Trimethoprim – Oral, Proloprim, Trimpex
Medication Uses: Trimethoprim is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections and will not work for viral infections such as the common cold or flu. Unnecessary use or overuse of any antibiotic can lead to decreased effectiveness. OTHER: This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling but may be prescribed by your healthcare professional. Use this drug only if it has been prescribed by your healthcare professional for a condition listed in this section. This drug may also treat lung infections (pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) and prevent kidney infections in certain patients.
How to Use: Take this medication by mouth on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal as directed by your doctor. It may be taken with food if stomach upset occurs. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Antibiotics work best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, take this drug at evenly spaced intervals. Continue to take this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may allow bacteria to continue to grow, resulting in a relapse of the infection. Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens after several days.
Side Effects: Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, loss of appetite, changes in taste, and headache may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: swollen tongue, signs of infection (such as fever, persistent sore throat), easy bruising/bleeding, unusual paleness, mental/mood changes, tiredness with fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, dark urine, persistent nausea/vomiting, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, stiff neck, persistent headache, muscle weakness, extreme drowsiness, signs of low blood sugar (such as nervousness, shakiness, sweating, hunger). This medication may rarely cause a severe intestinal condition (Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea) due to a type of resistant bacteria. This condition may occur during or after treatment. Tell your doctor right away if you develop: persistent diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain/cramping, blood/mucus in your stool. Do not use anti-diarrhea products or narcotic pain medications if you have any of these symptoms as they may worsen the condition. Prolonged or repeated use of this medication may result in oral thrush or a new yeast infection. Contact your doctor if you notice white patches in your mouth, a change in vaginal discharge, or other new symptoms. Get medical help right away if you experience seizures or a serious allergic reaction such as rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, or trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Precautions: Before taking trimethoprim, inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients that can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of folate deficiency anemia, kidney disease, liver disease, vitamin deficiency (folate or folic acid), blood disorders, or mineral imbalances. This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and use sunscreen and protective clothing when outdoors. If you have diabetes, this product may affect your blood sugar levels. Check your blood sugar levels regularly as directed by your doctor and inform them immediately if you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Before having surgery, inform your doctor or dentist about all the products you use. Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially mineral imbalance and allergic reactions. This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy as it may harm an unborn baby. Consult your doctor for more details. This medication may pass into breast milk, so consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions: Your healthcare professionals (doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first. This drug should not be used with dofetilide as a serious interaction may occur. If you are currently using any medication listed above, notify your doctor or pharmacist before starting trimethoprim. Before using this medication, inform your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially digoxin, methotrexate, phenytoin, and procainamide. Some antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should use additional reliable birth control methods while using this antibiotic. This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests, possibly causing false results. Make sure all your doctors and laboratory personnel are aware that you use this drug.
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Overdose: If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, mental/mood changes, and confusion. Notes: Do not share this medication with others. This medication has been prescribed for your current condition only. Do not use it later for another infection unless told to do so by your doctor. Laboratory and/or medical tests should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects.
Missed Dose: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
Storage: Store at room temperature away from moisture and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details on how to safely discard your product.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and should not be distributed except as authorized by the applicable terms of use.
Conditions of Use: The information in this database is intended to supplement the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. It is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet, or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.
