NEW ZEALAND CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION TMP Trimethoprim 300 mg tablets Tell your doctor if you are What is in this leaflet Before you take TMP pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding. Please read this leaflet carefully Your doctor can discuss with you When you must not take the risks and benefits involved. before you start taking TMP. it If you have not told your doctor This leaflet answers some common Do not take TMP if you have an about any of the above, tell them questions about TMP. allergy to: before you start taking TMP. It does not contain all the available • any medicine containing information. It does not take the trimethoprim Taking other medicines place of talking to your doctor or • any of the ingredients listed pharmacist. at the end of this leaflet. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines All medicines have risks and Some of the symptoms of an that you buy without a benefits. Your doctor has weighed allergic reaction may include: prescription from your pharmacy, the risks of you taking TMP against shortness of breath; wheezing supermarket or health food shop. the benefits they expect it will have or difficulty breathing; swelling for you. of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching You should also tell any health professional who is prescribing a If you have any concerns about or hives on the skin. new medication for you that you are taking this medicine, ask your taking TMP. doctor or pharmacist. Do not take TMP if: • you have or have had Some medicines may interfere with Keep this leaflet with the severe blood disorders or TMP . These include: medicine. You may need to read it anaemia again. • you have severe kidney • pyrimethamine, a medicine problems used to prevent malaria What TMP is used • warfarin, a medicine used Do not take this medicine after to prevent blood clots for the expiry date printed on the • methotrexate, a medicine pack or if the packaging is torn or used to treat painful swollen shows signs of tampering. TMP is used to treat and prevent joints and some types of If it has expired or is damaged, infections of the urinary tract caused cancer return it to your pharmacist for by bacteria. • phenytoin, a medicine used disposal. to control epilepsy (fits or TMP contains the active ingredient seizures) If you are not sure whether you trimethoprim. It belongs to a group • digoxin, a medicine used to should start taking this medicine, of medicines known as antibiotics. It treat heart failure or to talk to your doctor. works by stopping the growth of the control a fast irregular heart bacteria that is causing your beat infection. Before you start to take • procainamide, a medicine it used to correct an irregular Your doctor may have prescribed heart beat or to slow an this medicine for another reason. Tell your doctor if you have overactive heart beat allergies to any other medicines, • amantadine, a medicine Ask your doctor if you have any foods, preservatives or dyes. used to treat Parkinson’s questions about why this disease medicine has been prescribed for Tell your doctor if you have or • rifampicin, an antibiotic you. have had any of the following • cyclosporin, a medicine medical conditions: used to help prevent organ This medicine is available only with • folate deficiency transplant rejection or to a doctor’s prescription. • kidney problems treat certain problems with • liver problems the immune system • blood disorders Page 1 of 4 • certain blood pressure The elderly and people with kidney medications that can problems may need to take a While you are taking increase potassium levels smaller dose. in the blood TMP • zidovudine, zalcitabine and Some people may need to take lamivudine, medicines used folate supplements while taking Things you must do to treat HIV TMP. These people may include the • dapsone, a medicine used elderly, people with folate deficiency If you are about to be started on to treat inflamed skin and people taking certain any new medicines, tell your disorders medicines. doctor and pharmacist that you are taking TMP. • medicines that are used to increase the urine Your doctor may tell you to take Tell any other doctors, dentists production different doses to these. If so, follow and pharmacists who treat you • medicines that are their instructions. that you are taking this medicine. decreasing the blood cell production. How to take it If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist These medicines may be affected Swallow the tablets whole with a that you are taking TMP. by TMP or may affect how well it full glass of water. It may affect other medicines used works. You may need different during surgery. amounts of your medicines, or you When to take it may need to take different Tell your doctor if you develop a medicines. Take your medicine at about the same time each day. skin rash or hives while taking Taking it at the same time each day TMP. Your doctor and pharmacist have will have the best effect. It will also more information on medicines to help you remember when to take it. If you become pregnant while be careful with or avoid while taking taking this medicine, tell your this medicine. TMP tablets are best taken before doctor immediately. bedtime. If you are about to have any How to take TMP It does not matter if you take this blood tests, tell your doctor that medicine with or without food. you are taking this medicine. Follow all directions given to you However, taking TMP with food will It may interfere with the results of by your doctor or pharmacist help reduce the chance of a some tests. carefully. stomach upset. They may differ from the information Keep all of your doctor’s contained in this leaflet. How long to take it appointments so that your progress can be checked. If you do not understand the Continue taking your medicine Your doctor may do some tests instructions on the label, ask for as long as your doctor tells from time to time to make sure the your doctor or pharmacist for you. medicine is working and to prevent help. It is important to keep taking your unwanted side effects. medicine even if you feel well. How much to take Things you must not do Check with your doctor if you are Your doctor will tell you how much unsure how long you should take Do not take TMP to treat any TMP you need to take each day. It TMP for. other complaints unless your is important that you take TMP as doctor tells you to. directed by your doctor. Do not take If you forget to take it more than the recommended dose. Do not give your medicine to If you forget to take a dose, skip anyone else, even if they have The usual daily dose of TMP to treat the dose you missed and take the same condition as you. urinary tract infections in adults and your next dose when you are children over 12 years is 300 mg meant to. Do not stop taking your medicine once daily. or lower the dosage without Do not take a double dose to checking with your doctor. The usual daily dose of TMP to make up for the dose that you If you stop taking it suddenly, your prevent urinary tract infections in missed. condition may worsen. adults and children over 12 years is If possible, your doctor will gradually 100 mg once daily. If you are not sure what to do, reduce the amount you take each ask your doctor or pharmacist. day before stopping the medicine For children under 12 years, the completely. dose of TMP will depend on the If you have trouble remembering to child’s age and weight. take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints. Page 2 of 4 Things to be careful of Ask your doctor or pharmacist to • feelings of deep sadness answer any questions you may and unworthiness Be careful driving or operating have. (depression) machinery until you know how • seeing or feeling things that TMP affects you. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if are not there This medicine may cause dizziness, you notice any of the following (hallucinations) tiredness or drowsiness in some and they worry you: • confusion, nervousness, people. If you have any of these feeling anxious • headache symptoms, do not drive, operate • agitation • nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea machinery or do anything else that • abnormal uncontrolled • constipation could be dangerous. Children movements including should be careful when riding • loss of appetite muscle twitching or spasms bicycles or climbing trees. • upset stomach • clumsiness and lack of cough • coordination, affecting • difficulty sleeping, balance and manner of In case of overdose nightmares walking, limb or eye • dizziness, sleepiness, movement and/or speech If you take too much drowsiness • shaking • weight loss (overdose) • pain and/or swelling in the • ringing, hissing, whistling, arms or legs Immediately telephone your buzzing or persisting noise • blurred vision, redness of doctor or the National Poisons in the ears the eye, eye pain, Information Centre (telephone • nosebleeds increased sensitivity to light 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) or • increased sensitivity to the • stiff neck that may occur go to Accident and Emergency at sun with extreme sensitivity to your nearest hospital, if you think • joint or muscle pain bright light that you or anyone else may have • tingling or numbness of the • skin blisters that might taken too much TMP.