Dosage And Administration Section
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim tablets are contraindicated in pediatric patients less than 2 months of age.
Urinary Tract Infections and Shigellosis in Adults and Pediatric Patients, and Acute Otitis Media in Children:
Adults: The usual adult dosage in the treatment of urinary tract infections is 1 sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim DS (double strength) tablet or 2 sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim tablets every 12 hours for 10 to 14 days. An identical daily dosage is used for 5 days in the treatment of shigellosis.
Children: The recommended dose for children with urinary tract infections or acute otitis media is 40 mg/kg sulfamethoxazole and 8 mg/kg trimethoprim per 24 hours, given in two divided doses every 12 hours for 10 days. An identical daily dosage is used for 5 days in the treatment of shigellosis. The following table is a guideline for the attainment of this dosage:
Children 2 months of age or older:
Weight
Dose–every 12 hours
lb
kg
Tablets
22
10
–
44
20
1
66
30
1½
88
40
2 or 1 DS tablet
For Patients with Impaired Renal Function: When renal function is impaired, a reduced dosage should be employed using the following table:
Creatinine Clearance (mL/min)
Recommended Dosage Regimen
Above 30
Usual standard regimen
15–30
½ the usual regimen
Below 15
Use not recommended
Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Bronchitis in Adults:
The usual adult dosage in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis is 1 sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim DS (double strength) tablet or 2 sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim tablets every 12 hours for 14 days.
Pneumocystis Jirovecii Pneumonia:
Treatment: Adults and Children:
The recommended dosage for treatment of patients with documented Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia is 75 to 100 mg/kg sulfamethoxazole and 15 to 20 mg/kg trimethoprim per 24 hours given in equally divided doses every 6 hours for 14 to 21 days.9 The following table is a guideline for the upper limit of this dosage:
Weight
Dose–every 6 hours
lb
kg
Tablets
18
8
–
35
16
1
53
24
1½
70
32
2 or 1 DS tablet
88
40
2½
106
48
3 or 1½ DS tablets
141
64
4 or 2 DS tablets
176
80
5 or 2½ DS tablets
For the lower limit dose (75 mg/kg sulfamethoxazole and 15 mg/kg trimethoprim per 24 hours) administer 75% of the dose in the above table.
Prophylaxis:
Adults:
The recommended dosage for prophylaxis in adults is 1 sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim DS (double strength) tablet daily.10
Children:
For children, the recommended dose is 750 mg/m2/day sulfamethoxazole with 150 mg/m2/day trimethoprim given orally in equally divided doses twice a day, on 3 consecutive days per week. The total daily dose should not exceed 1600 mg sulfamethoxazole and 320 mg trimethoprim.11 The following table is a guideline for the attainment of this dosage in children:
Body Surface Area
Dose– every 12 hours
(m2)
Tablets
0.26
–
0.53
½
1.06
1
Traveler's Diarrhea in Adults:
For the treatment of traveler’s diarrhea, the usual adult dosage is 1 sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim DS (double strength) tablet or 2 sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim tablets every 12 hours for 5 days.