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Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 10, 2023.

Applies to sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim: oral suspension, oral tablet. Other dosage forms:

Serious side effects

Along with its needed effects, sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim:

More common

Incidence not known

Other side effects

Some side effects of sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Incidence not known

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim: intravenous solution, oral suspension, oral tablet.

General

The most common side effects were gastrointestinal disturbances (nausea, vomiting, anorexia) and allergic skin reactions (e.g., rash, urticaria).

Effects associated with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia management have included severe hypersensitivity reactions, rash, pyrexia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated liver enzymes, hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, and rhabdomyolysis; such effects were very rare.

Although rare, fatalities associated with sulfonamide use have occurred due to severe reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, fulminant hepatic necrosis, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, other blood dyscrasias, and respiratory hypersensitivity.[Ref]

Metabolic

Very common (10% or more): Hyperkalemia

Frequency not reported: Anorexia, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, decreased appetite

Postmarketing reports: Metabolic acidosis[Ref]

Hypoglycemia has been reported in patients using sulfonamides.[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, diarrhea

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vomiting

Frequency not reported: Glossitis, stomatitis, pseudomembranous enterocolitis, pancreatitis, emesis, abdominal pain, pseudomembranous colitis, Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, constipation, sore mouth[Ref]

Nervous system

Aseptic meningitis was rapidly reversible when this drug was stopped but recurred in several cases upon re-exposure to either this combination drug or to trimethoprim alone.

Tremor and other neurological manifestations (e.g., ataxia, ankle clonus, apathy) occurred during therapy with this drug in several patients with AIDS; although such effects have also been associated with the underlying disease process, these symptoms resolved within 2 to 3 days after stopping this drug.[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Headache

Frequency not reported: Aseptic meningitis, convulsions/seizures, peripheral neuritis/neuropathy, ataxia, dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, tremor, other neurological manifestations (e.g., ataxia, ankle clonus, apathy), lethargy, paresthesia, syncope[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Rash

Frequency not reported: Diffuse rash, erythematous rash, maculopapular rash, morbilliform rash, pruritic rash, urticaria, photosensitivity, pruritus, exfoliative dermatitis, fixed drug eruption, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Henoch-Schonlein purpura, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), generalized skin eruptions, purpura, angioedema, generalized pustular dermatosis, alopecia, allergic/hypersensitivity vasculitis resembling Henoch-Schonlein purpura, erythema nodosum, bullous dermatitis[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%): Fungal/monilial overgrowth

Frequency not reported: Drug fever, chills, weakness, fatigue, abnormal elevations in alkaline phosphatase, positive lupus erythematous phenomenon, moniliasis[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Frequency not reported: Thrombophlebitis, allergic myocarditis, polyarteritis/periarteritis nodosa

Postmarketing reports: QT prolongation (resulting in ventricular tachycardia and torsade de pointes)[Ref]

Hematologic

Frequency not reported: Leucopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, bone marrow depression, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, hemolytic anemia, megaloblastic anemia, methemoglobinemia, hypoprothrombinemia, eosinophilia, hematological toxicity, hemolysis, pancytopenia, granulocytopenia

Postmarketing reports: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura[Ref]

Severe cases of thrombocytopenia that were fatal or life-threatening have been reported. Thrombocytopenia generally resolved within a week when this drug was discontinued.

Hemolysis has been reported in certain susceptible glucose-6-phosphate deficient patients.[Ref]

Hepatic

Frequency not reported: Hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice, hepatic necrosis, elevated serum transaminase, elevated bilirubin, hepatic changes, abnormal elevations in serum transaminase levels, jaundice, elevated liver enzymes, disturbance in liver enzymes[Ref]

Cases of cholestatic jaundice and hepatic necrosis have been fatal.

Jaundice (generally mild and transient) has been reported rarely, often occurring in patients with history of infectious hepatitis.[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Frequency not reported: Hypersensitivity, allergic skin reactions, anaphylaxis, serum sickness-like syndrome, generalized allergic reactions, anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions, severe hypersensitivity reactions (including associated with P jirovecii pneumonia), serum sickness[Ref]

Local

Frequency not reported: Local reaction, pain, slight/local irritation, inflammation[Ref]

Local reaction, pain, and slight irritation were reported infrequently with IV administration.[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Frequency not reported: Arthralgia, myalgia, rhabdomyolysis, systemic lupus erythematosus, muscle weakness[Ref]

Rhabdomyolysis has been reported with this drug, primarily in patients with AIDS.[Ref]

Ocular

Frequency not reported: Uveitis, conjunctival and scleral injection/redness/edema, periorbital edema, corneal ring infiltrates, vision problems[Ref]

Psychiatric

Frequency not reported: Depression/mental depression, hallucinations, apathy, nervousness, insomnia, psychotic disorder, confusional state, agitation, anxiety, abnormal behavior, nightmares[Ref]

Renal

Nephrotoxicity has been reported in association with cyclosporine.[Ref]

Frequency not reported: Renal impairment/failure, interstitial nephritis, tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome, elevated BUN, elevated serum creatinine, toxic nephrosis, renal tubular acidosis, nephrotoxicity, functional kidney changes, abnormal elevations in serum urea, abnormal elevations in serum creatinine, stone formation, tubular necrosis, aggravation of renal disease, azotemia, hyperkalemic renal tubular acidosis, overestimations of normal creatinine values[Ref]

Genitourinary

Diuresis has been reported in patients using sulfonamides.[Ref]

Frequency not reported: Oliguria, anuria, crystalluria, diuresis, dysuria, hematuria, urgency changes, abnormal elevations in urine protein levels[Ref]

Respiratory

Frequency not reported: Cough, dyspnea/shortness of breath, pulmonary infiltrates/lung infiltration, epistaxis, eosinophilic/allergic alveolitis, wheezing[Ref]

Cough, dyspnea, and lung infiltration have been early indicators of respiratory hypersensitivity which, while very rare, has been fatal.[Ref]

Frequently asked questions

References

1. Product Information. Septra (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim). Glaxo Wellcome. 2022.

2. Product Information. Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim). Teva SICOR Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2004.

3. Cerner Multum, Inc. UK Summary of Product Characteristics.

4. Cerner Multum, Inc. Australian Product Information.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.