Bactrim (Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim)

Bactrim
4.65 ratingsReviews
Generic:
Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim
Analogs:
Co Trimoxazole Septra Trimethoprim Nitrofurantoin Fosfomycin Ciprofloxacin Cephalexin Doxycycline Clindamycin Linezolid Atovaquone Dapsone Pentamidine Sulfatrim Levofloxacin
In stock: 14 packs
AdultsPregnancyAllergiesDiabetesBreastfeedingChildrenDriving

Dosages

Bactrim 400mg+80mg

Quantity Price per tablet You save Total price
90 £0.34 - £30.15
120 £0.31 £2.94 £37.26
180 £0.29 £8.82 £51.49
270 £0.26 £19.71 £70.75
360 £0.25 £29.41 £91.19

Bactrim 800mg+160mg

Quantity Price per tablet You save Total price
60 £0.62 - £37.11
90 £0.54 £7.45 £48.23
120 £0.49 £15.04 £59.19
180 £0.45 £30.52 £80.82
270 £0.43 £51.60 £115.42
360 £0.41 £75.41 £147.27

Manufacturers

Alphapharm Pty LtdApotex Inc.Aspen PharmacareAspen Pharmacare AustraliaCipla LimitedNicholas Piramal India Ltd.ratiopharm GmbHRocheRoche S.p.A.Sun Pharmaceutical Industries

Payment & Delivery

Package Example

Your order is carefully packed and is dispatched within 24 hours. Here is what a typical package looks like.

Sized like a regular personal letter (approximately 24x11x0.7 cm), with no indication of what is inside.

Front View
Front View
Side View
Side View
Back View
Back View
Delivery Times
Delivery MethodEstimated delivery
Express Free for orders over £222.24Estimated delivery to the UK: 4-7 days
Standard Free for orders over £148.16Estimated delivery to the UK: 14-21 days
EMSRoyal Mail
Payment Methods
VisaMastercardAmerican ExpressJCBBitcoin, USDTApple PayGoogle PayPayPalKlarnaClearpay

Discount Coupons

  • New Year's Day - 1 January 2026 9% NEWYEAR9
  • Valentine's Day - 14 February 2026 6% VALENTINE6
  • St David's Day - 1 March 2026 4% DAVID4
  • St Patrick's Day - 17 March 2026 5% PATRICK5
  • St George's Day - 23 April 2026 4% GEORGE4
  • May Day - 1 May 2026 5% MAYDAY5
  • Halloween - 31 October 2026 6% HALLOWEEN6
  • Guy Fawkes Night - 5 November 2026 5% GUY5
  • Christmas Eve - 24 December 2026 9% XMASEVE9
  • Christmas Day - 25 December 2026 10% XMAS10
  • Boxing Day - 26 December 2026 10% BOXING10
  • New Year's Eve - 31 December 2026 8% NYE8

Brand Names

Also known as (by country):
CountryBrand Names
United Kingdom
Septrin

FAQ

Co-trimoxazole tablets containing sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim require a prescription when bought from a local UK pharmacy. Our store policy allows an order to be placed without a prescription and sent by mail.

Take the tablets for the length of course prescribed for the infection, even if symptoms improve earlier, unless a clinician tells you to stop or you develop a serious adverse reaction. Stopping early or saving tablets for a later illness can leave an infection inadequately treated and may contribute to resistance.

Not necessarily. Tablets with sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim may differ in colour, shape, size, markings and packaging between manufacturers. Check the active ingredients, strength, dosage form and package information rather than relying on appearance alone.

This medicine is generally avoided in pregnancy unless the expected benefit outweighs the risk. Trimethoprim can interfere with folate metabolism, particularly in early pregnancy, while sulfamethoxazole may pose risks close to delivery. Both ingredients pass into breast milk, so breastfeeding requires particular caution, especially if the infant is young or has jaundice, raised bilirubin or G6PD deficiency.

Description

Note: Images in the description are provided for informational purposes and may differ from the actual appearance of the product. Please refer to the product name, strength, active ingredients, and pharmaceutical form.

What Is Bactrim?

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim) is a combination antibiotic containing sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. It is mainly used to treat a range of bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections, ear infections, bronchitis and pneumonia. The medicine works by blocking the production of folic acid in bacteria, which they need to grow and survive. It is effective against a wide range of bacterial pathogens. In the UK, its use depends on a clinician's assessment and local prescribing practice for the infection being treated.

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim)

Composition and Active Ingredients

Bactrim is a fixed-dose combination antibiotic that contains two active ingredients:

  • sulfamethoxazole, a sulfonamide antibiotic that slows bacterial growth by interfering with the production of folic acid, an essential nutrient for bacteria;
  • trimethoprim, an antifolate antibiotic that works by blocking the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, which is needed to make nucleic acids in bacteria.

Combining these two antibiotics improves their effect against a broad range of bacterial pathogens. Together, they make Bactrim a versatile treatment option for different infections. The usual ratio in this formulation is one part trimethoprim to five parts sulfamethoxazole, which helps optimise their synergistic effects.

Bactrim is absorbed quickly after it is taken by mouth. Both sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim are present in the blood in unbound, protein-bound and metabolised forms.

Peak blood levels of the individual components are reached 1 to 4 hours after oral administration. The mean serum half-lives of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim are 10 hours and 8 to 10 hours, respectively. However, in patients with severely impaired kidney function, the half-lives of both components increase, so the dosage regimen needs to be adjusted.

Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim are mainly excreted by the kidneys through both glomerular filtration and tubular secretion.

Use Cases

Bactrim is indicated for the treatment of many bacterial infections, including:

  • urinary tract infections (UTIs) - effective against common pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella;
  • acute otitis media - in children, when other treatments may be ineffective;
  • bronchitis - used for acute flare-ups caused by susceptible strains;
  • traveller's diarrhoea - effective against enterotoxigenic E. coli;
  • Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) - used as a preventive treatment in immunocompromised people, such as those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

It may also help prevent infections such as toxoplasmosis and nocardiosis in certain high-risk groups.

Do I Need a Prescription?

Yes, Bactrim is a prescription-only medicine. Contact your healthcare provider. In the UK, they can assess whether treatment is needed based on the specific infection and your medical history. Self-medicating with antibiotics can lead to ineffective treatment and contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim Dosing and Warnings

Bactrim is available in several forms, mainly oral tablets and liquid formulations. The most common tablet strengths include Bactrim 400 mg of sulfamethoxazole combined with 80 mg of trimethoprim. There is also a double-strength (DS) version, Bactrim DS, which contains 800 mg of sulfamethoxazole and 160 mg of trimethoprim.

Bactrim is also available in a liquid form for children. The dose is adjusted according to the child's weight. These formulations allow flexible dosing depending on the patient's needs and the type of infection being treated.

Dosage Form Strength Brand Name Composition/Features
Tablets 400 mg sulfamethoxazole / 80 mg trimethoprim Bactrim Standard formulation
Tablets, DS (Double Strength) 800 mg sulfamethoxazole / 160 mg trimethoprim Bactrim DS Double strength
Oral Suspension 200 mg sulfamethoxazole / 40 mg trimethoprim per 5 mL Bactrim Suspension Sweetened for paediatric use
Intravenous (IV) Solution 80 mg trimethoprim / 400 mg sulfamethoxazole per 5 mL Bactrim IV For hospital use

How and When to Take

To help reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) tablets and other antibacterial medicines, the medicine should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. Using Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) tablets when there is no proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection, or no preventive indication, is unlikely to benefit the patient. It also increases the risk of drug-resistant bacteria developing.

Bactrim is typically taken twice daily, with or without food. The exact dose depends on the type of infection being treated:

Condition Patient Group Dosage
Urinary Tract Infections Adults Bactrim DS (800 mg sulfamethoxazole/160 mg trimethoprim) one tablet every 12 hours for 10 to 14 days.
  Children (2 months and older) Dosage based on weight: approximately 40 mg/kg sulfamethoxazole and 8 mg/kg trimethoprim daily, divided into two doses.
Acute Otitis Media Children Similar weight-based dosing as for urinary tract infections.
Bronchitis Adults One Bactrim DS tablet every 12 hours for 14 days.

Taking Bactrim at evenly spaced intervals is important to maintain adequate levels of the medicine in the bloodstream.

If You Forget to Take It

If you miss a dose of Bactrim, take it as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose - do not take a double dose. Taking it consistently helps maintain its effectiveness.

What to Do in Case of Overdose

In the event of an overdose, seek immediate medical attention or contact a poisons service. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness or confusion. Prompt treatment is important to manage possible complications.

Precautions

Several precautions should be taken when using Bactrim to help ensure safe and effective treatment. As dose adjustments may be needed, tell your healthcare provider about any pre-existing medical conditions, especially kidney or liver problems.

In addition, Bactrim is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding because of possible risks to the unborn baby or breastfed infant. Patients should also be aware of possible allergic reactions. Stop taking it and seek medical attention if severe skin reactions or other serious side effects occur.

Patients should be advised to drink enough fluids to help prevent crystalluria and kidney stone formation.

When Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) tablets are prescribed to treat a bacterial infection, patients should be told that although they may start to feel better early in treatment, the medicine should be taken exactly as directed.

Allergy Warnings

Patients with a known allergy to sulfonamide antibiotics should avoid taking Bactrim because of the risk of severe allergic reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, anaphylaxis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, allergic myocarditis, exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme, angioedema, drug fever, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, chills, serum sickness-like syndrome, widespread skin eruptions, generalised allergic reactions, photosensitivity, conjunctival and scleral injection, pruritus, urticaria and rash. Periarteritis nodosa and systemic lupus erythematosus have also been reported. It is important to tell healthcare providers about any previous allergic reactions before treatment.

Health Conditions Warnings

People with certain health conditions should use Bactrim with caution:

  • patients with impaired kidney function may need dose adjustments because the medicine is cleared more slowly;
  • caution is advised in patients with liver impairment, as this can affect how the medicine is processed;
  • patients with conditions such as porphyria or megaloblastic anaemia should avoid this medicine unless specifically directed by their doctor.

This medicine is contraindicated in children younger than 2 months of age.

Although rare, deaths associated with the use of sulfonamides have occurred because of severe reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, fulminant hepatic necrosis, aplastic anaemia, toxic epidermal necrolysis, agranulocytosis and other blood dyscrasias.

Patients with AIDS may not tolerate or respond to Bactrim in the same way as patients without AIDS.

Regular monitoring may be needed during treatment in people with pre-existing conditions.

Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim Side Effects

Common side effects associated with Bactrim include:

  • nausea and vomiting;
  • rash or itching;
  • diarrhoea.

Serious side effects can occur, although they are rare. These include:

  • severe allergic reactions (e.g. Stevens-Johnson syndrome, anaphylaxis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, allergic myocarditis, exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme, angioedema, drug fever, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, chills, serum sickness-like syndrome, widespread skin eruptions, generalised allergic reactions, photosensitivity, conjunctival and scleral injection, pruritus, urticaria and rash; periarteritis nodosa and systemic lupus erythematosus have been reported);
  • blood disorders such as thrombocytopenia or leukopenia;
  • gastrointestinal: hepatitis (including cholestatic jaundice and hepatic necrosis), raised serum transaminases and bilirubin, pseudomembranous enterocolitis, stomatitis, pancreatitis, glossitis, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia;
  • neurological: convulsions, aseptic meningitis, peripheral neuritis, vertigo, ataxia, tinnitus, headache;
  • psychiatric: depression, nervousness, hallucinations, apathy;
  • endocrine: sulfonamides have certain chemical similarities to some goitrogens, diuretics (acetazolamide and thiazides) and oral hypoglycaemic agents; cross-sensitivity may exist with these agents. Diuresis and hypoglycaemia have rarely occurred in patients receiving sulfonamides;
  • musculoskeletal: arthralgia and myalgia; isolated cases of rhabdomyolysis have been reported with Bactrim, mainly in patients with AIDS;
  • respiratory: cough, shortness of breath and pulmonary infiltrates;
  • miscellaneous: fatigue, weakness, insomnia.

Clinical signs such as rash, sore throat, fever, arthralgia, pallor, purpura or jaundice may be signs of severe reactions.

Patients in the United Kingdom should report any unusual symptoms or side effects promptly to their healthcare provider.

Interactions with Other Medicines

Bactrim can interact with several medicines, which may increase the risk of side effects or reduce how well treatment works. These include:

  • warfarin (increased risk of bleeding because of an enhanced anticoagulant effect);
  • methotrexate (potentially increased toxicity because of similar effects on folate metabolism);
  • diuretics (some diuretics may increase potassium levels when taken with Bactrim).

Always tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you are taking, including medicines bought without a prescription and supplements, to help avoid possible interactions.

After Using Bactrim Medication

After using Bactrim, it is important to store it properly. Any unused or expired tablets should also be disposed of safely.

Storage

Bactrim should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets. Proper storage helps maintain the medicine's effectiveness throughout its shelf life.

Disposal

Do not flush unused or expired tablets down the toilet unless you have been told to do so. Ask your pharmacist about safe disposal methods or local guidance in the UK on disposing of medicines.

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim) is a combination antibiotic used to treat many bacterial infections. Understanding its composition, uses, precautions, dosing guidance, possible side effects and interactions with other medicines is important for safe and effective use. Always follow your healthcare provider's instructions and report any side effects or concerns during treatment.

Medically reviewed by
Brian Holtry
MD, infectious diseases specialist and medical writer
Updated 11 August 2026

Customer questions

Asked by Aoife Murphy, Newry, United Kingdom

I'm in Newry. Can I check whether Bactrim can be delivered to my address in Northern Ireland before I pay?

Answered by Support team

Yes. Enter your delivery address during checkout and use the delivery options shown there to check whether the product can be sent to your address. Availability should be confirmed by the checkout options rather than assumed for every area.

Asked by Daniel Price, Manchester, United Kingdom

My order to Manchester has been dispatched. Does that mean it should arrive tomorrow?

Answered by Support team

Not necessarily. Dispatch means the order has been sent, while delivery is the later arrival event. Express delivery is estimated at 4-7 days and includes a tracking link by email after dispatch; standard delivery is typically 14-21 days without tracking.

Asked by Hannah Collins, Sheffield, United Kingdom

Before ordering for Sheffield, can I use my postcode to see whether this medicine is available for delivery?

Answered by Support team

Yes. Add the product to your basket and enter your Sheffield postcode at checkout to view the delivery options available for that address. The checkout result is the appropriate confirmation of destination availability.

Asked by Priya Shah, Leicester, United Kingdom

I share a house in Leicester and would prefer not to have medicine details printed on the parcel. Is the outer packaging discreet?

Answered by Support team

Yes. Orders are sent in discreet packaging, with no sensitive content or product details visible on the outside.

Asked by Martin Hughes, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

I take ramipril for high blood pressure. Is there anything important to check before I start these tablets?

Answered by Support team
Medical reviewed by Brian Holtry

Yes. Trimethoprim can increase potassium levels, and the risk is greater when it is taken with ramipril, particularly with kidney impairment or other potassium-raising medicines. A prescriber should review the combination and may arrange potassium and kidney-function monitoring.

Product specifications

Active ingredientSulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim
Drug classSulfonamide antibiotic combination
Dosage formTablets
Available strengths400 mg/80 mg; 800 mg/160 mg
RouteOral
StorageStore at 20°C to 25°C, and protect from light.
ATC codeJ01EE01

Regulatory information

UK Licensing StatusThe combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim is fully authorised for human medicinal use in the United Kingdom.
Legal CategorySulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim tablets are classified as a Prescription Only Medicine (POM) and require a valid prescription from a qualified healthcare practitioner.

More information