Septra

Generic name: Sulfamethoxazole And Trimethoprim (oral)
Drug class: Sulfonamides

Usage of Septra

Septra contains a combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim are are both antibiotics that treat different types of infection caused by bacteria.

Septra is used to treat ear infections, urinary tract infections, bronchitis, traveler's diarrhea, shigellosis, and Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia.

Septra side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Septra (hives, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body. Symptoms may include: skin rash, fever, swollen glands, joint pain, muscle aches, severe weakness, pale skin, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody (even if it occurs months after your last dose);

a skin rash, no matter how mild;

yellowing of your skin or eyes;

a seizure;

new or unusual joint pain;

increased or decreased urination;

swelling, bruising, or irritation around the IV needle;

increased thirst, dry mouth, fruity breath odor;

new or worsening cough, fever, trouble breathing;

high potassium level - nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement;

low sodium level - headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady; or

low blood cell counts - fever, chills, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath.

Common Septra side effects may include:

nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite; or

skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Septra

You should not use Septra if you are allergic to sulfamethoxazole or trimethoprim, or if you have:

severe liver disease;

kidney disease that is not being treated or monitored;

anemia (low red blood cells) caused by folic acid deficiency;

a history of low blood platelets after taking trimethoprim or any sulfa drug; or

if you take dofetilide (Tikosyn).

Do not use Septra if you are pregnant. This medicine could harm the unborn baby or cause birth defects. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you become pregnant.

Do not breastfeed while using this medicine.

This medicine should not be given to a child younger than 2 months old.

To make sure Septra is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

kidney or liver disease;

a folate (folic acid) deficiency;

asthma or severe allergies;

a thyroid disorder;

malnourishment;

alcoholism;

high levels of potassium in your blood;

porphyria, or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency; or

if you use a blood thinner (such as warfarin) and you have routine "INR" or prothrombin time tests.

Relate drugs

How to use Septra

Take Septra DS exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Drink plenty of fluids to prevent kidney stones while you are using this medicine.

Septra doses are based on weight in children. Use only the recommended dose when giving this medicine to a child.

Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses can increase your risk of infection that is resistant to medication. This medicine will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.

You may need frequent medical tests.

This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Septra.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Warnings

You should not use Septra if you have severe liver disease, kidney disease that is not being monitored, anemia caused by folic acid deficiency, if you take dofetilide, or if you have had low platelets caused by using trimethoprim or a sulfa drug.

You should not take Septra if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

What other drugs will affect Septra

You may need more frequent check- ups or medical tests if you also use medicine to treat depression, diabetes, seizures, or HIV.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, especially:

amantadine, digoxin, cyclosporine, indomethacin, leucovorin, methotrexate, procainamide, pyrimethamine;

an "ACE inhibitor" heart or blood presure medication (Benazepril, enalapril, lisinopril, quinapril, ramipril, and others); or

a diuretic or "water pill" (chlorthalidone, Hydrochlorothiazide, and others).

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.