The U.S. 800/160 mg sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim oral tablet is commonly described as double strength or DS. The first number denotes sulfamethoxazole 800 mg and the second trimethoprim 160 mg in each tablet. It is available as an ingredient-defined generic product, while Bactrim DS is the recognizable branded reference for this component strength.
Searching by “Bactrim 800/160” can return different labelers, repackagers and prescription listings. To compare them responsibly, verify both active ingredients, the oral tablet dosage form, the exact quantity and the FDA approval or equivalence information where applicable. Product labels and NDC records do not establish live retail stock.
This page focuses on how to recognize the 800/160 mg generic tablet family across U.S. labels. The separate Bactrim DS brand page covers the named branded product, while the 400/80 mg guide addresses the other common tablet strength.
The label may print “800 mg/160 mg,” “SMX 800 / TMP 160” or a reordered ingredient name. Match the chemical names as well as the numeric values. The tablet is a combination, not 960 mg of a single active drug; adding component amounts is not a substitute for product identification.
DS is widely used to mean double-strength combination tablet. It does not verify the brand name, labeler, current FDA approval status, prescription appropriateness or retail availability. Ask the pharmacist which approved product corresponds to the order rather than assuming every DS search result is Bactrim-branded.
A generic record can display the drug’s generic name, route, active ingredient strengths, product identifier and labeler. Compare that information with the pharmacy’s actual dispensing record. The labeler/manufacturer guide explains how NDC submissions should be interpreted.
An FDA NDC listing identifies a submitted marketed package, not proof that FDA has approved that NDC or that the product is currently in stock. For approval and therapeutic-equivalence questions the pharmacist may consult Drugs@FDA and the Orange Book. Keep this distinction when two suppliers offer different package sizes under the same generic ingredient statement.
This table is meant to prevent confusion between a generic double-strength tablet, the Bactrim DS trade name, and other tablets containing different amounts of trimethoprim or sulfamethoxazole. Both component strengths must match the written order. Appearance, NDC, marketing name and retail quantity are secondary verification fields; none authorizes a patient to convert an SS prescription into a DS regimen.
| Record field | What should match | What does not follow |
|---|---|---|
| Active combination | Sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim | Not one-component sulfonamide |
| Per-tablet strength | 800 mg + 160 mg | Not the same as 400/80 mg |
| Dosage form | Oral tablet | Not 200/40 mg per 5 mL liquid |
| Generic product | Approved ingredient-defined item | Not automatically the branded Bactrim DS |
| Quantity | Actual prescribed count | Not a standard regimen or stock promise |
If the bottle presents a supplier name rather than the familiar brand, ask the pharmacist to confirm the generic ingredient identity and strength. Tablet shape or color can vary. Use the dispensed pharmacy label and official product information, not pictures from unrelated online sellers, for identification.
When a patient receives a different generic imprint than before, the pharmacist should reconcile the two component amounts, dosage form, quantity and product identity against the authorization. Do not identify an unfamiliar tablet by color alone or assume that all products displaying “DS” belong to the same brand family. If any label field is inconsistent, ask the dispensing pharmacy to resolve it before use.
Comparing an 800/160 generic tablet with regular Bactrim, a liquid, or a different tablet quantity will produce misleading figures. Use the actual item and written prescription when obtaining cash or insurance quotes. Brand DS versus generic pricing factors deals with this narrower financial decision.
The product is indicated for certain susceptible bacterial infections, and local resistance or patient-specific factors may make a different antibiotic preferable. Renal function and medicine interactions may require particular attention. This is a product identification guide, not a recommendation for any condition.
Sulfamethoxazole.
Trimethoprim.
Double strength.
No. Approved generic 800/160 mg tablets may be dispensed under their own labeling.
Not without matching the prescribed product and quantity; these are different strengths.
No. The clinician’s individual prescription determines directions and duration.
No. NDC records are product listings, not real-time inventory.