Septran 50ml (Co-Trimoxazole) Paediatric Suspension 40mg/200mg – GSK

Bacterial Infection

How it works
Sulfamethoxazole competitively inhibits the utilisation of para-aminobenzoic acid in the synthesis of dihydrofolate by the bacterial cell resulting in bacteriostasis. Trimethoprim reversibly inhibits bacterial dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), an enzyme active in the folate metabolic pathway converting dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate. Depending on the conditions the effect may be bactericidal. Thus trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole block two consecutive steps in the biosynthesis of purines and therefore nucleic acids essential to many bacteria. This action produces marked potentiation of activity in vitro between the two agents. Trimethoprim binds to plasmodial DHFR but less tightly than to the bacterial enzyme. Its affinity for mammalian DHFR is some 50,000 times less than for the corresponding bacterial enzyme.

Usage And Safety
Dosage
Adults : 2 tab of 80/400mg or 1 tab of 160/800mg or 20ml of 40/200mg or 10ml of 80/400mg susp twice daily. Children : Susp 40/200mg: Under 6 wk, not recommended; 6wk-5mnth,1.25ml susp; 6mnth-5yr,2.5ml susp;6-12yr,5ml susp. All twice daily. OR As directed by your physician.

Side Effects
Weakness, fatigue, insomnia, vision troubles, alopecia, epistaxis, local thrombophlebitis at the site of injection, edema , Pseudomembranous enterocolitis, pancreatitis, stomatitis, glossitis, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, pyrosis, gastric intolerance, gastritis or gastroenteritis, dyspepsia emesis, abdominal pain, constipation, flatulence, diarrhea , Leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, megaloblastic anaemia, aplastic and hemolytic anemia, methemoglobinemia, purpura, agranulocytosis, hypoprothrombinemia, eosinophilia, haemolysis in certain susceptible G-6-PD deficient patients and bone marrow depression , Arthralgia, rhabdomyolysis and myalgia

Drug Interactions
Thiazides , warfarin , Zidovudine , Cyclosporin , Rifampicin , Pyrimethamine , Phenytoin , Digoxin , Methotrexate , Lamivudine , Repaglinide , Folinic acid , Azathioprine .

Indication
It is used treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria.

Precautions
In the absence of a proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection or a prophylactic indication is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria.

Warnings:-
It should be given with caution to patients with impaired renal or hepatic function, to those with possible folate deficiency (e.g., the elderly, chronic alcoholics, patients receiving anticonvulsant therapy, patients with malabsorption syndrome, and patients in malnutrition states), and to those with severe allergy or bronchial asthma .
Patients should be instructed to maintain an adequate fluid intake in order to prevent crystalluria and stone formation.
Diarrhea is a common problem caused by antibiotics which usually ends when the antibiotic is discontinued. Sometimes after starting treatment with antibiotics, patients can develop watery and bloody stools (with or without stomach cramps and fever) even as late as two or more months after having taken the last dose of the antibiotic. If this occurs, patients should contact their physician as soon as possible.

Additional Information
Pregnancy category
Always consult your physician before using any medicine.

Store this medicine at room temperature, away from direct light and heat.