Trimethoprim

Cystitis is an infection in the body that usually affects a person’s bladder and is an infection found in the lower part of the urinary tract. The urinary tract is made up kidneys, the bladder, two ureters which are the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder and the urethra. There are cases wherein an infection affects the higher portion of the urinary tract, such as the kidneys or ureters, also known as upper urinary tract infection and can become a more serious medical condition.

But what causes Cystitis? This is essentially due to a bacterial infection that may come from a variety of sources. One reason may be due to a bruising or irritation in the urinary tract during sexual intercourse. This specific cause is usually common in women. When it comes to Cystitis, it has been determined that one out of three women before the age of 24 has experienced having this urinary tract infection. Cystitis, according to doctors, is a less occurrence in men due to the fact that they have longer urethras, thus making it longer for the bacteria to arrive at the bladder.

Trimethoprim is usually taken twice a day to treat infections.

For most infections, you'll feel better within a few days.

Side effects may include itching or a mild skin rash, but are usually mild and short-lived.

You can drink alcohol while taking trimethoprim.

There are no brand names for this medicine at the moment.

You're unlikely to get side effects from trimethoprim. Some people get itching or a skin rash, but this is usually mild and goes away after you stop taking the medicine.

Common side effects

The most common side effects with trimethoprim are itching or a mild rash. They happen in more than 1 in 100 people.

Trimethoprim can also make you feel sick or have diarrhoea. It may also cause headaches. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the side effects bother you or don’t go away.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people.

Tell a doctor straight away if you have:

muscle weakness, being unable to move or feel anything, an abnormal heartbeat, chest pains, and feeling sick - these can be signs of high potassium in your blood

muscle cramps, tiredness, feeling or being sick, feeling confused and headaches - these can be signs of salt in your blood

serious skin reactions or rashes, including irregular, round red patches, peeling, blisters, skin ulcers, or swelling of the skin that looks like burns

headache, fever, stiff neck, tiredness, feeling ill, and your eyes becoming very sensitive to bright light - these can be signs of meningitis

severe diarrhoea, possibly with stomach cramps, that contains blood or mucus, or lasts longer than 4 days

bruising or bleeding you can't explain (including nosebleeds), a sore throat, mouth ulcers, a high temperature, or feeling tired or generally unwell - these can be signs of a problem with your blood

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it’s possible to have a serious allergic reaction to trimethoprim.