What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Bactrim
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to sulfamethoxazole or trimethoprim, or if you have:
- severe liver disease
- kidney disease that is not being treated or monitored
- anemia caused by folic acid deficiency
- a history of low blood platelets after taking trimethoprim or any sulfa drug or
- if you take dofetilide.
May cause birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.
Do not breastfeed.
This medicine should not be given to a child younger than 2 months old.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- kidney or liver disease
- porphyria, or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency or
- if you use a blood thinner and you have routine INR or prothrombin time tests.
How To Treat Sinus Infections Without Antibiotics
While sinus infections caused by viruses, allergies, or other non-bacterial factors may not require antibiotics, they still cause the same symptoms which make you feel sick.
Symptoms of a sinus infection include:
- Nasal congestion
- Pain or tenderness around the eyes, cheeks, or forehead
- Thick nasal or post-nasal drainage
Taking steps to alleviate your sinusitis symptoms is often the best treatment to lessen your discomfort.
Sinus infection treatment options include:
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Rest, especially the first few days, to help your body fight the infection
- Moisturize the air with a cool-mist vaporizer
- Elevate your head while sleeping to decrease post-nasal drip
- Take warm showers or baths, as steam can soothe your sore throat and loosen mucus
- Gargle with warm salt water for a sore throat
- Use saline nasal spray or nasal irrigation kit to alleviate congestion
- Use over-the-counter treatments, such as nasal drops and sprays or pseudoephedrine pills, as your doctor recommends them
What Not to Do for a Sinus Infection
You should always follow your doctors instructions when you are diagnosed with a sinus infection.
Do not:
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Serious Side Effects And Complications
Levaquin use has been linked to tendinitis as well as bruising, tearing, and rupture, most commonly in the Achilles tendon, at the back of the ankle. Patients with a history of tendinitis, injury, or other tendon problems should be especially cautious about taking Levaquin.
Theres also a chance that Levaquin can cause nerve damage in the arms, legs, hands, and feet, which manifests as pain, weakness, burning, tingling, or numbness. Central nervous system effects like seizures, lightheadedness, tremors, confusion, hallucinations, and other mental health problems are possible too.
Levaquin can catalyze heart problems like increased heart rate, abnormal heart rhythm, and aortic aneurysms or tears. The latter can result in sudden chest, stomach, and back pain. Additionally, low or high blood sugar is a possibility, so people with diabetes should be extra cautious.
Some people who take Levaquin may also experience a greater sensitivity to sunlight, leading to severe sunburn, blisters, and skin rashes after just a short exposure without sunscreen. While taking Levaquin, avoid the sun if possible. If you are in the sun for a short period of time, wear sunscreen and a hat and clothes that cover the skin.
Others might experience liver problems characterized by yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, vomiting, stomach pain, and light-colored stools.
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Antibiotic Treatment For Sinusitis
Antibiotics are labeled as narrow-spectrum drugs when they work against only a few types of bacteria. On the other hand, broad-spectrum antibiotics are more effective by attacking a wide range of bacteria, but are more likely to promote antibiotic resistance. For that reason, your ear, nose, and throat specialist will most likely prescribe narrow-spectrum antibiotics, which often cost less. He/she may recommend broad-spectrum antibiotics for infections that do not respond to treatment with narrow-spectrum drugs.
Using The Right Water During Saline Rinses
When using saline nasal rinses, tap water should always be boiled and then allowed to cool to ensure cleanliness distilled water or premixed solutions could also be used instead of regular tap water.
Other home remedies for sinus infections include:
- Drinking fluids: Drinking lots of fluids helps loosen and thin mucus. Avoid beverages that are caffeinated and alcoholic beverages that can dehydrate the body, which could thicken mucus.
- Breathing steam: Warm water is best . You can breathe in steam from either a bowl or shower.
- Humidifying the air: Use a cool air vaporizer or humidifier,particularly at night while sleeping.
- Avoiding environmental substances: Avoid tobacco smoke and chlorinated water that can dry up the mucus membranes and exacerbate symptoms.
- Implementing treatment measures: At the first sign of infection, use antihistamines and employ regular nasal rinses.
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How K Health Can Help
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K Health articles are all written and reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, or PharmDs and are for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute and should not be relied on for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.
K Health has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.
When Are Antibiotics Prescribed For A Sinus Infection
Your doctor will consider antibiotic treatment if you do not see relief from these initial treatments. If you develop a fever, or tenderness and pain in your teeth, you may be experiencing symptoms of a bacterial sinus infection.
Not all antibiotics are effective for treatment of bacterial sinus infections, so your doctor will look at your medical history and current symptoms to determine the best antibiotic treatment.
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Can Bactrim Help Fight Tooth Infection
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What Are The Sinuses How Many Do We Have
A sinus is a hollow, air-filled cavity. For the purposes of this article, a sinus will refer to those hollow cavities that are in the skull and connected to the nasal airway by a narrow hole in the bone . Normally all sinuses are open to the nasal airway through an ostium. Humans have four pairs of these cavities each referred to as the
The four pairs of sinuses are often described as a unit and termed the paranasal sinuses. The cells of the inner lining of each sinus are mucus-secreting cells, epithelial cells, and some cells that are part of the immune system .
Functions of the sinuses include humidifying and warming inspired air, insulation of surrounding structures , increasing voice resonance, and as buffers against facial trauma. The sinuses decrease the weight of the skull. If the inflammation hinders the clearance of mucous or blocks the natural ostium, the inflammation may progress into a bacterial infection.
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What Other Drugs Will Affect Bactrim
You may need more frequent check-ups or medical tests if you also use medicine to treat depression, diabetes, seizures, or HIV.
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can interact with sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, especially:
-
an “ACE inhibitor” heart or blood presure medication or
-
a diuretic or “water pill”.
This list is not complete and many other drugs may interact with sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
Sinus Infection Treatment Timeline With Antibiotics
Our sinuses are hard to reach, so it can be two to three days before antibiotic treatment begins to take effect.
It is critical to continue the whole course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better. If you dont finish the whole course, your body could begin to build a resistance to those antibiotics. This makes future treatment more difficult.
Sometimes, patients experience negative side effects while taking antibiotics. If you experience rash, hives or have difficulty breathing while taking antibiotics, call your doctor immediately. You may be experiencing an allergic reaction. In older adults, some types of antibiotics may cause inflammation in tendons.
In addition to clearing your sinuses of infection, antibiotics also work in other parts of your body, particularly the gut. This could cause diarrhea, so you may want to take a probiotic as well.
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How Should I Use Bactrim
Take Bactrim exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.
Drink plenty of fluids to prevent kidney stones.
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea. Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody.
Keep using Bactrim even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses could make your infection resistant to medication. Bactrim will not treat a viral infection .
You may need blood and urine tests, and this medicine may be stopped based on the results.
Store Bactrim at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Do not refrigerate.
How Much Bactrim Should I Take For A Sinus Infection
Your healthcare provider will prescribe the appropriate dose of Bactrim to treat your individual symptoms. Bactrim comes in two strengths:
- Bactrim 400-80 milligrams
- Bactrim DS 800-160 milligrams
In this case, DS means double strength. The dose may be adjusted based on the patients age, weight, kidney function, or illness. Depending on these factors, your provider could prescribe anywhere from one to two tablets of Bactrim DS 800-160 milligrams or Bactrim 400-80 milligrams every 12 to 24 hours. The dose for children is based on weight and often comes in a liquid form. Bactrim should never be given to infants younger than 2 months old.
The dose of antibiotic and length of treatment depend on the illness or the bacteria likely causing the illness. More aggressive infections require longer treatments and higher-strength antibiotics than other infections.
Like most antibiotics, it may take three to four days for people to notice improvement after starting Bactrim. Be sure to take the medication as directed. You should finish taking the full course of antibiotics, even after you start to feel better.
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What Home Remedies Help Soothe Sinus Infection Or Sinusitis Symptoms
Sinus infections caused by viruses can use home treatments such as pain and fever medications , decongestants, and mucolytics. In addition, some health care professionals suggest nasal irrigation or a sinus rinse solution to help relieve symptoms of sinus infections, even chronic sinusitis symptoms. This irrigation is accomplished with a Neti-Pot or a sinus rinse kit . The last reference of this article shows a video of a sinus rinse procedure. In 2012, the FDA issued a warning about the use of Neti-Pots. The FDA cautions people not to use untreated tap water for rinsing, as contaminated tap water rinses lead to two deaths.
Bacterial and fungal sinus infections usually require antibiotic or antifungal therapy so home treatments without them are often not successful. However, some authors suggest home treatments may reduce symptoms after medical therapy has begun some healthcare professionals recommend nasal irrigation after sinus surgery.
When Do We Need Antibiotics For Sinus Infection
Antibiotics are not needed for many sinus infections, but your doctor can decide if you need an antibiotic. You doctor may recommend antibiotics if:
Most sinus infections usually get better on their own without antibiotics. When antibiotics arent needed, they wont help you, and their side effects could still cause harm. Side effects can range from minor issues, like a rash, to very serious health problems, such as antibiotic-resistant infections and C. diff infection, which causes diarrhea that can lead to severe colon damage and death.
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Are There Alternatives To Levaquin
Levaquin isnt the only fluoroquinolone antibiotic out there. In fact, there are a few other prescription drugs that can treat a similar spectrum of conditions. So, healthcare providers have multiple treatment options and ways to attack common bacterial infections. A few of the most frequently-used Levaquin alternatives include:
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Which Types Of Doctors Treat Sinusitis And Sinus Infections
- Many sinus infections can be treated by your primary care physician or an Internal Medicine doctor.
- However, it is not unusual to consult an ENT specialist, infectious disease specialist, or an allergist or immunologist.
- With some complex sinus infections, a surgeon who specializes in sinus surgery may be necessary to consult.
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Who Is At Risk For Tooth Infections
Anyone who has even a single tooth is potentially at risk for tooth infections. However, some populations are more affected than others. Children and teens, seniors, the immunocompromised, and people with immunocompromising illnesses, like Diabetes or cancer, are the most at risk. But tooth infections can affect anyone at any age who are at any level of dental health.
Some people seem to struggle with infections and oral healthcare problems more often than others, too. This may be due to genetic conditions like variations in the gene beta-defensin 1 or amelogenesis imperfecta. Your dentist can help you identify whether you have this condition.
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Is Bactrim Used To Treat Sinus Infections
Question posted by secondbase on 28 Jan 2010
Last updated on 27 January 2010 by itsmetoo2
This is what I found about Bactrim and sinus infections:
“Eliminate infection
The chief goal of treatment is wiping out bacteria from the sinus cavaties with antibiotics. This helps to prevent complications, relieve symptoms, and reduce the risk of chronic sinusitis.
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If You Think You Have A Sinus Infection
If you feel you are experiencing sinus infection symptoms, make an appointment with your PartnerMD physician, and do not attempt to treat symptoms on your own. While you may initially be recommended OTC treatments, only your doctor can accurately diagnose your symptoms, and prescribe the right treatment for relief.
Have a question about your sinus infection symptoms? Contact us today to see if a relationship with a concierge doctor could be beneficial.
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Are Antibiotics Right For You
While you have many options for antibiotics to treat your sinusitis, your doctor will be the final say in what is prescribed. Your doctor will take into account all your healthcare considerations and prescribe a medicine that will fight infection and can be tolerated well. In many cases, the infection may be viral or secondary to a separate disorder. In some cases it can be caused by allergies which will require different courses of treatment. If you notice symptoms of sinusitis lasting more than ten days, talk to your doctor to see if an antibiotic is needed to manage your symptoms.
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Get Your Antibiotics Fast
No one likes being sick, and having a sinus infection can be very uncomfortable. Getting antibiotics as fast as possible is crucial to healing, and is made possible with PlushCare. Our online doctors can diagnose your sinus infection, write a prescription, and send it to your local pharmacy in 15 minutes. PlushCare can help you effectively, quickly, and easily treat your sinus infection.
Before Taking This Medicine
You should not use Bactrim if you are allergic to sulfamethoxazole or trimethoprim, or if you have:
-
kidney disease that is not being treated or monitored
-
anemia caused by folic acid deficiency
-
a history of low blood platelets after taking trimethoprim or any sulfa drug or
-
if you take dofetilide.
Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim may cause birth defects. Do not use Bactrim if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.
Do not breastfeed.
Bactrim should not be given to a child younger than 2 months old.
To make sure you can safely take Bactrim, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
-
kidney or liver disease
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Antibiotics For Sinus Infection
Antibiotics should be taken when a person is suffering from acute sinusitis that lasts more than 10 days and gets worse every week. Some of the common symptoms are facial pain or pressure, stuffy nose, thick nasal mucus.
Although 60% of acute sinusitis episodes will resolve with home remedies, taking antibiotics can shorten the duration of illness and reduce the risk of complications.
Viral Vs Bacterial Sinus Infections
Most sinus infections are caused by viruses that create inflammation in the sinuses, leading to blockage that can make it hard to breathe, nasal secretions, postnasal drip, and other discomfort like facial pain around your eyes, cheeks, nose, or forehead.
Knowing thisand that antibiotics dont work on viral infectionsmost healthcare providers first recommend treatments to relieve the symptoms of a sinus infection while you wait for it to resolve.
These may include:
- Over-the-counter such as pseudoephedrine
- Pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease discomfort from swelling, fever, or sore throat
In rare cases, viral sinus infections can lead to bacterial growth in the nasal passages.
Theres no way to know for sure if you have a bacterial sinus infection without testing a mucus sample.
But even without a sample, two signs typically indicate a bacterial infection and may prompt your provider to prescribe antibiotics:
- A sinus infection that lasts for more than 10 days
- Symptoms of the infection resolve, then back worse a couple days later
Some people think yellow or green mucus may be a sign of a bacterial sinus infection, but colored mucus can occur with viral infections and does not necessarily mean you have a bacterial infection.
If you do have bacterial sinusitis , it should respond to antibiotics within a few days.
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