Sutrim Forte tablets are an effective combination medication that combines two powerful antibiotics: Sulfamethoxazole 800 mg and Trimethoprim 160 mg in each tablet. Both drugs belong to the sulfonamide group and work synergistically to provide a broad-spectrum antibacterial effect, making them effective against a variety of infection-causing microorganisms. Sutrim Forte is used to effectively treat many bacterial infections affecting various areas of the body.
The active ingredient in Sutrim Forte tablets
The therapeutic efficacy of Sutrim Forte tablets depends on the presence of the following two active ingredients in precise quantities:
Sulfamethoxazole: Available in 800 mg per tablet. Sulfamethoxazole acts as an antibiotic by inhibiting dihydrofolate synthetase, an enzyme necessary for bacteria to synthesize folic acid.
Trimethoprim: Available in 160 mg strength per tablet. Trimethoprim also acts as an antibiotic by inhibiting another enzyme in the folic acid synthesis pathway, dihydrofolate reductase.
The fixed ratio of sulfamethoxazole to trimethoprim in Sutrim Forte (usually 5:1) is ideal for maximizing synergistic effects, as each drug enhances the effect of the other, resulting in greater effectiveness in combating bacterial infections.
Sutrim Forte Tablets Mechanism of Action
Sutrim Forte tablets work through a dual and complementary mechanism of action that targets a vital process essential for bacterial survival and growth: folic acid synthesis. Folic acid is essential for bacteria to produce nucleic acids and proteins necessary for their reproduction. The mechanism of action of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim includes:
Sulfamethoxazole: acts as a competitive antagonist of dihydrobiopterin synthetase, an enzyme used by bacteria in the first step of folic acid synthesis from para-aminobenzoic acid. By binding to this enzyme, sulfamethoxazole prevents bacteria from producing dihydrofolate, an intermediate in folic acid synthesis.
Trimethoprim: works by inhibiting dihydrofolate reductase, an enzyme that converts dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate, the active form of folic acid required by bacteria for DNA and protein synthesis.
This sequential inhibition of two different steps in the folic acid synthesis pathway effectively blocks the production of this vital acid in bacteria, inhibiting their growth and ultimately leading to their death. This synergistic effect makes Strim Forte effective against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
Indications for use of Sutrim Forte tablets
Stream Forte tablets are used to treat a variety of bacterial infections affecting different areas of the body, including:
Urinary tract infections (UTIs): including cystitis, urethritis, and pyelonephritis.
Acute otitis media: a bacterial infection of the middle ear that causes pain, fever, and hearing problems.
Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): exacerbation of respiratory symptoms in patients with COPD resulting from a bacterial infection.
Traveler's diarrhea: caused by certain strains of Escherichia coli bacteria that cause gastrointestinal disturbances during travel.