment may be accompanied by the side effects affecting different systems of the body. the following side effects appear during the use of Bactrim: gastrointestinal disorders, nausea, vomiting, headache, muscle cramps, allergic reactions (urticaria).

A degree of the side effects depends on the dose of Bactrim. If the dose is correct, and more than 960 mg per day is not used, the side effects appear seldom.