Contributor: Cheyenne Bean, PharmD

Educational Pearls:

Bactrim (TMP-SMX) is a sulfa antibiotic used for a number of infections but can have untoward effects.
Hypoglycemia can be induced by the sulfa component of Bactrim, which binds receptors in the pancreas causing insulin to be secreted, dropping blood sugar levels.
- Oral diabetic medications, specifically sulfonylureas, when taken with Bactrim most often lead to these hypoglycemic episodes.
Hyperkalemia can be induced by Trimethoprim by blocking potassium excretion in the kidney, so Bactrim in combination with ACE inhibitors/ARBs/spironolactone can induce high potassium.
When prescribing Bactrim, remember to check home medications and if a patient is taking an above medication, check a baseline BGL and potassium.

References

1) Khorvash F, Moeinzadeh F, Saffaei A, Hakamifard A. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole Induced Hyponatremia and Hyperkalemia, The Necessity of Electrolyte Follow-up in Every Patient. Iran J Kidney Dis. 2019 Jul;13(4):277-280. PMID: 31422395.

2) Kennedy KE, Teng C, Patek TM, Frei CR. Hypoglycemia Associated with Antibiotics Alone and in Combination with Sulfonylureas and Meglitinides: An Epidemiologic Surveillance Study of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Drug Saf. 2020 Apr;43(4):363-369. doi: 10.1007/s40264-019-00901-7. PMID: 31863282; PMCID: PMC7117991.

Summarized by Jackson Roos, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

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Pharmacy Phriday #7: Bactrim Adverse Events

Emergency Medical Minute

Pharmacy Phriday #7: Bactrim Adverse Events