Deprim general information
What is Deprim used for?
Our body and environment are home to millions of microorganisms. Some microorganisms are harmless and in fact, are helpful, such as bacteria in our gut that help with our digestion. However, if harmful or pathogenic microorganisms invade the body and spread, they can cause serious illness. Such as gastrointestinal infections that can become life-threatening, particularly in children. Many diseases are taken care of by the body’s immune system before they can make you ill. However, if immunocompromised, such as due to HIV infection, a pathogen can result in a rare but potentially life-threatening illness. Deprim oral suspension is a combination antibiotic medication that is used to treat serious infections. It is formulated for drinking as a suspension, which is suitable for children and for adults who cannot easily swallow tablets.
Gastrointestinal infections
Several pathogenic bacteria can cause acute infectious diarrhoea including, cholera, shigella, and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). These bacteria cause severe gastrointestinal infections and are spread through contaminated food or water.
Cholera infection of the intestines is caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae, which causes severe watery diarrhoea that can lead to dehydration. Symptoms are due to cholera toxin produced by the bacteria.
Shigellosis is a form of dysentery caused by infection with the bacteria Shigella bacillus. Symptoms of Shigellosis are the result of the body’s inflammatory response to the presence of the bacteria in the intestines and colon and can be mild or severe. They include stomach cramps, abdominal pain and severe diarrhoea with mucus or blood in the faeces.
Gastroenteritis, also known as travellers’ diarrhoea, is caused by infection with the bacteria enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). The main symptoms are watery diarrhoea and stomach cramps. Other less common symptoms are fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, muscle ache, bloating, loss of appetite, and lethargy.
Respiratory infections
Deprim oral suspension is used to treat bacterial infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract, only if other treatments have not resolved the infection. These include otitis media, an infection of the middle ear, and exacerbations (worsening) of chronic bronchitis, which is infection of the bronchioles or airways.
Pneumocystis pneumonia is a fungal infection caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii. It is a rare and severe form of pneumonia that can result in respiratory failure. The fungus attaches to the alveoli of the lungs and induces an inflammatory response, which causes lung damage. Symptoms of Pneumocystis pneumonia include difficulty breathing, cough, and fever.
Nocardiosis is a rare lung disease caused by infection of the lungs by Nocardia asteroids, a species of bacteria found in soil and stagnant water. Nocardiosis is only serious for anyone who is immunocompromised. It causes severe pneumonia, with symptoms including difficulty breathing, cough with blood in the sputum, fever, and chills. If the bacteria enter the bloodstream, it can spread and affect other parts of the body.
Pneumocystis and Nocardiosis are usually only serious diseases for anyone who has weakened immunity (immunocompromised). Such as due to HIV infection, undergoing chemotherapy or using an immunosuppressant for an organ transplant.
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is transmitted by infected cat faeces or by eating contaminated meat. The parasite gets into the lungs and can cause flu-like symptoms. Infection is usually only serious if you are immunocompromised or pregnant.
Urinary tract infections
Deprim oral suspension can be used to treat acute, uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections (UTI) if another single antibiotic treatment is not effective. These infections include cystitis (infection of the bladder) and urethritis (infection of the urethra, the tube leading out from the bladder).
Sexually transmitted diseases
Some sexually transmitted disease can also be treated using Deprim oral suspension. These include gonorrhoea caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoea, chancroid caused by Haemophilus ducreyi, and ganuloma inguinale caused by Klebsiella granulomatis.
How does Deprim work?
Deprim oral suspension contains co-trimoxazole, a combination of two antibiotics, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, a sulphur antibiotic. This antibiotic combination is used to treat a range of bacterial and parasitic infections.
Folic acid is essential for bacteria and other microorganisms to synthesise nucleic acids and proteins. Human cells cannot make folic acid, which is a vitamin obtained only from the diet. Bacteria synthesise folic acid in two stages, starting with para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), which is converted to the substrate dihydrofolic acid. The next stageof the folic acid biosynthetic pathway is the conversion of dihydrofolic acid to tetrahydrofolic using the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR).
Co-trimoxazole in Deprim oral suspension blocks two consecutive steps in the folic acid biosynthetic pathway. Sulfamethoxazole competes with para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), and trimethoprim inhibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). These combined actions of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole prevent replication of microorganisms, which limits their growth and stops the spread of infection.
What does Deprim contain?
Deprim oral suspension contains the active ingredient co-trimoxazole, which is a combination of two antibiotics, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, used to treat a range of infections. It also contains carmellose sodium, citric acid, anhydrous, dispersible cellulose, glycerol, sodium citrate, polysorbate 80, purified water q.s., syrup, sodium propyl hydroxybenzoate, Sodium methylhydroxybenzoate, raspberry flavour E_0026934, Ponceau 4R (e124).
What are the side effects of Deprim?
Most medications have some side effects, but they are not experienced by everyone. Some side effects are commonly experienced when taking Deprim oral suspension, but others are not so common, and you should discuss any problems or concerns with your primary care physician.
Common side effects when taking Deprim include headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, skin rash, and fungal infections causing thrush.
When should Deprim not be used?
Have a talk with your primary healthcare physician before taking Deprim oral suspension so that you have a full understanding of what this medicine is for and how to use it. There are some reasons for not taking a medication; these are called contraindications, and for Deprim you should consider the following before taking Deprim, and also applies when giving Deprim to a child:
- Have you ever had an unusual reaction or an allergy when taking Deprim, or any other sulphur antibiotic?
- Are you allergic to any sulphonamide medicine?
- Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
- Do you have any problems with your kidneys or your liver?
- Do you have a folate deficiency?
- Do you have asthma?
- Do you have porphyria, a type of blood disorder?
- Have you ever had the bleeding disorder thrombocytopenia?
What medications interact with Deprim?
Some medicines interact with Deprim oral suspension and may affect the way it works, or are affected by Deprim or increase side effects; you should discuss possible interactions with your primary care physician. These may include thiazide diuretics, the anti malarial pyrimethamine, the antiretrovirals zidovudine and lamivudine, the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, the anticoagulant warfarin, the antiepileptic phenytoin, sulphonylurea antidiabetic drugs, other antifolate drugs like the anticancer drug methotrexate, digoxin for heart failure, procainamide for irregular heartbeat, amantadine for Parkinson's disease.
If other medications may interact with Deprim, your doctor will discuss these with you.
How should Deprim be taken and for how long?
You should take your Deprim oral suspension twice daily morning and evening and with food. Use a measuring spoon or syringe and shake the bottle well before measuring your dose. It is important to keep hydrated and drink plenty of water while taking Deprim. The dose you take and for how long depends on what you are being treated for and tour doctor’s recommendation. You should take your Deprim oral suspension until you have finished the course prescribed, which is usually five days.
When giving Deprim oral suspension to children, the dose depends on their age and body weight and should be approximately 6 mg trimethoprim and 30 mg sulfamethoxazole per kg (2.2lb).
Missed dose of Deprim
If you miss a dose of Deprim oral suspension take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.
How should Deprim be stored?
You should store your Deprim oral suspension below 25°C in a cool dry place.