Here’s the detailed profile for Co-trimoxazole Tablet 800 mg + 160 mg (also known as the Double Strength / DS formulation) 👇
💊 Co-trimoxazole Tablet 800 mg (Sulphamethoxazole) + 160 mg (Trimethoprim)
📘 Description:
A fixed-dose antibacterial combination containing:
- Sulphamethoxazole (A) – 800 mg (sulfonamide; inhibits dihydropteroate synthase)
- Trimethoprim (B) – 160 mg (dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor)
The combination blocks two sequential steps of folic acid synthesis in bacteria, producing a synergistic bactericidal effect.
This is the DS (double strength) tablet, usually given twice daily in adults.
📄 Prescription / Indications:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Respiratory tract infections (acute bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis media, sinusitis)
- Gastrointestinal infections (shigellosis, cholera, traveler’s diarrhea, typhoid fever)
- Skin and soft tissue infections (including some MRSA)
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) – treatment & prophylaxis in HIV/AIDS
- Toxoplasmosis (in combination therapy)
- Nocardiosis
🌿 Nature / Drug Class:
- Antibacterial combination
- Sulfonamide + Diaminopyrimidine
- Bactericidal (synergistic effect)
✅ Advantages:
- Broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive & Gram-negative bacteria
- Synergistic action reduces resistance development
- First-line therapy for PCP prophylaxis & treatment
- Convenient DS tablet allows reduced pill burden for adults
⚠️ Precautions:
- Contraindicated in:
- Known sulfonamide or trimethoprim allergy
- Infants <2 months
- Late pregnancy & breastfeeding
- Use with caution in:
- Renal impairment (dose adjustment needed)
- Hepatic dysfunction
- Patients with folate deficiency
- Monitoring:
- CBC (risk of bone marrow suppression)
- Renal & liver function tests during prolonged therapy
- Adverse effects:
- GI upset (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
- Skin rashes, pruritus
- Serious but rare: Stevens-Johnson syndrome, TEN, aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis
- Hyperkalemia (esp. with renal impairment or ACE inhibitors)
- Encourage adequate fluid intake to prevent crystalluria
📦 Common Packaging:
- Strip packs of 10 tablets
- Bottles / hospital packs (100 tablets)
❄️ Storage Conditions:
- Store at room temperature (<25°C)
- Protect from light & moisture
- Keep out of reach of children