Key takeaways
Sivextro (tedizolid) and Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim) are both antibiotics, but they treat different types of infections and belong to different drug classes. Sivextro (tedizolid) is an oxazolidinone antibiotic used mainly for skin infections and is taken once daily for 6 days. It is only available as a brand-name medication. On the other hand, Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim) is a combination of a sulfonamide and an antifolate antibiotic, used to treat a variety of infections including urinary tract infections, ear infections, and lung infections. Bactrim is available as a lower-cost generic and is typically taken twice daily. While both medications can cause side effects like nausea and diarrhea, Bactrim can also make your skin more sensitive to the sun and is not recommended for people with sulfa allergies. Additionally, Bactrim is not recommended during pregnancy, whereas the safety of Sivextro during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not well-studied.
