home > drugs a-z list > septra (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) drug center > septra (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) drug

Recommended Topic Related To:

Septra

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements or a decrease in the form of stool (greater looseness of stool). Although changes in frequency of bowel movements and looseness of stools can vary independently of each other, changes often occur in both.

Diarrhea needs to be distinguished from four other conditions. Although these conditions may accompany diarrhea, they often have different causes and different treatments than diarrhea. These other conditions are:

  1. incontinence of stool, which is the inability to control (delay) bowel movements until an appropriate time, for example, until one can get to the toilet

  2. rectal urgency, which is a sudden urge to have a bowel movement that is so strong that if a toilet is not immediately available there will be incontinence

  3. incomplete evacuation, which is a sensati...

Septra

font size

Septra Tablets
(trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) Tablets

Septra DS Tablets
(trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) DS Tablets

Septra Suspension
(trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) Suspension

Septra Grape Suspension
(trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) Grape Suspension

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of SEPTRA (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) and other antibacterial drugs, SEPTRA (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria.

DRUG DESCRIPTION

SEPTRA (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) is a synthetic antibacterial combination product. Each SEPTRA (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) Tablet contains 80 mg trimethoprim and 400 mg sulfamethoxazole and the inactive ingredients docusate sodium (0.4 mg per tablet), FD&C Red No. 40, magnesium stearate, povidone, and sodium starch glycolate.

Each SEPTRA (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) DS (double strength) Tablet contains 160 mg trimethoprim and 800 mg sulfamethoxazole and the inactive ingredients docusate sodium (0.8 mg per tablet), FD&C Red No. 40, magnesium stearate, povidone, and sodium starch glycolate.

Each teaspoonful (5 mL) of SEPTRA (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) Suspension contains 40 mg trimethoprim and 200 mg sulfamethoxazole and the inactive ingredients alcohol 0.26%, methylparaben 0.1% and sodium benzoate 0.1% (added as preservatives), carboxymethylcellulose sodium, citric acid, FD&C Red No. 40 and Yellow No. 6, flavor, glycerin, microcrystalline cellulose, polysorbate 80, saccharin sodium, and sorbitol. Each teaspoonful (5 mL) of SEPTRA (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) Grape Suspension contains 40 mg trimethoprim and 200 mg sulfamethoxazole and the inactive ingredients alcohol 0.26%, methylparaben 0.1%, and sodium benzoate 0.1% (added as preservatives), carboxymethylcellulose sodium, citric acid, FD&C Red No. 40 and Blue No. 1, flavor, glycerin, microcrystalline cellulose, polysorbate 80, saccharin sodium, and sorbitol. Both tablet and suspension forms are for oral administration.

Trimethoprim is 5-[(3,4,5-trimeth-oxyphenyl)methyl]-2,4- pyrimidinediamine. It is a white to light yellow, odorless, bitter compound with a molecular weight of 290.32, and the molecular formula C14H18N4O3. The structural formula is:

Trimethoprim structural formula illustration

Sulfamethoxazole is 4-amino-N-(5-methyl-3-isoxazolyl)benzenesulfonamide. It is an almost white, odorless, tasteless compound with a molecular weight of 253.28, and the molecular formula C10H11N3O3S. The structural formula is:

Sulfamethoxazole structural formula illustration

What are the possible side effects of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

  • fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
  • the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild;
  • pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding;
  • cough, feeling short of breath;
  • diarrhea that is watery or...

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Septra »

What are the precautions when taking trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (Septra)?

Before taking sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to sulfa medications or trimethoprim; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which 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: kidney disease, liver disease, certain blood disorders (such as porphyria, anemia due to folate vitamin deficiency), severe allergies, asthma, decreased bone marrow function (bone marrow suppression), a certain metabolic disorder (G6PD deficiency).

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs,...

Read All Potential Precautions of Septra »

Last reviewed on RxList: 10/19/2010
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.

Septra - User Reviews

Septra User Reviews

Now you can gain knowledge and insight about a drug treatment with Patient Discussions.

Here is a collection of user reviews for the medication Septra sorted by most helpful. Patient Discussions FAQs

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.


Women's Health

Find out what women really need.