Is Cotrim available over the counter? | Cotrim® (cotrimoxazole)

Is Cotrim available over the counter?

Like other antibiotics, Cotrim is only available on prescription. One reason for this is that the drug can lead to serious side effects in some patients. On the other hand, improper use of the drug can lead to the development of resistant bacteria that no longer respond well to antibiotics. And last but not least, if an infection needs to be treated with antibiotics, a doctor should always check that there are no complications that need further treatment, such as kidney failure in the case of an ascending urinary tract infection.

Contraindications

Cotrim® should not be given if the blood disease megaloblastic anemia has been diagnosed or if the patient has a known allergy to sulfonamides. Cotrim® should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation if possible. If it is used nevertheless, regular ultrasound monitoring of the foetus’ development is recommended. Cotrim® should also not be given to premature and newborn babies. An alternative preparation should also be preferred in cases of severe kidney and liver disease and in the presence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in the blood.

Allergy to Cotrim

Allergic reactions to Cotrim are relatively common. Mild hypersensitivity reactions affect 1-10% of patients and usually manifest themselves in the form of skin symptoms such as rashes (e.g. with wheals, redness, spots, nodules or small spots as in measles), itching, small spots of skin and mucous membrane bleeding, disease with formation of red skin nodules and skin disease caused by exposure to light. Severe reactions are observed in 1 to 10 out of 10,000 patients.

This can lead to severe skin inflammation with blistering and skin detachment. If an allergic reaction to Cotrim is known, an alternative antibiotic that does not belong to the class of suflonamides should be used.