Trimethoprim poisoning

Effect of dose of charcoal on the absorption of disopyramide, indomethacin and trimethoprim by man

The efficacy of various charcoal-to-drug ratios for the absorption of drugs was studied in 6 healthy volunteers and in vitro at two pHs. Disopyramide 200 mg, indomethacin 50 mg and trimethoprim 200 mg were ingested on an empty stomach with 100 ml water. After 5 min the subjects ingested a charcoal suspension in 300 ml--2.5 g, 10 g, 25 g or 50 g of Norit A, or 10 g of PX-21, or water 300 ml only. Increasing the dose of activated charcoal from 2.5 g to 50 g reduced the gastrointestinal absorption of disopyramide and indomethacin from 30-40% to 3-5%, and that of trimethoprim from 10% to 1% of the respective controls. Disopyramide and trimethoprim were best adsorbed by charcoal in vitro at neutral and indomethacin at acid pH, but saturation of the adsorption capacity was apparent at charcoal-to-drug ratios less than 7.5. Combining the in vitro and in vivo results it can be concluded that the dose of activated charcoal to be given in acute intoxication should be as large as possible, because the drug history is often unknown.

Trimethoprim: mechanisms of action, antimicrobial activity, bacterial resistance, pharmacokinetics, adverse reactions, and therapeutic indications

Trimethoprim has recently been marketed as a single-entity product for the treatment of initial episodes of uncomplicated symptomatic urinary tract infections; it was previously available only in combination with sulfamethoxazole. Trimethoprim exerts antimicrobial activity by blocking the reduction of dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate, the active form of folic acid, by susceptible organisms. It has inhibitory activity for most gram-positive aerobic cocci and some gram-negative aerobic bacilli. Resistance to trimethoprim may be either intrinsic or acquired. Acquired resistance most commonly stems from a chromosomal mutation that results in the production of a dihydrofolate reductase enzyme which is less vulnerable to trimethoprim inhibition. Gastrointestinal intolerance and skin eruptions are the most common untoward reactions resulting from the administration of trimethoprim. Trimethoprim constitutes very effective therapy for women with acute symptomatic urinary tract infections caused by E. coli, and the compound compares favorably with alternative standard agents, such as ampicillin and cephalexin. The safety of trimethoprim in the pregnant woman has not been established. Since indiscriminate use of trimethoprim could foster the emergence of trimethoprim resistance, thereby negating the value of both trimethoprim and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim should only be prescribed for well defined indications. Trimethoprim is currently being investigated as definitive therapy for a wide range of infections, including bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, bacterial pneumonia, and typhoid fever. Initial reports are encouraging.