title: Poor rectal absorption of trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole in treating Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
abstract: A 24-year-old female with Hodgkin's disease and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was tested with trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) tablets. Because treatment failure was feared owing to chronic emesis potentially resulting in incomplete drug absorption, the same TMP/SMX dose was administered by rectal suppositories after the 5th day of oral dosing. The relative fractions (rectal/oral) or the suppository dose absorbed for TMP and SMX were 3.0% and 19.5% respectively. When TMP/SMX treatment is required and the oral route is not practical, the investigational i.v. preparation should be obtained.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D012007:Rectum / Q000378:metabolism; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013488:Suppositories; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D013488:Suppositories; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D014295:Trimethoprim; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole