Michelle asked
I have a bacterial skin infection called MRSA and I have antibiotic called Bactrim. Will it harm me if I take them crushed in water or can I mix it in food? And will it still clear up the infection?
Answer
Yes, Bactrim, Bactrim DS and Septra (all brand names for sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim) can be crushed and taken/mixed with food. Studies indicate that food has no influence on the effectiveness of the medication. In fact, when Bactrim is administered with food, water, or milk, stomach irritation is often minimized.
Cutting or crushing tablets is a common need for many individuals as the tablets for these medications are quite large. Most tablets are actually pre-scored by the manufacturer to aid in cutting or splitting the tablets as needed.
It should be noted that all sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim have a bitter taste, which may make it difficult to take by mouth after crushing. Mixing with applesauce or a syrup may help the palatability of the medication.
Lastly, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim products are available as oral suspensions, which may be a better option for some versus cutting or crushing tablets. The oral suspension comes in a strength of 200mg-40mg/5ml and is easily dosed in amounts equivalent to the tablet form of Bactrim.
