Package Insert: Information for the User
Septin 80 mg/400 mg Tablets
(trimetoprima/sulfametoxazol)
Read this package insert carefully before starting to take this medication, as it contains important information for you.
Septrin is an antibiotic that eliminates bacteria that cause infections. It contains two different medications called trimetoprima and sulfametoxazol (a sulfonamide).
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections and do not work for viral infections such as the flu or a cold.
It is essential to follow the instructions regarding the dose, administration interval, and treatment duration indicated by your doctor.
Do not store or reuse this medication. If you have leftover antibiotic after treatment, return it to the pharmacy for proper disposal. Do not dispose of medications through the drain or in the trash.
Septrin is indicated for the treatment of the following infections: treatment and prevention of pneumonia caused byPneumocystis jiroveci (P.carinii), prevention of toxoplasmosis, nocardiosis, and melioidosis.
Septrin may also be useful for other infections: middle ear infections, lung infections in patients with chronic bronchitis, urinary tract infections (bladder, kidneys), infectious diarrhea, treatment of toxoplasmosis, genital and/or perianal injury (granuloma inguinal or donovanosis), and brucellosis.
Do not take Septrin 80 mg/400 mg tablets
-If you are allergic to sulfonamides, trimethoprim, co-trimoxazole, or any of the other components of this medication (listed in section 6: Contents of the pack and additional information).
-In premature infants, and infants under 6 weeks of age.
-If you have or think you have acute porphyria (a blood disorder in which hemoglobin is not produced properly).
-When taking dofetilide (a medication used to control irregular or rapid heartbeats).
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Septrin 80 mg/400 mg tablets.
-In elderly patients, as they may be more likely to experience serious side effects.
-If you have kidney problems (known renal insufficiency). Your doctor will need to take special measures. To ensure adequate renal elimination, the patient should receive adequate fluid replacement and the urine pH should be maintained within normal limits, avoiding urine acidification.
-If you have liver problems (severe liver parenchymal damage).
-If you have severe blood disorders, except in cases where close medical supervision is provided.
-If you have a deficiency of an enzyme called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD).
-Do not use Septrin for the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis (Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus, S. pyogenes).
-If you take Septrin for a long time or have a folate deficiency or are elderly, your doctor may request that you undergo blood tests to perform blood counts.
-If you have a risk of hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) and hyponatremia (low sodium levels), your doctor will consider the need for blood potassium and sodium level monitoring.
-If you have phenylketonuria (a metabolic disorder that affects the enzyme phenylalanine), as the administration of trimethoprim alters the metabolism of phenylalanine. This does not pose a problem in patients with an adequate restrictive diet.
-Septrin may interfere with the results of some laboratory tests.
-Although this medication is indicated for use in children from 6 weeks of age, your doctor may decide not to administer Septrin to children under 3 months.
There have been rare cases of death due to severe reactions, including fulminant hepatic necrosis (severe liver damage), agranulocytosis (decrease in a certain type of white blood cells), aplastic anemia (insufficiency of the bone marrow to produce different types of cells), other blood disorders, and hypersensitivity of the respiratory system.
Rare cases of life-threatening skin eruptions have been described with the use of Septrin, initially appearing as red circular spots, often with a central blister. Additional signs that may appear include mouth, throat, nose, genital, and conjunctivitis (swollen and red eyes).
These life-threatening skin eruptions often occur with symptoms of flu. The rash may progress to the formation of generalized blisters or skin peeling.
The highest risk period for the appearance of severe skin reactions is during the first weeks of treatment.
If you have developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, or acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis with the use of Septrin, do not use Septrin again at any time.
If you develop a rash or these skin symptoms, stop taking Septrin, immediately go to a doctor, and inform them that you are taking this medication.
If you experience a severe skin reaction: a red and scaly rash with subcutaneous nodules and blisters (acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis), contact a doctor as soon as possible and inform them that you are taking this medication.
Rare cases of hypersensitivity reactions with eosinophilia (increase in a certain type of white blood cells) and systemic symptoms associated with the use of Septrin have been reported.
As a result of colonization with Clostridium difficile, the use of Septrin may lead to pseudomembranous colitis in very rare cases, which manifests through diarrhea.
If you experience an unexpected worsening of cough and shortness of breath, inform your doctor immediately.
Lymphohistiocytosis hemophagocytosis
Rare cases of excessive immune reactions due to unregulated activation of white blood cells, leading to inflammation (lymphohistiocytosis hemophagocytosis), which can be potentially fatal if not diagnosed and treated early. If you experience multiple symptoms such as fever, swelling of lymph nodes, feeling weak, dizziness, shortness of breath, bruises, or skin rash, contact your doctor immediately.
Taking Septrin 80 mg/400 mg tablets with other medications
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken recently, or may need to take any other medication.
Septrin may potentiate the effect and/or toxicity of some medications. It is essential to inform your doctor if you are taking or have taken recently any of the following medications:
-Medications that cause hyperkalemia (high potassium levels).
-Medications used to control heart rhythm (class III antiarrhythmics), such as dofetilide. Elevated dofetilide plasma levels have been reported after concurrent administration with trimethoprim.
When trimethoprim is administered with medications such as procainamide and amantadine, there is a possibility of increased plasma concentrations of one or both medications.
Pregnancy, lactation, and fertility
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or think you may be pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication.
Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole cross the placenta, and their safety in pregnant women has not been established. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole should be avoided in pregnancy, unless the potential benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risk to the fetus, and consideration may be given to administering high-dose folate supplements (up to 4 or 5 mg/day) if trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole is used during pregnancy.
When Septrin is administered to the mother before delivery, there may be a theoretical risk of kernicterus (a severe neurological complication due to increased bilirubin in the blood) in the newborn. This theoretical risk is particularly important in premature infants or those with a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
Administration of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole should be avoided in the final stages of pregnancy and in lactating mothers, especially when mothers or infants have or are at risk of developing hyperbilirubinemia.
The medication is excreted in breast milk.
Driving and operating machines
The influence of Septrin on the ability to drive and operate machines is negligible or insignificant.
Follow exactly the administration instructions of the medication contained in this leaflet or those indicated by your doctor. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
Remember to take your medication.
Your doctor will indicate the duration of your treatment with Septrin 80mg/400 mg tablets. Do not discontinue treatment before.
Preferably, Septrin 80 mg/400 mg tablets should be taken after a meal. Swallow the tablets with a sufficient amount of liquid. If desired, the specified doses can be taken diluted in a small amount of water.
Your doctor will prescribe the most appropriate pharmaceutical form of Septrin according to age, weight, and dose.
Septrin Pediatric 8 mg/40 mg/ml oral suspension and Septrin Pediatric 20 mg/100 mg tablets are the most appropriate presentations for infants and children.
Standard Dose
Adults and children over 12 years:
Infants and children under 12 years: It is recommended to use pediatric forms of Septrin.
If after 7 days of treatment no clinical improvement is observed, the patient will be reevaluated.
As an alternative to the standard dose, a treatment with 2 Septrin 80 mg/400 mg tablets (160/800 mg of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) every 12 hours for 3 days is appropriate for the treatment of urinary tract infections and infectious diarrhea.
Special Dosages
Geriatric patients: (see section 2). If no other dosage is indicated, the standard dose will be used.
Patients with renal insufficiency:
Adults and children over 12 years (no information is available for children under 12 years):
Creatinine clearance (ml/min)Recommended Dose
> 30Standard dose
15-30Half of the standard dose
<15Not recommended
Your doctor may perform blood tests every 2-3 days to measure the amount of medication in the blood.
Pneumonia caused byPneumocystis jiroveci(P. carinii)
Treatment
Adults and children:20 mg of trimethoprim and 100 mg of sulfamethoxazole/kg/day, in two or more divided doses, for 2 weeks.
Prophylaxis (prevention)
Adults:
The following dosage regimens can be used:
Children:: In infants and children under 12 years, it is recommended to use pediatric forms of Septrin.
Toxoplasmosis
Primary prophylaxis (primary prevention)
Adults and children over 12 years:
Children:: It is recommended to use pediatric forms of Septrin.
Treatment
Adults(in children, no data are available): 5 mg/kg of trimethoprim/25 mg/kg of sulfamethoxazole/12 hours for 6 weeks.
Granuloma Inguinal (Donovanosis)
2 Septrin 80 mg/400 mg tablets (160 mg of trimethoprim/800 mg of sulfamethoxazole) twice a day for a period of at least 3 weeks or until all lesions have disappeared completely.
Nocardiosis
10-15 mg/kg/day of trimethoprim/50-75 mg/kg/day of sulfamethoxazole in two or more divided doses for a period of 3-6 months. In immunocompromised patients, treatment should be prolonged. All patients with central nervous system involvement should be treated for at least 1 year.
Brucelosis
Adults and children over 8 years:
2 Septrin 80 mg/400 mg tablets every 12 hours (160 mg of trimethoprim/800 mg of sulfamethoxazole/12 hours) for 6 weeks.
Children under 8 years(in this group, it is considered first-line treatment): It is recommended to use pediatric forms of Septrin.
Melioidosis
8 mg/kg/day of trimethoprim and 40 mg/kg/day of sulfamethoxazole (maximum 320 mg of trimethoprim/1,600 mg of sulfamethoxazole) every 12 hours for 3-6 months.
If you take more Septrin 80 mg/400 mg tablets than you should
The symptoms of overdose include: nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and confusion.
In acute overdose with trimethoprim, bone marrow depression has been observed.
In case of vomiting does not appear, it should be induced. Gastric lavage should be performed. Depending on the state of renal function, it is recommended to administer fluids if urinary elimination is low.
Both substances, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, are dialyzable by hemodialysis. Peritoneal dialysis is not effective.
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult the Toxicological Information Service. Tel.: 91 562 04 20.
If you forget to take Septrin 80 mg/400 mg tablets
Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed doses.
The side effects described for Septrin 80 mg/400 mg tablets are classified by frequency and are as follows:
-Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people): hyperkalemia (elevated potassium level).
-Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): candidiasis (candida overgrowth), headache, nausea, diarrhea, and skin rash.
-Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people): hypersensitivity reactions with eosinophilia (increased eosinophils) and systemic symptoms.
-Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people): leukopenia (decreased white blood cell count), neutropenia (decreased neutrophil count), thrombocytopenia (decreased platelet count), agranulocytosis (decreased granulocyte count), megaloblastic anemia (decreased red blood cell count and increased red blood cell size), aplastic anemia (bone marrow insufficiency), hemolytic anemia (insufficient red blood cells), methemoglobinemia (inability of hemoglobin to transport oxygen), eosinophilia (abnormally high eosinophil count), purpura (red spots on the skin), hemolysis (red blood cell rupture) in G-6-PD deficient patients. Serum disease (hypersensitivity reaction similar to an allergy), anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction), allergic myocarditis (allergic reaction affecting the heart), angioedema (fluid retention in the skin and mucous membranes), fever, allergic vasculitis similar to Schoenlein-Henoch purpura (inflammation affecting small blood vessels), periarteritis nodosa (vascular disease), systemic lupus erythematosus (immune system disease).
Hypoglycemia (decreased blood glucose), hyponatremia (decreased sodium level), anorexia (metabolic disorder). Depression, hallucinations, aseptic meningitis, seizures, peripheral neuritis (nerve damage), ataxia (loss of coordination), vertigo, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), dizziness, cough, difficulty breathing, pulmonary infiltrates, glossitis (inflammation of the tongue), stomatitis (mouth lesions), pseudomembranous colitis (inflammation of the colon), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), hepatobiliary disorders (liver function alteration), photosensitivity (skin reaction caused by light interaction), exfoliative dermatitis (severe skin inflammation), fixed drug eruption (allergic reaction), erythema multiforme (allergic reaction affecting the skin), arthralgia (joint pain), myalgia (muscle pain), renal function impairment, uveitis (inflammation of the eye). Skin eruptions that may be life-threatening (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis) (see section 2: Warnings and precautions).
-Unknown frequency (cannot be estimated from available data):
In some cases, skin eruptions that may be life-threatening, such as purple-colored, elevated, and painful lesions on the extremities and sometimes on the face and neck, with fever (Sweet syndrome) (see section 2: Warnings and precautions).
Consult a doctor as soon as possible if you experience a severe skin reaction: a red, scaly rash with bumps under the skin and blisters (generalized acute pustular psoriasis). (See section 2: Warnings and precautions).
-Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people) side effects related to the treatment of Pneumocystis jiroveci (P.carinii): severe hypersensitivity reactions, eruptions, fever, neutropenia (decreased neutrophil count), thrombocytopenia (decreased platelet count), increased liver enzymes, hyperkalemia (elevated potassium level), hyponatremia (decreased sodium level), and rhabdomyolysis (muscle destruction or inflammation causing severe muscle pain and weakness).
If you experience side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they do not appear in this leaflet.
Reporting side effects:
If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a possible side effect that does not appear in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish System for the Pharmacovigilance of Medicines for Human Use:www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
No requires special conditions for conservation.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the packaging after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Medications should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Dispose of the packaging and medications you no longer need at the SIGRE collection point of the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medications you no longer need. By doing so, you will help protect the environment.
Composition of Septrin 80 mg/400 mg tablets
Appearance of the product and contents of the packaging
Septrin 80 mg/400 mg tablets are white, round (with an approximate diameter of 11 mm), biconvex, and scored tablets.
PVC/Aluminum blisters of 20 and 100 tablets.
Marketing authorization holder
TEOFARMA S.r.l.
Via F.lli Cervi, 8
27010 Valle Salimbene
Pavia – Italy
Responsible for manufacturing
Alcalá Farma, S.L
Avenida de Madrid 82, Alcalá de Henares
28802 Madrid Spain
Other presentations
Blister packs of 20 and 50 tablets.
Blister packs of 20 and 100 tablets.
Container with 100 ml.
Last review date of this leaflet: August 2021
The detailed and updated information on this medication is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/
Have questions about this medication or your symptoms? Connect with a licensed doctor for guidance and personalized care.