Infections of the bowel, lungs (pneumonia), and urinary tract are only a few of the bacterial infections that are treated with co-trimoxazole injection. Children under the age of 2 months shouldn’t take co-trimoxazole. Co-trimoxazole injection belongs to the sulfonamide drug class. It eliminates bacteria to operate.

Colds, the flu, and other viral diseases cannot be treated with antibiotics such as co-trimoxazole injection. Antibiotic use that is not necessary raises the likelihood of developing a later infection that is resistant to antibiotic treatment.

Co-trimoxazole injection is a solution (liquid) that needs to be combined with other liquid before being given intravenously (into a vein) over the course of 60 to 90 minutes. It is often administered every 6, 8, or 12 hours. Your infection kind and how your body responds to the medication will determine how long you need to receive therapy.

You have two options for getting co-trimoxazole injection: either in a hospital or at home. Your doctor will walk you through how to administer the drug if you will be administering co-trimoxazole injection at home. Check to see that you comprehend these instructions, and if not, consult your healthcare professional.

During the first several days of co-trimoxazole injectable therapy, you should start to feel better. Call your doctor if your symptoms don’t go away or get worse.

Even if you feel better, keep using the co-trimoxazole injection until the prescription is finished. Your infection could not be entirely treated if you stop using co-trimoxazole injection too soon or skip doses, and the bacteria might develop an antibiotic resistance.

Other severe bacterial infections are occasionally treated with co-trimoxazole injection. The dangers of using this drug for your illness should be discussed with your doctor.

Before receiving co-trimoxazole injection,

• If you have an allergy to sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, benzyl alcohol, any other sulfa medications, any other drugs, or any of the ingredients in co-trimoxazole injection, let your doctor and pharmacist know right once. Request a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your physician and pharmacist of any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Be certain to bring up any of the following: Amantadine (Symmetrel), angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors like benazepril, and others (Lotensin), ‘blood thinners’ such as warfarin (Coumadin); cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik); diabetic drugs used orally, digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin), diuretics (‘water pills’), indomethacin (Indocin), leucovorin (Fusilev), methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), pyrimethamine (Daraprim), and tricyclic antidepressants (mood elevator (Elavil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin, imipramine (Tofranil), and trimipramine (Surmontil). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had megaloblastic anaemia (abnormal red blood cells caused by folate deficiency), which is caused by taking sulfonamides or trimethoprim, or thrombocytopenia (less than usual amount of platelets) (low blood levels of folic acid). Co-trimoxazole injection may not be used, according to your doctor.
• If you have malabsorption syndrome (issues absorbing food), consume a lot of alcohol now or in the past, or take medicine to manage seizures, let your doctor know. Inform your physician if you have or have ever had asthma, low folic acid levels, severe allergies, HIV infection, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency (an inherited blood disorder), phenylketonuria (PKU), porphyria (an inherited blood disease that may cause skin or nervous system problems), or problems with the thyroid, liver, or kidney.
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Call your doctor right away if you get pregnant while taking co-trimoxazole injectable. The foetus could suffer from co-trimoxazole.
• Make a plan to limit your time spent in the sun and to use sunscreen, sunglasses, and protective clothes. The injection of co-trimoxazole may increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

During your co-trimoxazole injectable treatment, make sure you drink enough of water.

Side effects from co-trimoxazole injection are possible. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Reduced appetite
• Diarrhea
• Muscular or joint ache
• An injection location that is painful or itchy

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if you encounter any of these symptoms, or seek emergency care:

• Skin changes or a rash
• Blistered or flaking skin
• Hives
• Itching
• Red or purple stains on the skin
• Recurrence of fever, sore throat, chills, or any other infection-related symptoms
• Cough
• Breathing difficulty
• Severe diarrhoea (bloody or watery stools), which may or may not be accompanied by fever and cramping (may occur up to 2 months or more after your treatment)
• Rapid heart rate
• Hunger, a headache, exhaustion, perspiration, uncontrollable shaking of a bodily part, irritation, fuzzy vision, difficulties focusing, or loss of awareness
• Eyes or skin that have a yellow tint
• Edoema of the hands, feet, ankles, lower legs, cheeks, neck, tongue, lips, and eyes
• Hoarseness
• Breathing or swallowing challenges
• Uncommon bruising or bleeding
• Paleness
• At the injection site, edoema
• Less urinations
• Seizure

Other negative effects from co-trimoxazole injection are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this drug, call your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose signs could include the following:

• Reduced appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Fever
• Urinary blood
• Eyes or skin that have a yellow tint
• Consciousness is lost

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor your body’s reaction to the co-trimoxazole injection, your doctor will request a number of lab tests.

Inform the lab staff and your doctor that you are receiving co-trimoxazole injection prior to any laboratory test.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.