Active ingredient
- trimethoprim
- sulfamethoxazole
Legal Category
POM: Prescription only medicine
POM: Prescription only medicine
The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine. It is possible that the leaflet in your medicine pack may differ from this version because it may have been updated since your medicine was packaged.
Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet. The original leaflet can be viewed using the link above.
The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL39699/0035.
Co-Trimoxazole 160 mg/800 mg Forte Tablets
Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Co-Trimoxazole 160 mg/800 mg Forte Tablets
Co-trimoxazole
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Co-Trimoxazole is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Co-Trimoxazole
3. How to take Co-Trimoxazole
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Co-Trimoxazole
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Co-Trimoxazole is and what it is used for
Co-Trimoxazole 160 mg/800 mg Forte Tablets (called ‘Co-Trimoxazole’ in this leaflet) is a combination of two different antibiotics called sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, which is used to treat infections caused by certain bacteria. Like all antibiotics, Co-Trimoxazole only works against some types of bacteria. This means that it is only suitable for treating some types of infections.
Co-Trimoxazole can be used to treat or prevent:
Co-Trimoxazole can be used to treat:
Co-Trimoxazole Forte tablets are indicated in children (>12 to <18 years old) and adults (>18 years old).
Consideration should be given to official guidance on the appropriate use of antibacterial agents.
2. What you need to know before you take Co-Trimoxazole
Do not take Co-Trimoxazole if:
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Co-Trimoxazole.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Co-Trimoxazole:
Other medicines and Co-Trimoxazole
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or may take any other medicines. This is because Co-Trimoxazole can affect the way some medicines work. Also some other medicines can affect the way Co-Trimoxazole works.
In particular tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:
Co-Trimoxazole with food and drink
You should take Co-Trimoxazole with some food or drink. This will stop you feeling sick (nausea) or having diarrhoea. Although it is better to take it with food, you can still take it on an empty stomach.
Drink plenty of fluid such as water while you are taking Co-Trimoxazole.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
Effects on the ability to drive and operate machinery in patients taking this medicine have not been studied.
3. How to take Co-Trimoxazole
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Standard Dose
Standard dosage recommendations for acute infections
Adults (>18 years old):
STANDARD DOSAGE
Age Forte tablets
> 18 years old One tablet in a morning and one tablet in an evening
Children over 12 years (>12 to <18 years old):
The dosage for children is equivalent to approximately 6 mg trimethoprim and 30 mg sulfamethoxazole per kg body weight per day.
The schedules for children are according to the child’s age and body weight and provided in the tables below:
Age Forte tablets
> 12 to < 18 years old One tablet in a morning and one tablet in an evening
Weight Forte tablets
> 53 kg 1 tablet every 12 hours
Co-Trimoxazole 160 mg/800 mg Forte Tablets are not usually given to children under 12 years old. If they have been given to your child under 12 years please speak to your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Special Dose
The dose of Co-Trimoxazole and how long you need to take it depends on the infection you have and how bad it is. Your doctor may prescribe you a different dose or length of course of Co-Trimoxazole to:
If you have kidney problems your doctor may:
If you take Co-Trimoxazole for a long time your doctor may:
If you take more Co-Trimoxazole than you should
If you take more Co-Trimoxazole than you should talk to your doctor or go to a hospital straight away.
Take the medicine pack with you. If you have taken too much Co-Trimoxazole you may:
If you forget to take Co-Trimoxazole
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines Co-Trimoxazole can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. You may experience the following side effects with this medicine.
Stop taking Co-Trimoxazole and tell your doctor immediately if you have an allergic reaction. Chances of an allergic reaction is very rare (fewer than 1 in 10,000 people are affected), signs of an allergic reaction include
Allergic reactions
Very Common (more than 1 in 10 people)
Common (less than 1 in 10 people)
Uncommon (less than 1 in 100)
Very Rare (less than 1 in 10,000 people)
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
Psychotic disorder (a mental state in which you may lose touch with reality)
Plum-coloured, raised, painful sores on the limbs and sometimes on the face and neck with a fever (Sweets syndrome)
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Co-Trimoxazole
Keep this medicine out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not store above 25°C.
Do not take the tablets after the expiry date shown on the bottle label and carton.
Keep the blister in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Co-Trimoxazole contains
Co-Trimoxazole is made up of two different medicines called sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.
Each Co-Trimoxazole 160 mg/800 mg Forte Tablet contains 800 mg sulfamethoxazole and 160 mg trimethoprim.
The other ingredients of Co-Trimoxazole 160 mg/800 mg Forte Tablets are:
povidone, sodium starch glycollate, magnesium stearate and docusate sodium.
What Co-Trimoxazole looks like and contents of the pack
Co-Trimoxazole 160 mg/800 mg Forte Tablets are white elongated tablets, coded S3 on one side. They are biconvex and are scored along the shorter axis.
The scoreline is only to facilitate breaking for ease of swallowing and not to divide into equal doses.
Co-Trimoxazole 160 mg/800 mg Forte Tablets are supplied to you in:
Marketing authorisation holder and manufacturer
Marketing authorisation holder:
Manufacturer:
Medical Information Enquiries
For any Medical Information enquires about this product, please contact:
24 Hour Helpline +441748 828 391 (free phone UK only 0800 0087 392)
This leaflet was last revised in March 2020.
Other source of information:
To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge:
Braille RNIB Helpline 0800 198 5000 (UK Only).
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Product name Co-Trimoxazole 160 mg/800 mg Forte Tablets
Reference number PL 39699/0035
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