Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole

• Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Sulfatrim) is an antibiotic combination that fights a wide range of bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections, bronchitis flare-ups, traveler's diarrhea, and a type of pneumonia called Pneumocystis pneumonia.

• Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare professional tells you. The amount and how often you take it will be on your prescription label.
• Swallow the tablets with a full glass of water.
• You can take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with food may help if it upsets your stomach.
• Drink plenty of water while you are taking this medicine.
• Finish the entire course, even if you start feeling better, unless your doctor tells you to stop.

If you miss a dose

• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal schedule.
• Never take two doses at once to make up for a missed one.

• This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy, as it may affect your baby's development.
• Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine, as it passes into breast milk and can affect your baby.

• Tell your healthcare professional if you have ever had an allergic reaction to sulfa drugs or antibiotics.
• Tell them if you have kidney or liver problems, asthma, or a blood disorder.
• Tell them if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, since this medicine is not recommended during these times.
• Tell them about all other medicines you take, especially blood thinners, seizure medicines, or water pills.

Important warnings

• This medicine can rarely cause a severe skin reaction with blistering, peeling skin, or sores in the mouth, eyes, or genitals. Stop taking it and get medical help right away if this happens.
• It can rarely cause serious liver problems, showing up as yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or severe stomach pain.
• It can rarely affect your blood cells, so watch for unusual bruising, bleeding, paleness, or repeated infections.
• It can cause a serious allergic reaction in the lungs, making it hard to breathe. Get help right away if you have trouble breathing, wheezing, or chest tightness.

• Upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Headache.
• Loss of appetite.
• Feeling tired or having trouble sleeping.
• Skin rash.
• Increased sensitivity to sunlight.

When to get emergency help

• A skin rash that blisters or peels, or sores in your mouth, eyes, or genitals.
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
• Severe difficulty breathing, wheezing, or swelling of your face, lips, or throat.
• Sudden severe headache with a stiff neck and fever.
• Unusual bruising, bleeding, or signs of infection like fever and sore throat.

When to contact a healthcare professional

• If your rash is mild and does not blister.
• If you notice ringing in your ears, dizziness, or vision changes.
• If diarrhea becomes severe or watery, or if you develop stomach cramps and fever, since this could signal a different type of intestinal problem.

• You can take this medicine with or without food.
• Tell the Care365 care team about all medicines you take, including blood thinners like warfarin, seizure medicines, and water pills, since this medicine can interact with them.
• Avoid taking potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium without talking to your healthcare professional first.

• Store at room temperature, away from light.
• Keep out of reach and sight of children.
• Return any unused medicine to your pharmacy for safe disposal.