What are Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength?
Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim (SMZ/TMP) Tablets Double Strength is a sulfonamide combination used to treat respiratory, urinary tract, skin, or gastrointestinal infections, and other conditions. Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength require a prescription from your veterinarian, and are sold per tablet.
For: Cats and Dogs
Benefits:
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Effective against a wide array of bacterial infections in dogs and cats
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Simple once-a-day dosing
How it works: Sulfamethoxazole is a sulfonamide antibiotic that limits the growth of bacteria. Sulfonamides inhibit synthesis of folic acid, important to bacterial DNA synthesis. Trimethoprim works by starving the bacteria of nucleotides necessary for DNA replication.
Cautions: Do not use in pregnant or nursing animals. Leave plenty of water for your pet to drink. Report any unusual side effects to your veterinarian.
More Information:
Brand Name Bactrim, Bactrim DS (Roche), Septra, Septra DS (Monarch)
Generic Name Sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) and Trimethoprim (TMP) (sulfa-meth-ox’-ah-zole with tri-meth’-o-prim)
What is the most important information I should know about Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength: Sulfamethoxadole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength is a prescription medication that is not FDA-approved for veterinary use; but it is commonly accepted practice for veterinarians to prescribe this medication for dogs and cats. Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength are available as scored tablets. The usual initial dose for dogs and cats is 13mg/pound every 24 hours, which may be divided into two doses given 12 hours apart. Always follow the dosage instructions provided by your veterinarian. Do not give Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength to any pet other than the pet for whom it was prescribed. Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength is not for use in animals allergic to it or other sulfa drugs.
What is Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength: Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim are both antibiotics that treat different types of bacterial infections in the body such as urinary tract and ear infections (otitis), bronchitis, and certain types of diarrhea. This medication may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this guide.
What should I discuss with my veterinarian before giving Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength to my pet: Tell your veterinarian if your pet has liver or kidney disease, G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) deficiency, or if your pet is pregnant or lactating.
How should this medication be given: Give this medication exactly as directed by your veterinarian. The dose and duration of therapy will depend on the type of infection and the response to the medication. Give all of the medication your veterinarian has prescribed. Symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated. Give Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength by mouth. The tablets may be given with food, and they can be crushed and put in food if needed. Allow plenty of water for your pet to drink. If you do not understand the directions ask the pharmacist or veterinarian to explain them to you. Store Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep this medication away from children and pets.
What happens if I miss giving a dose: Give the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the dose missed and give only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not give a double dose of the medication.
What happens if I overdose the pet: Seek emergency veterinary medical treatment. Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, yellowing of the eyes, decreased urine production, bloody urine, and coma.
What should I avoid while giving Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength to my pet: Do not give this medication to pets allergic to it or other sulfonamides (sulfa drugs). Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. This medication may increase sensitivity of the skin to sunlight.
What are the possible side effects of Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength: Stop giving the medication and seek emergency veterinary medical attention if your pet experiences an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, closing of the throat, swelling of the lips, tongue or face, or hives), unusual bleeding or bruising, or yellow skin or eyes. Other less serious side effects may also occur. Continue to give the medication and talk to your veterinarian if your pet experiences fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, weakness, or increased sensitivity to the sun. Side effects other than those listed may occur. Talk to your veterinarian about any side effect that seems unusual or bothersome to your pet.
What other drugs will affect Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength: Before giving this medication to your pet, tell your veterinarian if your pet is being given warfarin, aspirin, glipizide, or phenytoin. Drugs other than those listed may also interact with sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Talk to your veterinarian or pharmacist before giving prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Where can I get more information: Your pharmacist has additional information about Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength written for health professionals that you may read.
Call your veterinarian for medical advice about any side effects to your pet. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Directions:
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Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength are a broad-spectrum prescription antibiotic that is used in dogs and cats to treat respiratory infections such as bronchitis, urinary tract infections, skin infections, ear infections, gastrointestinal infections, and certain types of diarrhea.
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Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength are not FDA-approved for use in veterinary medicine; however, it is a commonly accepted practice for veterinarians to prescribe this medication for dogs and cats.
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Give this medication exactly as directed by your veterinarian.
Tip: The dose and duration of therapy will depend on the type of infection and the response to the Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength.
Dosage:
Pet
Weight
Dosage
Dogs/Cats:
All weights
Give 13mg per pound of pet’s body weight by mouth every 24 hours, which may be divided into two doses given 12 hours apart. You may crush the tablets and put them in food if needed. Allow plenty of water for your pet to drink.
Horses:
Storage: Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength:
Active Ingredients (per tablet)
Strength
Sulfamethoxazole
800 mg
Trimethoprim
160 mg
Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Tablets Double Strength
After surgery for an aural hematoma, the vet prescribed SMZ/TMP, 960 mg twice per day. After 6 days on it, our 87-lb female experienced extreme fatigue, vomitng, and complete loss of appetite. She can barely stand up with a lot of help from us. The PetMeds dosage page recommends 13 mg per pound of body weight every 24 hours, for a dosage of 1131 mg. We were giving her 1920 mg each day, or 70% too much! I've nothing against SMZ/TMP (by coincidence, my wife is taking it now), but the vet neglected to adjust the dosage to our dog's weight. Yesterday the vet had me stop givng the drug to our dog, and she appears to be improving. Buyer beware: compare the prescription from the vet to the recommended dosage.
Ok first off, this drug is a highly effective antibiotic, and deserves at least 4 stars. Second, don't give an effective drug a bad review just because YOUR dog had an allergic reaction to it.(The vet prescribed it, not the drug companies, so go give your vet a bad review for bad judgment) The vast majority of dogs use this medication with success. Finally, drugs have side effects, EVERY SINGLE ONE. Know there are risks, and I'm sorry if your dog suffered or passed away, but coming on here telling everyone to "beware" of bactrim like it's the freaking anti-Christ is just plain ignorant. Guys, this is an effective antibiotic. It's the same deal with humans that are allergic to sulfa, but bactrim is still widely used. Why? because it's good!
This drug was administered to my beautiful dog after he underwent knee surgery for a torn ACL. The photo attached was take the day we brought him home from his surgery. This drug evidently can cause severe reaction causing immune disease which can lead to death, 2 weeks after his surgery he was fighting for his life, a battle in which he lost. Please be aware of the danger of using this drug and ask your vet for alternitive medication for your beloved pet. You have to be your pets advocate, do not just assume the vet knows best.
Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim product review: This long term and still widely used antibiotic has been prescribed by veterinarians and MD/s for decades. It was one of the earlier and more effective antibiotics used to treat infections of the prostate, skin, urinary tract and airways. However with the development of newer and safer antibiotics, I have found that I have used this antibiotic much less in my veterinary practice, because of both safer and more effective newer alternatives. In certain breeds like Dobermans and Labrador retrievers(although these can occur rarely in any breed), we can see immune mediated reactions leading to joint problems, and bone marrow suppression, which can result in fevers, secondary super infections and joint pain. Use of this drug can also lower thyroid measurements in treated dogs, thus sometimes leading vets to mistakingly diagnose low thyroid levels or hypothyroidism, which is a disease that pets are treated for life. A major advantage of this antibiotic still in modern veterinary medicine is in treating neurologic or brain infections, where this drug often reaches higher therapeutic levels than many other drugs. In years past, this drug was also the first choice in treating cats affected with an infection called toxoplasmosis, however newer drugs like clindamycin are now more widely used for this purpose in feline medicine. A big major advantage of this drug is that it is still relatively inexpensive compared to many other antibiotics . However, given the potential reactions and newer and safer alternatives in many case situations , I give this prescription antibiotic an overall rating/efficacy of a 2.5 with a taste/ease of use of a 4.
If your pet has any problems after starting this drug make sure your vet considers allergies to the drug. My dog's doctors kept on saying his symptoms where from his cancer and never considered he maybe allergic to the sulfa, now I wonder and I will never know the truth because we had him euthansized.
According to Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, a dose for horses can range from 6.8 to 13.6mg/lb (15-30mg/kg) given 1 or 2 times a day depending on the infection being treated. I am not sure if this dose would equate in treating a donkey. If your veterinarian decides that this medication is the drug of choice to treat your donkey, he/she will determine the actual dose to use.
I know the directions are "13 mg/per lb every 24 hours", however the pill contains 800 mg of Sulfa and 160 mg of TMS, for a total of 960 mg. How do I convert the proper doseage for a 5 lb cat?
The short answer is you cannot use the tablet for a 5 lb cat. You need to have the dose your cat needs (60 mg) compounded at a pharmacy offering compounding services. To give a 60mg dose using the 960mg tablet would mean your cutting the tablet into 16 pieces which is impossible to do.
My vet prescribed 3.5mL 2x per day. The taste must be bad as we have not found a way to administer it successfully. Tried items include canned cat food, chicken broth, canned salmon, vanilla ice cream.
Unfortunately we do not offer compounding services and cannot prepare a liquid version of this product. If this is a medication you already have, you should discuss the flavor issues with the pharmacist who is preparing the product for you. Sorry I can't be of any help.
Doxycycline is the drug of choice for the treatment of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Tetracycline can be used as an alternative. I am not aware of using Bactrim to treat this disease.
This information sheet is for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. The information is NOT to be used for diagnosis or treatment of your pet. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, allergic reactions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for your pet. It is not a substitute for a veterinary exam, and it does not replace the need for services provided by your veterinarian. Note: Any trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
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