Green Pages Where There Is No Doctor 2011 357
Sulfathiazole is similar to the sulfas named
above and is very cheap, but is not recommended
because it is more likely to cause side effects.
WARNING: It is important to drink lots of water, at
least 8 glasses a day, when taking sulfa, to prevent
harm to the kidneys.
If the sulfa causes a rash, blisters, itching, joint
pain, fever, lower back pain or blood in the urine,
stop taking it and drink lots of water.
Never give sulfa to a person who is dehydrated,
or to babies under 1 year old.
Note: To do any good, these sulfas must be taken
in the right dose, which is large. Be sure to take
enough—but not too much!
Dosage for sulfadiazine, sulfisoxazole, sulfadimidine,
or triple sulfa (200 mg./kg./day)—tablets of 500 mg.
Give 4 doses a day—with lots of water!
In each dose give:
adults and children over 10 years:
3 to 4 g. (6 to 8 tablets) for the first dose;
then 1 g. (2 tablets) for the other doses
children 6 to 10 years: 750 mg.
(1 ½ tablets) in each dose
children 1 to 5 years: 500 mg. (1 tablet) in
each dose
babies under 2 months: Do not give sulfa.
Cotrimoxazole (sulfamethoxazole with
trimethoprim)
(familiar brand names: Bactrim, Septra)
Name:_________________________________________
Often comes in:
tablets of 100 mg. sulfamethoxazole with 20 mg.
trimethoprim
Price:_________________ for_ ___________________
tablets of 400 mg. sulfamethoxazole with 80 mg.
trimethoprim
Price:_________________ for_ ___________________
mixture of 200 mg. sulfamethoxazole with 40 mg.
trimethoprim in 5 ml.
Price:_________________ for_ ___________________
Note: This medicine also comes in double strength
tablets (Bactrim DS and Septra DS) with 800 mg.
sulfamethoxazole and 160 mg. trimethoprim.
Use half the number of tablets given below if the
medicine you have is double strength.
This combination medicine fights a wide range
of bacteria, and is less expensive than ampicillin.
WARNING: Women in the last 3 months of
pregnancy and babies less than 8 weeks old
should not use cotrimoxazole. Do not give
cotrimoxazole to someone who is allergic to
medicines in the sulfa family.
Dosage of cotrimoxazole—using tablets of 400 mg.
sulfamethoxazole with 80 mg. trimethoprim:
Important: Take with lots of water.
For brucellosis, ear infections, diarrhea with
blood and fever (shigella), impetigo, chronic
bronchitis with fever, and respiratory infections
(pneumonia):
Take 2 times a day for 5 to 7 days. In each dose
give:
adults and children over 9 years: 2 tablets
children 4 to 8 years: 1 tablet
children 9 months to 3 years: ½ tablet
babies 2 to 8 months old: ¼ tablet
babies under 2 months: Do not give
cotrimoxazole.
For typhoid or whooping cough: Take the doses
above for 14 days.
For bladder infection or UTI: Take two 480 mg.
tablets 2 times a day for 3 days.
For kidney infection: Take two 480 mg. tablets 2
times a day for 10 days.
People with HIV can take a 480 mg. dose of
cotrimoxazole 2 times every day—with lots of
water—to prevent diarrhea, pneumonia, and other
infections. Avoiding infections will help people with
HIV live longer, healthier lives.
Children with HIV should also take
cotrimoxazole. Using 480 mg. tablets:
children 6 to 14 years old: 1 tablet once a day
children 6 months to 6 years old: ½ tablet
once a day
children under 6 months old: ¼ tablet once
a day
People with HIV who get pneumonia should take
1920 mg. (four 480 mg. tablets) of cotrimoxazole
3 times every day for 21 days. Other than
pneumonia, the doses for people with HIV to treat
bloody diarrhea and other problems are the same
as listed above.