In what dose and for what purpose is the preparation “Bactrim” prescribed? Instructions for use, price, reviews on the effectiveness of this tool will be presented below. You will also learn about the conditions under which it is impossible to use the medication mentioned, whether it can be given to children, etc.
Form, packaging and composition of the medicine
You can buy this medication in different forms:
- Syrup "Bactrim" (suspension). Instructions for use informs that the active substances of this agent are trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. The oral suspension also includes such additional components as methyl parahydroxybenzoate, dispersible cellulose, polysorbate 80, propyl parahydroxybenzoate, sorbitol, purified water, vanilla and banana flavors. Transparent syrup goes on sale in jars that are placed in a cardboard box along with a measuring spoon.
- Bactrim tablets. Reviews about "Bactrim" say that its active substances are also trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. Sodium docusate, sodium glycolate starch, magnesium stearate and povidone are used as additional ingredients. Oblong white tablets can be purchased in contour packs placed in cardboard boxes.
Pharmacological features
How does the drug "Bactrim"? Instructions for use of the suspension and tablets reports that it is a combined bactericidal agent that exhibits a synergistic effect.
The mechanism of action of such an active substance as trimethoprim is to block 2 enzymes that force in bacteria at the folinic acid replication stage. In combination with sulfamethoxazole, the antibacterial effect of this component covers many pathogenic microorganisms (hemophilic bacillus, streptococci, pneumocystis pneumonia, meningococci, morganella, staphylococci, pathogenic fungi, gonococci, serrations, Escherichia coli, histoplasmosis, cerebellum, salmonella, salmonella, salmonella, salmonella, salmonella, salmonella, salmonella, salmonella, salmonella, salmonella, salmonidae listeria, chlamydia, pertussis, toxoplasma, fecal enterococci, actinomycetes, brucella, enterobacteria, pathogens of nocardiosis, shigella, legionellosis , Intestinal yersiniosis, tularemia, coccidioidomycosis).
Pharmacokinetics
Is Bactrim absorbed? Instructions for use (for children, the suspension is best) says that after taking the drug inside, it is absorbed quite quickly in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
In the blood, the maximum concentration of the drug is reached after 2-4 hours. Its antibacterial activity persists for 7 hours. Communication with plasma proteins of sulfamethoxazole is 70%, and trimethoprim is 44%.
The biological transformation of basic substances (to inactive metabolites) occurs through acetylation in the liver. In the human body, the drug is distributed evenly, with penetration through histohematological barriers.
In the lungs and urine, the concentration of trimethoprim exceeds the plasma. As for the bronchial secretion, prostate gland, as well as saliva, bile, vaginal discharge, cerebrospinal and interstitial fluids of the middle ear, breast milk, bones and mucous membranes of the eyes, then the medication accumulates in them to a lesser extent.
Both active substances have the same elimination rate. The half-life of them depends on age:
- children up to a year - 7 hours;
- children 1-10 years old - 6 hours;
- adults - 11 hours.
With impaired renal function, as well as in old age, the half-life of the drug increases.
The drug is excreted through the kidneys (up to 70% trimethoprim and up to 30% sulfamethoxazole).
Indications for use
Why is Bactrim necessary? Instructions for use (for children, suspension is the best option) indicates the following indications:
- Respiratory system: croupous pneumonia, bronchiectasis, bronchopneumonia, pneumocystis pneumonia, acute or chronic bronchitis.
- ENT organs: scarlet fever, sinusitis, otitis media, tonsillitis, laryngitis.
- Genitourinary system: soft chancre, urethritis, prostatitis, pyelitis, venereal lymphogranuloma, cystitis, epididymitis, pyelonephritis, gonorrhea, inguinal granuloma.
- Digestive system: cholecystitis, paratyphoid, gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, cholera, cholangitis, dysentery, salmonella carriage.
- Skin: acne, furunculosis, wound infections, pyoderma.
- Other: acute brucellosis, acute or chronic osteomyelitis, malaria, osteoarticular infectious pathologies, toxoplasmosis (as a complex therapy), South American blastomycosis.
Contraindications
What contraindications are there for Bactrim? Instructions for use (for children, the suspension is purchased only on the recommendation of a doctor) reports the following prohibitions:
- leukopenia;
- hypersensitivity to the main components of the drug;
- agranulocytosis;
- liver failure;
- age up to three months;
- aplastic anemia;
- renal failure;
- B12 deficiency anemia
- period of breastfeeding;
- glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency;
- pregnancy period;
- pediatric hyperbilirubinemia.
Cautious prescription of the drug
With extreme caution, this medication is prescribed for:
- porphyria;
- thyroid pathology;
- bronchial asthma;
- folic acid deficiency.
The drug "Bactrim" (suspension): instructions for use for children
Reviews about this medication will be described below.
The dosage of the drug for children should be selected only by an experienced specialist. To apply the required amount of suspension, use a measuring spoon (5 ml), which is included in the kit.
From the age of 12, the dose of the drug "Bactrim" should be 20 ml twice a day (morning and evening). If prolonged therapy is required, then doctors recommend taking the drug at 10 ml in the morning and the same amount in the evening. In diseases that occur in severe form, the evening and morning doses of 30 ml are allowed.
How long is acute drug used in children with Bactrim? Instructions for use (the drug description was presented above) reports that for such diseases, the duration of therapy should be at least five days or until all symptoms disappear completely.
Treatment of children without signs of improvement in their condition is an occasion to contact a pediatrician in order to adjust the dose.
With a disease such as a soft chancre, this medication is prescribed 20 ml twice a day. If after 7 days there are no signs of healing, then therapy can be extended for another week. It should be borne in mind that the ineffectiveness of the drug may be associated with the emergence of resistance of the pathogen.
How to treat uncomplicated acute urinary tract infections? What does the instructions for use say about this? Bactrim (syrup), reviews of which are ambiguous, is prescribed once a day in an amount of 40-60 ml. Take a suspension, preferably before bedtime.
For the prevention of pneumonia, children from 12 years old are given 20 ml of the drug per day.
Dosage of the drug for young children
3-5 months old babies are shown evening and morning intake of 2.5 ml of syrup. From 6 months to 5 years, children are prescribed 5 ml of the drug, and from 6 to 12 years old - 10 ml. In severe infections, the indicated dosage can be increased one and a half times.
Side effects
What adverse reactions can cause the drug "Bactrim"? Instructions for use (for children, a suspension - although the optimal choice, but is still prescribed only according to indications) indicates the following undesirable effects:
- leukopenia, neutropenia, agranulocytosis, megaloblastic anemia, thrombocytopenia;
- diarrhea, decreased appetite, nausea, gastritis, glossitis, abdominal pain, hepatitis, stomatitis, hepatonecrosis, cholestasis, increased liver transaminases, pseudomembranous enterocolitis;
- tremor, apathy, headaches, depression, dizziness, aseptic meningitis, peripheral neuritis;
- polyuria, interstitial nephritis, hematuria, renal impairment, hypercreatininemia, crystalluria, toxic nephropathy, increased urea;
- lung infiltrates, bronchospasm;
- pruritus, photosensitivity, exfoliative dermatitis, angioedema, rash, epidermal toxic necrolysis, exudative erythema multiforme, fever, sclera hyperemia, allergic myocarditis;
- arthralgia, myalgia;
- hypoglycemia.
Special recommendations
If a skin rash or other serious adverse reactions occur, treatment with this drug should be discontinued.
The duration of Bactrim therapy should be minimal, otherwise the amount of blood cells should be controlled.
With a deficiency of folic acid, kidney failure, as well as in old age, while taking the medication in question, hematological changes that are characteristic of a lack of folic acid in the human body can be noted.
To prevent crystalluria, the patient must provide an adequate volume of fluid, as well as monitor adequate diuresis.
Reviews about "Bactrim" for children
Patients who took the drug in question in the form of a suspension and tablets respond ambiguously about it. For some people, this medication seemed highly effective and became an excellent assistant in the fight against various diseases, and for others it caused only side effects.
Experts attribute such mixed reviews to the fact that Bactrim really has many contraindications, as well as a large list of undesirable reactions. In this regard, its purpose is advisable only if other methods of treatment do not help the patient.
Reviews about this syrup are also varied. They do not provide an opportunity to form a definite opinion about its safety and effectiveness.
According to parents, this medication should be prescribed only by a pediatrician and only after a thorough medical examination. Only in this case will the treatment be effective and relatively safe for the child.