Bactrim is an oral drug is used to treat urinary tract infections with or without renal disease, prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland), epididymitis, orchitis (testicular infections) and pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Its effect against bacterial infection is amplified by the fact that Bactrim is actually made up of 2 antibiotics combined together for better effectiveness.
Both antibiotics work by preventing the production of Folic acid in bacteria. It is needed for Bacterial Protein and DNA production, and works on different stages of the bacterial growth further enhancing its effectiveness against antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance happens when one or more strains of bacteria develop immunity on the drug rendering it ineffective in the long run.

•    Bactrim is solely used for bacterial infections and not for viral infections like flu, colds, fever etc.
•    Bactrim can cause severe sunburn if skin exposed to too much light or like those in tanning salons. If under prolonged treatment with this drug, patient is advised to use sunblock creams and sunscreen of at least 30.
•    If during the treatment period you suffered diarrhea, inform your doctor right away as it could be a sign of an onset of a new infection.
•    It is important to inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to be pregnant before taking Bactrim.

•    Children below 2 years of age are not allowed to take the medicine due to increased risk of side effects.
•    People with known allergic reaction to sulfamethoxazole or trimethoprim or other ingredients used to make this drug.
•    Anemic persons are also not advised to take this medication.
•    Those with the following conditions should seek first doctor’s advice before starting or continuing treatment with Bactrim.
•    Pregnant women must only use this medicine if there is a dire need to use it. Exhaust all other treatment options first before giving this medicine to pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers.

Adults: 4 to 6 capsules/day divided into 2-3 doses.

Children and infants: a measure for 5 kg of body weight / day divided in 2 doses (not more than 8 measurements per day).

Bactrim Forte: one tablet morning and evening (not suitable for children under the age of 12).
In case of overdose, contact your doctor.

An early termination of the treatment may not only cause relapse, but also create resistance to bacteria: the antibiotic will no longer be effective and a different one will be prescribed.
Bactrim must be taken with a full meal or a full stomach to avoid unnecessary gastrointestinal problems.

Important notice: Always consult with a doctor before starting treatment with Bactrim G. Check the leaflet inside for instructions.

Missed doses are considered missed. Leave it and take the next scheduled dosage. Do not overdose to compensate for the missed one. If you remember and still with enough time before the next one, take it, if not then proceed with your regular dosing schedule.

During unexpected and emergency situations, Call for help right away and notify your physician for such matter. You may contact a poison control center or have you taken to the nearest hospital for abrupt treatment; if the person is passed out and not breathing, call 911 or your local emergency response team.

•    Avoid exposure to too much sunlight or man-made tanning beds as well as sunlamps as Bactrim is known to cause over-sensitive skin.

Side effects caused by Bactrim include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, itching, urticaria, severe skin disease, and severe allergies.

In case of any allergic event, end treatment immediately.

Inform your physician as soon as possible so that he can prescribe a different antibiotic.

Drug interactions have the tendency to change the effectiveness of either medicine.

Bactrim is known to interact with drugs that are used to “thin out” blood like warfarin or Coumadin. It is also known to have effects on drugs like:

• Cyclosporine
• Dofetilide
• Phenytoin
• Live vaccines
• Methenamine
• Methotrexate

If you are taking any of these medications, consult your doctor first before taking Bactrim.