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Biseptol 960 is an antibacterial tablet drug used in infectious and parasitic diseases and in lung diseases.
Biseptol – what kind of drug is it?
Biseptol is a drug used to treat infections of the urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract. It helps in the treatment of, among others acute and chronic cystitis and urethritis, acute and chronic bronchitis and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and skin infections. It is used to treat typhoid and traveler’s diarrhea.
The active substances in Biseptol 960 are sulfamethoxazole and trimethroprim (Contrimoxazole) – they are combined in a 5: 1 ratio. Both help to fight microbes because they inhibit the activity of certain bacterial enzymes. What’s more, when combined, these substances have a stronger antibacterial effect than when they are alone, and therefore are effective in destroying bacteria resistant to one of its components.
One tablet of Biseptol 960 contains 800 mg of sulfamethoxazole and 80 mg of trimethoprim. The preparation also contains auxiliary substances. It is white and yellow in color, round, with flat edges on both sides and not chipped. Biseptoplu 960 tablets have an engraved mark on one side. The Biseptol 120 and 480 tablets look the same, although the letters “Bs” appear above the engraving.
Biseptol 960 – use
The preparation helps in the treatment of bacterial infections.
- Urinary tract infection by E.coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., Morganella morganii, Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris.
- Otitis media caused by the strains Str. Pneumoniae and H. Influenzae (the drug is given, however, only if the doctor deems it to be more helpful than a single dose of the antibiotic).
- Bronchitis (exacerbated) caused by strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae or H.influenzae (the drug is given only when the doctor decides that the treatment with its use will give a better result than monotherapy).
- Infection with Shigella.
- Pneumocystis carinii, but microbiologically proven.
- Travelers’ diarrhea caused by E. coli.
Biseptol 960 – dosage
The dosage of the drug depends on the disease. Due to the risk of choking with the tablet, it is not recommended to administer the preparation to children under 6 years of age. Children in the above-mentioned age range are recommended to administer the preparation in the form of a suspension. Biseptol tablets should not be divided into smaller portions and administered orally with food and after a meal. It is advisable to drink plenty of fluids while taking the drug.
People with urinary tract infection, gastrointestinal infection with Shigella and chronic bronchitis are recommended to take 1 tablet of Biseptol 960 2 times a day. The length of time you take the drug also depends on the type of disease you have. People with urinary tract infections should take Biseptol for about 12 days; people with chronic bronchitis for about 14 days; people with gastrointestinal infection with Shigella for 5 days.
People with urinary tract infection, Shigella infection and children with acute otitis media should usually take 2 doses every 12 hours – each should be 48 mg / kg body weight. For pneumonia, the suggested dose is 90 to 120 mg per kg body weight – provided that infection is documented.
The recommended dose of Biseptol 960 in the treatment of travelers’ diarrhea is 1 tablet – the drug should be administered every 12 hours. People with creatinine clearance (renal function test used to calculate the amount of glomerular filtration) 15-30 ml / min should receive a lower dose, and if creatinine clearance is less than this value, then the drug should not be taken.
Biseptol 960 – contraindications
Contraindications to taking the drug is hypersensitivity to even one of the components of the drug, including auxiliary ones, sulfonamides or trimethoprim. Biseptol should not be used by people with liver parenchyma damage, renal failure, hematological disorders and megaloblastic anemia resulting from folic acid deficiency. The preparation should also not be administered to children under 2 months and people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
Biseptol – what should you remember?
The sulfonamide contained in the preparation may cause life-threatening complications. Although such cases are rare, it is worth knowing that in extreme cases, taking the drug ends with acute liver necrosis, aplastic anemia, and blood composition disorders. People taking the drug may also develop hypersensitivity reactions in the respiratory system in the form of, for example, infiltrates on the lungs.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome may be a negative reaction of the body to Biseptol, the symptoms of which are skin changes in the form of erythema and erosions leading to tissue necrosis and toxic epidermal necrolysis as a result of taking sulfamethoxazole. Therefore, before administering the preparation to the patient, it is advisable to inform him about possible effects, and when they occur, about the need to monitor the changes.
When the patient develops Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis, then treatment with Biseptol should be discontinued. Other side effects that also signal you to stop taking the drug are: sore throat, joint pain, fever, jaundice, and shortness of breath.
Sulfamethoxazole and trimethroprim are especially dangerous for the elderly – taking the preparation in this case may cause kidney or liver failure. Severe skin reactions and bone marrow suppression are severe symptoms of negative effects of taking the drug among seniors. When an elderly person is taking diuretics at the same time, the body’s reaction may be the appearance of purpura, which is an inflammation of the small blood vessels.
Biseptol 960 – interactions with other drugs
Contrimoxazole interacts with some diuretics, so that anticoagulants can increase their effects, so that it will be necessary, for example, to reduce the dose. Biseptol in combination with phenytoin inhibits its metabolism. The active substances of Biseptol also cause an increase in the concentration of the free fraction of methotrexate in the serum – this is the result of displacement of connections with proteins.
Contrimoxazole may pose a health risk to people with diabetes as it is likely to increase the effect of antidiabetic medications and cause hypoglycaemia. Occasionally, it also increases the concentration of digoxin in plasma – however, this happens mainly in some elderly people. People taking antidepressants should consult their doctor before taking the drug – counterimoxazole reduces their effectiveness.
The preparation used may be harmful to people after kidney transplantation who were administered co-trimoxazole and ciscosporin during treatment. In these individuals, transient disorders of the transplanted organ are noticeable – the symptom is a higher concentration of creatinine in the serum, possibly caused by the action of trimethoprim.
Biseptol 960 and pregnancy and breastfeeding
There are no studies that would unequivocally show that the use of the preparation by pregnant women is harmful. Nevertheless, animal experiments have shown that a large amount of the active substances of Biseptol is harmful to the fetus and causes malformations. In some cases, the doctor may recommend an appropriate preparation – pregnant women taking Biseptol are often recommended to supplement with folic acid.
Can Biseptol be overdosed?
There is no specific data on how life-threatening a high dose of co-trimoxazole is. An excess of sulfonamides in the body reduces the appetite, causes nausea, headaches, colic, drowsiness and even loss of consciousness. Haematuria, fever and crystalluria may occur as a result of overdose. Bone marrow suppression and jaundice may be later sequelae. Too much trimethoprim also causes depression, impaired consciousness and nausea.
The use of too high doses of the drug for a long time may cause chronic poisoning. This may result in reduced bone marrow function, resulting in thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, or megaloblastic anemia. Bone marrow damage is treated with leucovorin – the recommended dose is an individual matter for each patient, although there is a thesis that its amount should be between 5 and 15 mg per day.