Effectiveness & Side Effects of Bactrim as an Antibiotic Medicine

Bactrim contains a combination of two antibiotics, namely ‘sulfamethoxazole’ and ‘trimethoprim’ that help in treating different types of bacterial infection.

Bactrim can be used effectively for treating Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, shigellosis, traveler’s diarrhea, bronchitis, and urinary tract infections. You Must Not use this medicine if you suffer from anemia caused due to folic acid deficiency or if you have severe kidney or liver disease or have low blood platelets (red blood cells) due to sulfa drug or trimethoprim.

To ensure that Bactrim is safe for your body, do not forget to tell your doctor about the following conditions:

• If you have liver of kidney disease; folic acid deficiency; a thyroid disorder; asthma or HIV/AIDs
• If you are malnourished.
• If you have G6PD deficiency (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase)
• If you are suffering from porphyria, which is a genetic enzyme disorder causing symptoms affecting nervous system or the skin.

You Must Not use Bactrim if you are pregnant or planning to have a baby. This medicine can have harmful effects on the unborn baby. If during the treatment, you become pregnant, see your doctor immediately and take precautionary measures.

• There are chances that trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole can mix with breast milk. So inform your doctor prior to breast feeding your baby. These drugs can be dangerous for the nursing baby.
• Ensure that you do not give Bactrim to children below 2 months age.
• Adults who consume other medications like diuretics or digoxin are likely to have certain side effects.

It is advisable to take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. You should follow all the instructions mentioned on the prescription label. Make sure that you do not consume Bactrim in smaller or larger quantity or for extra time period than prescribed by your doctor.

Before taking Bactrim, shake the bottle well. This medicine comes in liquid form (oral Bactrim suspension). Measure the dose using the medicine cap or special dose-measuring spoon. You can buy a dose-measuring spoon from any pharmacist.

It is necessary to use Bactrim for the entire prescribed time period. Your condition might improve before the infection is healed completely. If you skip doses, there are high chances that the infection may worsen. Although, you must know that Bactrim cannot treat viral infections like flu or common cold.

It is recommended to drink plenty of fluids for preventing kidney stone if you have to take sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Certain medical tests may give unusual results. It is advised to store Bactrim at room temperate and keep it away from light, heat and moisture.

The use of Bactrim is safe when taken in limited dosage as prescribed by the doctor. Some of the common side effects of Bactrim are rash, mild itching, loss of appetite, vomiting and nausea. Some other signs of allergic reactions are difficulty in breathing, hives, swelling of throat, tongue, lips and face.

Get emergency help immediately if you find these symptoms after consuming Bactrim:

• Watery Diarrhea or blood in diarrhea
• Trouble in concentrating, rapid heart rate, short of breath, feeling of light-headedness, pale skin
• Worsening or new cough, sore throat, chills, fever, sudden weakness
• Skin sores, pain while swallowing, hurting mouth sores, swollen gums, flu or cold symptoms
• Feeling unsteady, loss of coordination, vomiting, severe weakness, slurred speech, confusion, low level of sodium causing headache
• Jaundice (yellowing of eyes or skin), clay colored stool, dark urine, tired feeling, upper stomach pains, liver problems
• Severe skin reactions; swollen face or tongue, burning sensation in eyes, purple of skin rash spreading over upper body or face, skin peeling or blistering.

Also Read:

• What is Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea & How Long Does it Last?
• Why Should Antibiotics Be Avoided When Breastfeeding?
• Pros and Cons of Antibiotics