Bactrim

co-trimoxazole

Co-trimoxazole is an antibiotic combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. The Roche product is marketed as Septrin in the United Kingdom, as well as various generic names worldwide. In the United States and Canada, the drugs, whether combined or standing alone, are sold under a variety of different names, such as:

In the U.S.:

• Bactrim
• Bactrim DS
• Bactrim I.V.
• Bactrim Pediatric
• Cofatrim Forte
• Cotrim
• Cotrim DS
• Cotrim Pediatric
• Septra
• Septra DS
• Septra I.V.
• Septra Suspension
• Septra Grape Suspension
• Sulfatrim
• Sulfatrim-DS
• Sulfatrim Pediatric
• Sulfatrim S/S
• Sulfatrim Suspension

In Canada:

• Apo-Sulfatrim
• Apo-Sulfatrim DS
• Bactrim
• Bactrim DS
• Coptin
• Coptin 1
• Novo-Trimel
• Novo-Trimel D.S.
• Nu-Cotrimox
• Nu-Cotrimox DS
• Roubac
• Septra
• Septra DS

Other commonly used names are:

• Cotrimazine
• Cotrimoxazole
• SMZ-TMP

Bactrim is used to treat multiple diseases and infections, including:

• pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii (formerly identified as P. carinii)
• infections caused by Listeria monocytogenes, Nocardia spp., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (Zanthomonas maltophilia)
• melioidosis
• shigellosis
• traveller’s diarrhoea
• prophylaxis of cerebral toxoplasmosis in HIV patients
• Whipple’s disease

The drug has been associated with a list of adverse effects including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), myelosuppression, mydriasis, agranulocytosis, as well as severe liver damage (cholostatic hepatosis, hepatitis, liver necrosis, fulminant liver failure) and renal impairment up to acute renal failure and anuria.

*Sources: Wikipedia, “Co-trimoxazole.” June 26, 2007; HealthTouch Online, “Sulfamethoxazole and Trimoxoprim.” June 26, 2007.