Bactrim DS

What you should know before using

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatrics

Sulfadiazine and trimethoprim combination should not be given to infants less than 3 months of age. Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim combination should not be given to infants less than 2 months of age unless directed by the child's doctor. These combinations may cause unwanted effects. In special situations, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim combination may be given to infants less than 2 months of age.

Geriatric

Elderly people are especially sensitive to the effects of sulfonamide and trimethoprim combinations. Severe skin problems and blood problems may be more likely to occur in the elderly. These problems may also be more likely to occur in patients who are taking diuretics (water pills) along with this medicine.

Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim combination has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems in humans. However, studies in mice, rats, and rabbits have shown that some sulfonamides cause birth defects, including cleft palate and bone problems. Studies in rabbits have also shown that trimethoprim causes birth defects, as well as a decrease in the number of successful pregnancies. Sulfonamides are not recommended for use at the time of labor and delivery because these medicines may cause unwanted effects in the baby.

Breast Feeding

Sulfonamides and trimethoprim pass into the breast milk. These medicines are not recommended for use during breast-feeding. They may cause liver problems, anemia, and other unwanted effects in nursing babies, especially those with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.

Drug Interactions

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Bepridil
• Cisapride
• Dofetilide
• Levomethadyl
• Mesoridazine
• Pimozide
• Terfenadine
• Thioridazine
• Ziprasidone

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acecainide
• Acenocoumarol
• Ajmaline
• Amiodarone
• Amisulpride
• Amitriptyline
• Amoxapine
• Aprindine
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Astemizole
• Azimilide
• Bretylium
• Chloral Hydrate
• Chloroquine
• Chlorpromazine
• Clarithromycin
• Desipramine
• Dibenzepin
• Disopyramide
• Dolasetron
• Doxepin
• Droperidol
• Enflurane
• Erythromycin
• Flecainide
• Fluconazole
• Fluoxetine
• Foscarnet
• Gemifloxacin
• Halofantrine
• Haloperidol
• Halothane
• Hydroquinidine
• Ibutilide
• Imipramine
• Isoflurane
• Isradipine
• Lidoflazine
• Lorcainide
• Mefloquine
• Methotrexate
• Nortriptyline
• Octreotide
• Pentamidine
• Pirmenol
• Prajmaline
• Probucol
• Procainamide
• Prochlorperazine
• Propafenone
• Pyrimethamine
• Quetiapine
• Quinidine
• Risperidone
• Sematilide
• Sertindole
• Sotalol
• Spiramycin
• Sultopride
• Tedisamil
• Telithromycin
• Trifluoperazine
• Trimipramine
• Vasopressin
• Warfarin
• Zolmitriptan
• Zotepine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using medicines in this class with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use your medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Ethanol

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of medicines in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Anemia or other blood problems or
• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency—Patients with these problems may have an increase in side effects affecting the blood.

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease—Patients with kidney and/or liver disease may have an increased chance of side effects.

• Porphyria—This medicine may bring on an attack of porphyria.