Sulfamethoxazole
Sulfamethoxazole is an antibiotic that is used in combination with trimethoprim, a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, to treat or prevent a variety of bacterial infections. It belongs to the class of sulfonamide antibiotics and works by inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
Medical uses[edit | edit source]
Sulfamethoxazole is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections, bronchitis, and ear infections. It is also used to prevent Pneumocystis pneumonia in people with weakened immune systems.
Side effects[edit | edit source]
Common side effects of sulfamethoxazole include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and skin rash. More serious side effects may include anemia, allergic reactions, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Mechanism of action[edit | edit source]
Sulfamethoxazole works by inhibiting the synthesis of folic acid in bacteria, which is necessary for the production of DNA and proteins. It does this by competing with para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) for the enzyme dihydropteroate synthase, thereby inhibiting the conversion of PABA to dihydrofolic acid.
History[edit | edit source]
Sulfamethoxazole was first synthesized in the 1960s and has since become a commonly used antibiotic for a variety of bacterial infections.
See also[edit | edit source]
Sulfamethoxazole Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD