|
|
|
|
|
Bulk Pricing
| Min Qty |
Price Per Unit |
| 5 |
USD35.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Description
How does it work?
Trimethoprim is a type of medicine called an antibiotic. It is
used to treat infections with
bacteria.
In order to grow and multiply in numbers, bacterial cells need
to produce genetic material (DNA). To produce DNA they require folic acid
(folate). However, bacterial cells can't take up folic acid supplied in the
diet like human cells can. Instead, they synthesise it themselves.
Trimethoprim works by preventing the bacteria from producing
folate. Without folate, the bacteria cannot produce DNA and so are unable to
increase in numbers. Trimethoprim therefore stops the spread of infection. The
remaining bacteria are killed by the immune system or eventually die.
To make sure the bacteria causing an infection are susceptible
to trimethoprim, your doctor may take a tissue sample from the infected area,
for example a urine or sputum sample. The bacteria present in this sample will
be grown (cultured) in a microbiology department and then examined and
identified under a
microscope.
Trimethoprim is taken by mouth as tablets or
suspension.
What is it used for?
-
Treating
bacterial infections of the
bladder or urinary tract
-
Preventing recurrent
bacterial infections of the
bladder or urinary tract
-
Treating bacterial infections of the lungs and airways
(respiratory tract), eg
acute bronchitis, flare-ups of
chronic bronchitis or
pneumonia caused by the bacterium pneumocystis carinii
(PCP).
Warning!
-
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is important that
you finish the prescribed course of this antibiotic medicine, even if you feel
better or it seems the infection has cleared up. Stopping the course early
increases the chance that the infection will come back and that the bacteria
will grow resistant to the antibiotic.
-
This medicine may rarely cause a decrease in the normal amounts
of blood cells in your blood. For this reason, you should consult your doctor
immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms, as these may
indicate a problem with your blood cells: unexplained bruising or bleeding,
purple spots, sore throat, mouth ulcers, high temperature (fever), feeling
tired or general illness. Your doctor may want to take a blood test to check
your blood cells.
-
This medicine may rarely cause serious skin rashes, which may
be life-threatening and require treatment in hospital. For this reason you
should consult your doctor immediately if you develop a rash, skin blistering,
peeling, itching, or other unexplained skin reaction while taking this
medicine.
Use with caution in
-
Elderly people
-
Newborn babies
-
Decreased kidney function
-
People at risk of
folic acid
deficiency
-
Hereditary blood disorders called porphyrias.
Not to be used in
-
Disturbances in the normal numbers of blood cells in the
blood
-
First trimester of pregnancy.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or
any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have
previously experienced such an
allergy.
If you feel you have
experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your
doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or
breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or
breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the
unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a
pregnancy, before using any medicine.
-
This medicine should not be used during pregnancy, particularly
during the first trimester, as it may cause birth defects in the developing
baby. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
-
This medicine passes into breast milk, but short-term use is
not known to be harmful to a nursing infant. Seek medical advice from your
doctor before using this medicine during breastfeeding.
Label warnings
-
Take at regular intervals. Complete the prescribed course
unless otherwise directed.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual
people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are
known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated
here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that
or any side effect.
-
Nausea and vomiting
-
Rash
-
Itching (pruritus)
-
Increase in the level of potassium in the blood
(hyperkalaemia)
-
Disturbance in the production of blood cells (see warning
above)
-
Abnormal reaction of the skin to light, usually a rash
(photosensitivity)
-
Severe skin rashes (eg erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal
necrolysis)
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side
effects reported by the drug's
manufacturer.
For more
information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine,
please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor
or pharmacist.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines
you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and
herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly,
check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while
taking this one, to ensure that the
combination is safe.
There may be an increased risk of side effects on the kidney if
this medicine is taken in combination with ciclosporin.
If this medicine is taken with the antimalarial pyrimethamine,
the level of folic acid in the blood may decrease, which could cause folate
deficiency anaemia or decreased production of blood cells.
This medicine may increase the blood level of the following
medicines and could increase the risk of their side effects:
-
dapsone
-
digoxin
-
phenytoin
-
procainamide.
There is an increased risk of serious side effects on the blood
cells if this medicine is used in combination with the following medicines:
-
azathioprine
-
clozapine
-
mercaptopurine
-
methotrexate.
This medicine may enhance the anti-blood-clotting effect of
anticoagulant medicines such as warfarin. As this may increase the risk of
bleeding, people who are taking an anticoagulant medicine should have their
blood clotting time monitored more frequently while taking this medicine.
If you are taking a combined oral contraceptive pill or are
using contraceptive patches, there may be a very low risk that this antibiotic
may make it less effective at preventing pregnancy. Although the risk of this
is very low, the personal and ethical consequences of an unwanted pregnancy can
be very serious. For this reason, the Family Planning Association recommends
that women using a combined contraceptive pill or patch should use an extra
method of contraception (eg condoms) while taking a short course of
broad-spectrum antibiotic, and for seven days after finishing the course. If
the seven days run beyond the end of a pill packet, a new packet should be
started without a break (in the case of ED pills the inactive tablets should be
omitted). If the seven days run beyond the 3 weeks of patch treatment, a new
treatment cycle should be started immediately without a patch-free break.
|
|
