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Trimethoprim Coupon - Trimethoprim 100mg tablet

trimethoprim

Generic Proloprim
Used for Urinary Tract Infection, Bacterial Infection
Used for Urinary Tract Infection, Bacterial Infection

Trimethoprim is an antibiotic that's used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). It's available as a tablet that's taken by mouth either once or twice daily. Side effects include skin rash and itching.

Last reviewed on September 18, 2023
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What is Trimethoprim?

What is Trimethoprim used for?

How Trimethoprim works

Trimethoprim is a type of antibiotic called an antifolate. It works by stopping bacteria from being able to make a chemical (folic acid) that's needed for them to grow and survive.

Are you looking for information on Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) instead?

Drug Facts

Common BrandsProloprim (brand name no longer available)
Drug ClassAntifolate antibiotic
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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Avg retail price
$164.11(save 76.86%)
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$37.98
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What are the side effects of Trimethoprim?

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Rash
  • Itching

Other Side Effects

  • Stomach pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Skin that's sensitive to sunlight (e.g., sunburn)

Serious Side Effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
  • Allergic reactions: hives; rash; blisters; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; trouble breathing
  • Infectious diarrhea (C. difficile-related diarrhea): foul-smelling diarrhea, fever, nausea, frequent bowel movements (up to 15 times per day)

Source: DailyMed

The following side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

Abdominal or stomach pain

black, tarry stools

blistering, peeling, or loosening of skin

changes in skin color

chest pain

chills

cough or hoarseness

dark urine

diarrhea

dizziness

fever with or without chills

general feeling of tiredness or weakness

headache

itching

joint or muscle pain

light-colored stools

loss of appetite

lower back or side pain

nausea

pain, tenderness, or swelling of foot or leg

painful or difficult urination

pale skin

rash

red irritated eyes

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

shortness of breath

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots in mouth or on lips

swollen or painful glands

tightness in chest

unpleasant breath odor

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

vomiting of blood

wheezing

yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

Abdominal tenderness

back, leg, or stomach pains

bleeding gums

bleeding under the skin

blindness or vision changes

blisters, hives, or itching

bloating

blood in urine or stools

bluish-colored lips, fingernails, or palms

burning, crawling, itching, numbness, painful, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

burning of face or mouth

clumsiness or unsteadiness

cloudy urine

confusion

constipation

continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in ears

convulsions

cracks in the skin

decreased frequency or amount of urine

diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody

difficulty breathing

difficulty swallowing

dizziness or lightheadedness

fainting spells

general body swelling

general feeling of discomfort or illness

hair loss

hearing loss

increased blood pressure

increased thirst

indigestion

irregular heartbeat

large, flat, blue or purplish patches in the skin

large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs

loss of heat from the body

muscle or joint pain

nosebleeds

not able to pass urine

numbness or tingling in hands, feet, or lips

pain or burning while urinating

pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back

painful knees and ankles

pinpoint red spots on skin

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips or tongue

raised red swellings on the skin, the buttocks, legs or ankles

rapid heart rate

red, swollen skin

redness of the white part of the eyes

redness, swelling, or soreness of tongue

scaly skin

shakiness and unsteady walk

soreness of muscles

stiff neck or back

swelling of face, hands, legs, and feet

swelling or inflammation of the mouth

trouble breathing

unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination

unusual weight loss

weakness in hands or feet

weakness or heaviness of legs

weight gain

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Hives or welts

passing of gas

redness of skin

stomach pain, fullness, or discomfort

Incidence not known

Discouragement

feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

feeling sad or empty

increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight

irritability

lack of feeling or emotion

loss of interest or pleasure

nervousness

redness or other discoloration of skin

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

sensation of spinning

severe sunburn

sleeplessness

trouble concentrating

trouble sleeping

unable to sleep

uncaring

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Trimethoprim

thumbs-up

Pros

Available as a lower-cost generic medication

Can use if you have a sulfa allergy

Typically mild and tolerable side effects

thumbs-down

Cons

Can make your skin more sensitive to the sun and raise your risk for sunburns

Not the best choice if you're pregnant or breastfeeding because of interactions with folic acid

Might not be the best option if you have kidney problems; might require dose adjustments

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Trimethoprim

pharmacist
  • Take trimethoprim exactly as prescribed. Make sure to finish your treatment course, even if you start feeling better. Stopping the medication earlier than prescribed can make your infection come back and become harder to treat.

    • Take trimethoprim with or without food. Taking the antibiotic with food might help ease upset stomach if you've experienced this side effect.

      • Rash and itchiness are the most common side effects from trimethoprim. Talk to a provider if you have these side effects and they become too bothersome.

        • Sometimes, trimethoprim can cause diarrhea. It's typically mild and it should go away when you stop taking the antibiotic. But call your provider right away if you start having watery or bloody diarrhea, fever, fatigue, or stomach cramps anytime during treatment or after stopping trimethoprim. These can be signs of serious infectious diarrhea that needs to be treated quickly.

          • Ask your provider if you should take a probiotic along with trimethoprim. Some research suggests that probiotics might help lower the risk of infectious diarrhea from antibiotics. Make sure to separate any probiotics you take from trimethoprim by at least 2 hours to prevent trimethoprim from killing the "good" bacteria in the probiotic.

            • Tell your provider if you take phenytoin (Dilantin) because trimethoprim can affect how well phenytoin (Dilantin) gets removed from your body. This drug interaction can raise your risk for side effects from phenytoin (Dilantin).

              • Make sure to tell your provider if you're pregnant or breastfeeding before using trimethoprim. Studies show that the antibiotic might cause harm to babies during early pregnancy or while breastfeeding. This is because the medication can interfere with chemical pathways in the body that involve folic acid (an important nutrient for growth and development). Trimethoprim should be used only if it's clearly needed if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

                faqs

                Frequently asked questions about Trimethoprim

                Can trimethoprim make you tired?
                Tiredness isn't a commonly reported side effect of trimethoprim. Visit a healthcare provider if you're experiencing fatigue or tiredness after starting trimethoprim. This could be a symptom of a more serious problem.
                Can you crush trimethoprim tablets?
                The manufacturer of trimethoprim doesn't specify whether or not the tablets can be crushed, so it's not completely clear if it's safe to do so. Additionally, trimethoprim isn't included in the do-not-crush medication list that providers use. Talk to your provider about your options if you're having trouble swallowing trimethoprim tablets.
                Can you drink alcohol with trimethoprim?
                You should avoid drinking alcohol while taking antibiotics like trimethoprim. This is because alcohol can make it harder for your body to heal from an illness and can raise your risk of getting another infection. In addition, alcohol can further irritate your bladder. Talk to your provider if you have concerns about avoiding alcohol while taking trimethoprim. Your provider can work with you to lower how much you drink or stop drinking altogether.
                Can you take trimethoprim and metronidazole (Flagyl) together?
                It's possible to take trimethoprim and metronidazole (Flagyl) together if they're both prescribed to you. These medications work differently to fight infections, and they're not known to interact with each other.
                Are trimethoprim and nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) the same?
                No. Trimethoprim and nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) are both antibiotics that are used for UTIs, but they're two completely different medications that work differently in the body. Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) is taken four times a day with food when used to treat a UTI. On the other hand, trimethoprim is typically taken either one or two times a day, with or without food. Your provider will pick the antibiotic that's best for you.
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                What are the risks and warnings for Trimethoprim?

                Trimethoprim can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

                risk-warning

                Serious allergic reactions

                Although rare, serious allergic reactions to trimethoprim are possible, including life-threatening reactions like severe skin reactions and anaphylaxis (e.g., closing of the throat). Let your provider know if you have an allergy to antibiotics to make sure trimethoprim is safe for you to take. Get medical attention right away if you notice hives, rash, red skin, peeling or blistering skin, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing after taking trimethoprim.

                risk-warning

                Diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile infection

                Antibiotics, including trimethoprim, raise your risk of getting infected with a bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). This infection can cause diarrhea that can sometimes be life-threatening. Antibiotics change the amount of normal bacteria in your stomach and intestines. This can cause C. diff to overgrow in your gut and lead to an infection.

                It's important to recognize the difference between diarrhea as a side effect of trimethoprim and this type of infectious diarrhea. C. diff-related diarrhea can cause rapid heart rate, foul-smelling diarrhea, fever, nausea, frequent bowel movements (even up to 15 times per day) and is an emergency. Get medical attention right away if you experience any of these symptoms to get tested for C. diff infection and receive treatment, if needed.

                risk-warning

                Development of drug-resistant bacteria

                Take trimethoprim exactly as prescribed. Taking trimethoprim for any shorter or longer periods of time or taking the antibiotic for other illnesses can raise your risk for developing infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. This raises your risk for severe and life-threatening infections that might be difficult to treat.

                dosage

                Trimethoprim dosage forms

                The average cost for 90 tablets of 100mg of Trimethoprim is $37.98 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 76.86% off the average retail price of $164.11.
                tablet
                Tablet
                DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
                100mg90 tablets$37.98$0.42

                Typical dosing for Trimethoprim

                The typical dose for adults is 100 mg by mouth every 12 hours for 10 days. An alternative dosage is 200 mg by mouth once daily for 10 days.

                Your dose might differ if you have kidney problems.

                interactions

                Interactions between Trimethoprim and other drugs

                Trimethoprim may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Trimethoprim. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

                Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

                Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

                Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

                Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

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                How much does Trimethoprim cost?

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                contraindications-icon

                Trimethoprim contraindications

                Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Trimethoprim will not be safe for you to take.
                alternatives

                What are alternatives to Trimethoprim?

                There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Trimethoprim. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
                Trimethoprim
                $37.98 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                Used for:
                • Treatment or prevention of urinary tract infections

                $16.10 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                images

                Trimethoprim images

                White Round 21 58 And 9 3 - Trimethoprim 100mg Tablet
                This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "9 3" And "21 58".White Round 21 58 And 9 3 - Trimethoprim 100mg Tablet

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                References

                Best studies we found

                Andersen, J. T., et al. (2013). Trimethoprim use in early pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage: A register-based nationwide cohort study. Epidemiology and Infection.

                Estrada, A., et al. (2016). Antibacterial antifolates: From development through resistance to the next generation. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine.

                Jancel, T., et al. (2002). Management of uncomplicated urinary tract infections. The Western Journal of Medicine.

                View All References (4)

                MedlinePlus. (2022). Folate-deficiency anemia.

                Novitium Pharma LLC. (2022). Trimethoprim tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.

                Pharmacist’s Letter. (2023). Meds that should not be crushed.

                Wróbel, A., et al. (2020). Trimethoprim and other nonclassical antifolates an excellent template for searching modifications of dihydrofolate reductase enzyme inhibitors. The Journal of Antibiotics.

                GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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