Dear doctor;

A friend says it is okay to take septrin tablet everyday. That when one takes a tablet daily, it helps against many forms of infections. How true is this? Are there some other common tablets that can work in the same way for prevention purposes?

Phoebe L, Kibagabaga.

Dear Phoebe,

Tablet Septrin is an antibiotic which contains 400 miligrammes of Sulfamethoxazole and 80 miligrammes of Trimethoprim. It is used specifically for wide variety of bacteria, fungal and protozoal infections in patients with reduced immunity such as those with HIV/Aids. It is recommended to take one tablet daily of high power Septrin to prevent oppurtunistic infections, that is to say, those which occur due to reduced immunity.

But in a healthy person there is absolutely no need of taking this tablet daily, that too without an obvious infection. This antibiotic has many serious  side effects like severe allergy, chronic anemia. It can also cause or aggravate kidney failure. Nausea, vomitting and or loss of appetite can also occur after its use. Moreover prolonged unnecessary use of antibiotics can deplete body of useful microbes.

The infection causing microbes can become resistant to it thus reducing efficacy when needed. Therefore it is not recommended to take this tablet unless there is a clear infection, where it may help to cure it. But it is useful in AIDS patients to prevent some infections.