Augmentin vs. Bactrim

• Are Bactrim and Augmentin the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Augmentin?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Bactrim?
• What is Augmentin?
• What is Bactrim?
• What Drugs Interact with Augmentin?
• What Drugs Interact with Bactrim?
• How Should Augmentin Be Taken?
• How Should Bactrim Be Taken?

Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) and Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) are antibiotics used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections.

Augmentin and Bactrim are different types of antibiotics. Augmentin is a combination penicillin-type antibiotic and a beta-lactamase inhibitor and Bactrim is a combination of an anti-bacterial sulfonamide (a "sulfa" drug) and a folic acid inhibitor.

Augmentin may cause serious side effects, including:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Stomach pain
• Skin rash or itching
• White patches in your mouth or throat
• Vaginal yeast infection (itching or discharge)

Rare and severe side effects of Augmentin can include:

• watery or bloody diarrhea;
• pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;
• easy bruising or bleeding;
• skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
• agitation, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizures (convulsions);
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.  

Common side effects of Bactrim include:

• loss of appetite,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• painful or swollen tongue,
• dizziness,
• spinning sensation,
• ringing in your ears,
• tiredness, or
• sleep problems (insomnia).

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Bactrim including:

• bruising or bleeding,
• aplastic anemia,
• jaundice,
• hepatic necrosis,
• mouth sores,
• joint aches,
• severe skin rashes,
• itching, and
• sore throat.

Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) is a combination antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections including sinusitis, pneumonia, ear infections, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and infections of the skin.

It is not known if Augmentin is safe and effective in children.

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) DS is a combination of two antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections, acute otitis media, bronchitis, Shigellosis, Pneumocystis pneumonia, traveler's diarrhea, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and other bacterial infections susceptible to this antibiotic. Bactrim is available as a generic drug.

Augmentin may interact with probenecid.

Augmentin may also interact with allopurinol, blood thinners, or other antibiotics.

Bactrim may interact with blood thinners, cyclosporine, methotrexate, oral diabetes medications, and seizure medications. Bactrim may also interact with antidepressants, digoxin, diuretics (water pills), indomethacin, leucovorin, calcium folinate, and heart or blood pressure medications.

For Adults:

• The usual adult dose is one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin every 12 hours or one 250-mg tablet of Augmentin every 8 hours. For more severe infections and infections of the respiratory tract, the dose should be one 875-mg tablet of Augmentin every 12 hours or one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin every 8 hours. Adults who have difficulty swallowing may be given the 125 mg/5 mL or 250 mg/5 mL suspension in place of the 500-mg tablet. The 200 mg/5 mL suspension or the 400 mg/5 mL suspension may be used in place of the 875-mg tablet.
• Two 250-mg tablets of Augmentin should not be substituted for one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin. Since both the 250-mg and 500-mg tablets of Augmentin contain the same amount of clavulanic acid (125 mg, as the potassium salt), two 250-mg tablets are not equivalent to one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin.
• The 250-mg tablet of Augmentin and the 250-mg chewable tablet should not be substituted for each other, as they are not interchangeable. The 250-mg tablet of Augmentin and the 250-mg chewable tablet do not contain the same amount of clavulanic acid (as the potassium salt). The 250-mg tablet of Augmentin contains 125 mg of clavulanic acid, whereas the 250-mg chewable tablet contains 62.5 mg of clavulanic acid.

For Pediatric Patients

Based on the amoxicillin component, Augmentin should be dosed as follows:

Neonates And Infants Aged under 12 Weeks (under 3 Months)

• The recommended dose of Augmentin is 30 mg/kg/day divided every 12 hours, based on the amoxicillin component. Experience with the 200 mg/5 mL formulation in this age group is limited, and thus, use of the 125 mg/5 mL oral suspension is recommended.

Patients Aged 12 Weeks (3 Months) And Older

• The every 12 hour regimen is recommended as it is associated with significantly less diarrhea. However, the every 12 hour suspension (200 mg/5 mL and 400 mg/5 mL) and chewable tablets (200 mg and 400 mg) contain aspartame and should not be used by phenylketonurics.

Bactrim is available in tablets in two strengths; 400 mg sulfamethoxazole and 80 mg trimethoprim and the "DS" form which means double strength, 800 mg sulfamethoxazole and 160 mg trimethoprim. Patients should follow their doctor's instructions and take all of the Bactrim prescribed. Patients allergic to sulfa compounds should not take Bactrim. Bactrim may interact with many drugs; the patient and prescribing doctor should be aware of any potential interactions. Bactrim should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus; the same situation exists for women who are breastfeeding and their neonates.