What happens if you take trimethoprim 200mg when pregnant

But it's usually best to treat a urinary tract infection with an antibiotic or it could spread to the kidneys and lead to more serious problems. Once treated, there are many steps you can take to stop urinary tract infections coming back:. Page last reviewed: 26 November Next review due: 26 November Trimethoprim On this page About trimethoprim Key facts Who can and cannot take trimethoprim How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.

About trimethoprim Trimethoprim is an antibiotic. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? Trimethoprim is usually taken twice a day to treat infections. For most infections, you'll feel better within a few days. Side effects may include itching or a mild skin rash, but these are usually mild and short-lived.

You can drink alcohol while taking trimethoprim. There are no brand names for this medicine at the moment. Trimethoprim can be taken by adults and children.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to trimethoprim or any other medicines in the past have liver or kidney problems have anaemia or low amounts of folic acid folate in your blood have porphyria a rare inherited blood disorder or any other blood disorder are trying to get pregnant or already pregnant.

The usual dose of trimethoprim to: treat UTIs is mg twice a day - your doctor might recommend you double the first dose to mg prevent infections is mg once a day treat cystitis that comes on after having sex is a one-off dose of mg treat acne is mg twice a day - this dose might be reduced over time The dose of trimethoprim you need to take depends on your illness, your age, and how well your kidneys work.

Important Carry on taking this medicine until the course is completed, even if you feel better. If you stop your treatment early, your problem could come back. How to take it Swallow trimethoprim tablets whole with a drink of water. How long to take it for The length of time you'll need to take trimethoprim for depends on how bad and where your infection is, your age, whether you're male or female, and whether you have any other health problems.

Women with straightforward UTIs usually take a 3-day course of treatment. Men and pregnant women with straightforward UTIs usually take a day course of treatment. People with particularly severe or complicated UTIs, or a catheter, usually take a day course of treatment.

A treatment course for 4 to 6 weeks could be needed if the UTI causes swelling of the prostate gland in men prostatitis. Treatment may continue for at least 6 months for preventing UTIs or as a treatment for acne. What if I forget to take it? What if I take too much? Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you: are worried or get severe side effects have taken more than 1 extra dose.

Common side effects The most common side effects with trimethoprim are itching or a mild rash. Other side effects of trimethoprim are: feeling sick diarrhoea headaches Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the side effects bother you or don't go away. Serious side effects Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1, people. Call a doctor straight away if you have: muscle weakness, an abnormal heartbeat, chest pains, or are feeling or being sick vomiting - these can be signs of high potassium in your blood serious skin reactions or rashes, including irregular, round red patches, peeling, blisters, skin ulcers, or swelling of the skin that looks like burns headaches, fever, stiff neck, tiredness, feel ill, and your eyes become very sensitive to bright light - these can be signs of meningitis diarrhoea possibly with stomach cramps that contains blood or mucus - if you have severe diarrhoea that lasts longer than 4 days, you should also speak to a doctor bruising or bleeding you can't explain including nosebleeds , a sore throat, mouth ulcers, a high temperature, or you feel tired or generally unwell - these can be signs of a problem with your blood.

Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction to trimethoprim. These aren't all the side effects of trimethoprim. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Two of three studies which examined this found no link between use of trimethoprim and preterm birth. However, urinary tract infections UTIs during pregnancy are strongly linked to premature birth and it is therefore possible that the increased chance seen in one study was due to underlying infection in the mothers, rather than to trimethoprim. While three studies have shown that babies of women who took trimethoprim during pregnancy were more likely to be smaller than expected, two further studies did not agree with this.

More research is therefore required. No studies have investigated learning and behaviour of children exposed in the womb to trimethoprim. Most women will be offered a scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy to look for birth defects as part of their routine antenatal care. We would not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father took trimethoprim before or around the time you became pregnant.

If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www. Do you have 3 minutes to complete a short, quick and simple 12 question user feedback form about our bumps information leaflets?

To have your say on how we can improve our website and the information we provide please visit here. Up to 1 out of every 5 pregnancies ends in a miscarriage, and 1 in 40 babies are born with a birth defect. These are referred to as the background population risks. Most medicines used by the mother will cross the placenta and reach the baby.

Sometimes this may have beneficial effects for the baby. How a medicine affects a baby may depend on the stage of pregnancy when the medicine is taken. Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, confusion, depression, fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms. Overdose can occur slowly over a long period of time if your daily doses are too high.

Health Topics. Health Tools. Trimethoprim Trimpex. Brand Names: Primsol , Proloprim , Trimpex. Reviewed: June 23, You should not use trimethoprim if you are allergic to it, or if you have: anemia low red blood cells caused by a folate folic acid deficiency. Tell your doctor if you have ever had: a folate deficiency; liver or kidney disease; or a blood disorder. Side Effects. Trimethoprim is given to treat a bacterial infection. It is mainly prescribed for urine infections, but it is also prescribed for chest infections and some other types of infection.

It works by killing the germs bacteria responsible for the infection. A urine infection is often called a urinary tract infection UTI by doctors. Most urine infections are caused by bacteria that come from your own bowel. They are usually easily treated with a short course of trimethoprim. Occasionally, longer-term treatment may be needed to prevent the infection from recurring. Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken.

For these reasons, before you start taking trimethoprim it is important that your doctor knows:. Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with trimethoprim. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Important : if trimethoprim is taken over a long period of time such as when it is taken long-term to prevent an infection , it can occasionally cause problems.