Bactrim side effects

Hi, I am so thankful for finding this site! I went into ER on January 31, 2008 because my bladder was contracting so badly i couldn't walk. I had severe backache right where my kidneys are. I knew I had a severe bladder infection. I am no stranger to bladder infections but, I usually get rid of them on my own (for the past 10 years) but, with all the hustle and bussle of the Holiday's I let it go and I apparently let it go too long. Anyway, my husband rushed me to the ER frantic thinking I had appendicitis and it was going to burst at any moment. Well, once I finally seen the doctor he said it sounded like a bladder infection that had gotten real bad. He tested my urine and just by looking at it he knew it was in fact a UTI. He did send it to the lab which also confimed it. The doctor gave me PHENAZOPYRIDINE to stop the bladder contractions and the burning when urinating and oh my GOD did I feel so much better. He also gave me a Bactrim right at the hospital. He also gave me a Prescription for both medications. I noticed after taking the first Bactrim I was feeling extremely nausea which I was told was a side effect so I just let it go. The next morning I had zero energy and when I walked I felt short of breath I also, noticed that when I layed down and stretched my legs they would cramp up terribly. I continued to take the Bacrtim because i just assumed that I was having these symptoms because I had been in so much pain that having some relief my body didn't know how to react. I was prescribed to take the Bactrim 2 times daily. So by the third day I was in agony. My lower back was hurting me so bad right at my spine and when sitting in our car it traveled to my left buttock and made it impossible to stay in a sitting position I told my husband I may have to go to ER again and I thought the Doctor had Miss Diagnosed me. My husband brought me back home where I decided to look-up side effects of bactrim and I came across so many sites with so many people having problems after taking this drug I decided that very moment not to take it anymore. I began drinking tons of filtered water to help clean out my system. The next morning I had so much of my energy back and my back and neck pain were at least tolerable. That day, Yesterday Sunday January 4, 2009 I began a full body cleanse product i found at rite aide (not cheap) but, today Monday I woke up and I have my energy back almost 100% no neck pain and very little back pain. What I have a hard time understanding is why the ER doctor gave me a broad spectrum drug knowing I was allergic to 3 other antibiotics. Doesn't that put me in a category of don't test other drugs on me? Anyway, I will never take another antibiotic for the rest of my life. I went 10 years with out taking any and I think I have just re learned why I have no faith in doctors. Thank you for this website I really needed to vent and get some assurance that the drug was in fact the reason I was so ill. I FORGOT TO MENTION ABOUT THE BACKACHE: I FELT AS IF MY BODY WAS BEING SPLIT UP THE MIDDLE OF MY SPINE. I THOUGHT I COULD TEAR APART AT ANY SECOND AND THE ONLY RELIEF I FOUND WAS GETTING ON MY HANDS AND KNEES IN THE SHOWER AND ALLOWING THE WATER TO RUN DOWN MY BACK. HOT,HOT WATER. I ALSO USED A HEATING PAD.

I am a 54 year old male who was prescribed bactrim by his ENT for a staff infection. I was taking 3 pills per day after each meal. I had no past health issues and never have been hospitalized. On my 8th day of Bactrim, I had major head pain, pain so severe i was vomiting, and lost 20 pounds. I woke up the next day Jaundice. I took a blood test and my alt hit 800, ast hit 500, bilirubin was 6.5, blood in my urine. Now, 5 months later and of course, off the drug since mid-July, my level alt level is still 240 and ast 140. These levels are way too high, and now need a liver biopsy. My GI doctor tells me unlikely that this was bactrim induced, right! Please, I never had a problem until taking this medication, and now who knows if my liver will ever return to normal and what other health issues will now take place.

I'm on bactrim for a kidney infection. The first day I was fine. I was in so much pain, after 2-3 pills it made me feel a lot better, I'm taking bactrim 2x a day for 7 days. I'm on day 4 and feel like crap. My backache is back, headache, cramping, stomach ache. I feel worse then I did before the meds. I stopped it this morning, but go so sick I had to take one. They make me feel better for a moment, until everything kicks in. And I cant do this with a 5 month old to care for. I go to the doctor in 2 days....I will be stopping tonight. Thanks to everyone elses answers!!

Much like others, I was prescribed Bactrim for a UTI. I had only taken 2 pills before I noticed the strange blister/knot on the top of my tongue. I was terribly achy, but did not associate these symptoms as drug allergies as I have never been allergic to any antibiotic in the past. I went to sleep- weird dreams. Woke up and the "knot" had moved toward the base of my tongue, my neck/glands were sore, my speech was slurred due to the knot and the numb tongue. This site has been most helpful. I stopped the med and will not be taking it ever again.

Oh my God, where to start. The past few months I have gone through some crazy things from prostitis to having 2 cystoscopy's performed. This past weekend the scab came off the biopsy location in my bladder and blad pretty badly. It caused a large clot to block off my bladder and I could not urinate. In the ER they found a lot of bacteria in my urine and prescribed Bactrim.

Let me just say the past few months have been NOTHING last the past few days on Bactrim. First it was the crazy dreaming. Dreams that were so outlandish, yet so real it was quite frightening.

On day 2 of taking Bactrim I started to itch. It has been quite cold here in Jersey so I chalked it up to the usual dry winter skin. On day 3 I woke up (after minimal sleep) with a sore throat and chest congestion. I then found that the itching grew immensely in intensity and now was adorned with red bumps.

This rash was mainly on my upper arms and lower legs. I scratched at it so badly I drew blood, I have never felt itchy like this. This is ITCHY....EVIL ITCHY!

I woke up on day 4 the same, took another dose of Bactrim (dose #8). As I swallowed the pill something told me "Hey, I bet this pill is causing all your problems." After some research, viola! I found information online that pretty much assured me I was correct.

I went to the doc today and he advised me to take 1 Zyrtec a day and prescribed me Prednisone. I just hope this itching stops soon because I am making a mess of myself with all this scratching.

How could a pill like this be on the market and be utilized as much as it is. The testaments on this site are amazing and stunningly all similar.

Bactrim is undoubtedly the worst prescription I have ever taken or have read up on. To whoever reads this, if you are prescribed Bactrim use one of the rubber test gloves in your doctors office and slap him/her across the face with it. Dealing with the pending lawsuit would be better on you than dealing with the side effects of this drug.

I had impetigo on my ankle that came about from an insect bite. I had been putting mupirocin on the sore, but it hadn't cleared up in two weeks, so the doctor switched me to bactrim. well, within 10 hours of my first dose, I had a low grade fever and incredible aches in my head. I called the office and the nurse told me to stay on the bactrim since I probably was just coming down with a viral infection or something. I stuck with it, but every day, my temperature rose 1 degree, and the pain was something fierce. Finally on the 5th day, my temperature was up to 103, yet I had NO respiratory infection. I just stopped taking the bactrim and within 24 hours the fever is gone, but I'm still sore. My ankle still hasn't cleared up either! Worst experience of my life.

THANK GOD FOR THIS SIGHT. I RECENTLY HAD A SINUS INFECTION ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. I WENT TO THE ENT DOCTOR AND HE PRESCRIBED ME AUGMENTING AND PREDNISONE, ABOUT 5 DAYS INTO I STARTED GETTING A STOMACH ACHE, FIGURED IT WAS THE AUGMENTING SINCE I READ UP ON MEDS BEFORE I TAKE THEM. CALLED THE DOCTOR AND HE SWITCHED ME TO BACTRIM. THE 1ST NIGHT I TOOK BACTRIM I STARTED TO FEEL ITCHY, THINKING NOTHING OF IT I LET IT GO. UNTIL DAY 3 WHEN I STARTED FEELING REALLY ITCHY. I CALLED MY DOCTOR, TOLD ME TO GO BACK ON AUGMENTING. WELL THE AUGMENTING WAS FYNE, I DIDN'T GET THE STOMACH ACHE WHICH I FIGURED MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING I ATE. WELL NOT IM STILL ITCHY EVERY WERE. IT COMES AND GOES, JUMPS FROM PLACE TO PLACE. THIS MORNING WAS EXTREMELY BAD WERE I HAD TO GO TO THE ER. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO BACTRIM BUT BECAUSE I WAS TAKING PREDNISON I REALLY COULDN'T TELL HOW BAD I REACTED TO IT. SO NOW IM STUCK FEELING ITCHY, AND HAVING TO TAKE ANTHONY MED AND ANTI ITCH CREAM JUST TO STAY SANE! UGH I HATE BACTRIM IT COMPLETELY JUST MESSES U UP. I THINK THEY SHUD JUST GET RID OF THIS DRUG PERIOD!. ANYONE KNOW HOW LONG THE ITCHY LAST?

Dr. prescribed Bactrim generic for Lyme.
Wow, did this stuff make me sick. I have taken it once or twice before for UTI's, without any bad effects. this time, the third day, started having terrible neck pain, unrelenting no matter how I tried to lay or use the pillow, it ached. spent half the night awake. went off the deep end emotionally -- irritable, agitated, then nausea started, dry heaves. I have a small bumpy rash also. The worst of it is the flu-like symptoms. chills and shakes. The last time I take this med.

i've been on bactrim dm for about a week now (2 doses/day for 14 days) for a possible MRSA infection (should know the results tomorrow...hopefully). about 2 or 3 days into it, i felt extremely lethargic and achy (all my joints were sore and almost 'warm'). woke up in the middle of the night a few days ago with my entire tongue feeling numb and the base of my skull hurting like hell and my lymph nodes on the back of my neck swelling and sore to the touch. since then, i've had chronic pain in this area. after reading some of the posts here, i decided to stop my dose until i could speak to my doctor since i wasn't able to speak to him yet today, i decided to resume bactrim until i can get on something else. it's a terrible feeling being trapped between treatment for a potential MRSA infection and stopping treatment because of the possibility of serious side effects. i just took another dose moments ago and am honestly worried i've made a mistake. but what choice do i have when faced with the possibility of an infection that is also very serious? i can't do nothing...

i honestly don't have a lot of options with a MRSA infection...i see people on here mentioning cipro or levaquin, but these also have tons of posts on here about crazy side effects.

this past week has been a living nightmare...

i hope those of you who have experienced such terrible problems with bactrim will find something that helps you...

nausea, headache, tiredness, really bad joint pain cant move wrist so painful , depression only had 3 doses

I was prescribed Bactrim for a UTI. I took it around 6 and by 8 I was face down the toilet bowl. I had some of the worst nausea and vomiting I have ever had in my life (and believe me, I had the worst morning sickness when I was pregnant. I was so bad I had to be hospitalized. This was worse than that). Even water made me vomit. I couldn't sleep. I could eat ice chips and that was it. My entire body hurt. Not very nice with a newborn to care for. I was afraid to take my next dose, but I'm toughing it out.

My husband was recently prescribed Bactrim from his family doctor for a case of the ful. We thought it strange, since flu is normally not treated with antibiotics, viral we thought. Anyway, we felt Doc knew best, so he took three doses. His original symptoms of the flue were simply nausea, vomiting and a bit of diarrhea. After taking the bactrim, he developed a very high fever, headache, pain in legs and feet, burning eyes, chills so severe his whole body shook with a vengeance. He was sent home from the ER and told this was "worsening flu symptoms" and to continue the medication. We didn't follow the advise, and thought it might be the bactrim. He still continued to get worse, and went back to ER next night, bad stomach pain and all other symptoms worse. We found out it was all due to the bactrim, which shouldn't have been given in the first place for a mild case of the flu. He also suffered decreased kidney function, which has taken some time to come back to normal (luckily). His heart rate is still increased after several days, and may remain so permanently, requiring him to take beta blockers for the rest of his life. The doctors won't admit this is from the bactrim, but i have found medical literature stating otherwise. His doctor said it was his fault for not reading or understanding the little insert that came with his medication from the pharmacy. A lot of this information wasn't even on it. There are so many other choices of antibiotics to use, which do not chance a horrible reaction, permanent medical problem, or a fatality, which seems to be the case more often than it should from the medication, bactrim.

First I am someone who believes in the less drugs a person has to take, the better off they are. I will go days with a headache before I take an asprin. Recently, on Oct 19, 2008 I was prescribed Bactrim DS and Keflex for what DR. said looked like staph infection in ear. I had a cyst or a pimple or something in my ear that burst the night before so I went to the Urgent care to have it checked out (should never have gone to the doctor for this). Against my better judgment I filled the prescription and took the antibiotics for the first 6 days out of the 10 day course. Honestly I think hydrogen peroxide would have been fine for the ear issue and no need for overkill with antibiotics. I informed this Doctor that in 2005 I had been bitten by a dog and was given a double dose of antibiotics for that, I had a slight reaction and I wasn't sure he should be putting me on another double dose of antibiotics because of this. He went on and on about drug resistant staph strains these days. I stopped taking the drugs on day 6 as I could tell I was going to have problems. The next day my left eye swelled and I was itchy all over my body. The day after that, woke up, left eye swelled again and still really itchy all over. I tried calling the Urgent Care no one answer the phone. Called the pharmacy told them what was happening. They told me to stop taking the drugs which I already had done and to take benadryl. Started benadryl. Next day swollen left eye, itchy all over and now I had two hives, one on my upper left leg/pelvic area, and on on the right side of my waist. Went back to the Urgent Care I told them this is due to the antibiotics they prescribed, note it in my chart and find out what they prescribed 3 years earlier when I was bitten by the dog. Was told to take benedryl or Claritin and work on this from the inside and use hydrocortizone creams and oatmeal baths for the itching on the outside. Started all of this, but nothing helped with the itching. Next morning woke up, my eye was not swollen, but I had hives all over my body (mainly on my butt, legs, lower torso, and scalp) and really intense itching everywhere. My skin temperature felt extremely warm when I touched myself. I also started wheezing a bit but grabbed an outdated inhaler for Provental took a few puffs and the wheezing went away. Next morning, woke up now the hives were on the left side of my face, back, moving onto the chest, a few on the stomach, lower torso covered, legs covered, moving onto my ankles, scalp covered, and the left side of my bottom lip was really swollen. My left ear was flaming red (both ears hurt badly) and was swollen to twice it's normal size. The itching was unbearable. I took photos of myself, popped a Claritin, and a benadryl and knocked myself out for 4 hours. When I woke up I still looked the same (like s*#t) but the itching was finally gone. I took myself and the photos back to the Urgent Care. The doctor could not believe I looked like that as he had seen me two days prior with only two small hives and a slightly swollen eye. I was given a shot of epinephrine and am now taking prednisone and was told if I have any more breathing issues go straight to the ER. That night the hives moved to my wrist and palms of my hands. The palms were extremely painful, swollen, and flaming red. They were itchy, but if I touched or rubbed them, they burned like they were on fire. Pretty much over the course of this, any of the areas that were nuclear red burned like they were on fire (one day it was my knees, one day my ankle, three or four times it was the ears, the palms continuous for two days). I went to bed that night with my palms resting on bags of ice. Yesterday woke up, had small hives all over my face (luckily no swollen lip or eye), hives were now on my neck, moving onto my arms, hands, and feet, a couple on my chest, and they are still all over the rest of my body. At lunch time yesterday (Friday I started sweating behind my neck and I took it as a good sign since I had not broke a sweat in the past 5 days and my skin did not feel like it was 5, 10, 15 degrees hotter then normal when I touched it (other then my flaming red palms and ankle which still really hurt). It is Saturday November 1, 2008 and this is my first day (trial day) not taking Claritin or Benadryl but still on the prednisone. I still feel very drained due to the previous six days of hell (sinus hurts as well). I am pretty ticked off as I missed a concert on Thursday night because of this. Couldn't exactly go to the event with hives all over my body, especially on my face, swollen lip, and feeling really drained.

The Urgent Care got back to me on Friday regarding the antibiotics I was prescribed when I suffered the dog bite. I was prescribed Augmentin and Bactrim DS. I am trying to find out from an ear nose throat doctor what he prescribed for me right after the dog bite and I will have a list of all the antibiotics to potentially stay away from. After the dog bite incident and taking the antibiotics to clear up the infection in my leg it felt like I was having sinus issues (in hindsight I thing it was an antibiotic reaction as I am having those same symptoms now) so I went to a sinus doctor. He prescribe and antibiotic thinking I had a sinus infection. I told him I just finished a few days before a double round of antibiotics for a dog bite (how on earth could I possibly have a sinus infection?). Stupid me I should have waited for the lab results to come back before I started taking that third round of antibiotics. Of course I did not have a sinus infection. Took a round of antibiotics for nothing, but then had a swollen eye issue for the next 6 to 9 months to deal with along with trying to get all the residual antibiotics out of my system, get rid of the yeast infections I now had due to the antibiotics killing everything good in my body, and reestablishing the good flora and fauna back into my intestinal system. It took months to recover from that.

I am concerned how many months or years will I be suffering from the consequences of this unnecessary round of antibiotics? Will my eye periodically swell for the next 6 to 9 months? Will I continue to get hives? Have I suffered any permanent internal organ damage due to this? Will I die the next time a doctor prescribes me antibiotics? Pretty positive I will not let any doctor prescribe to me the Bactrim DS ever again as that one looks like it could be the one I am allergic too, but I do not know if I am allergic to the others.

Pretty much people If any DR tries to prescribe to you Bactrim DS or one of it's relatives under a different name, my advise is to insist on some other type of antibiotic as this one the harmful side effects outway the good.

I was prescribed Bactrim by an ER doctor after seeing them to have a procedure done to drain an infection underneath my fingernail. I completed my medication without having any known side effects. (however I was itching a lot underneath my feet, but I didn't realize it was a side effect at the time). The day after I finished the medicine I developed flu like symptoms. I had chills, hot flashes,fever, my whole body was aching. Even my eyes hurt! I stayed home from work for two days, expecting to come down with the flu then surprisingly on day 3 all of the flu symptoms left. Then I developed sever itching all over my body. I tried lotions, bath soaks, anti-itch creams. But it just won't seem to go away. I have also developed a yeast infection. The bottom of my feet itch like crazy and are red. This is my 4th day off the medication and my 3rd day of severe itching. I am wondering how long these symptoms will last. I am glad I found this site because I was really wondering what was going on with that "flu" symptom thing. I will never use Bactrim again!!

I was prescribed Bactrim for a UTI and within one day started to experience severe lower abdominal pain -- feeling as if my entire lower abdomen, and around to the back, was caught in a vise. Not a stabbing pain, but a pressure-pain that would not let up. The next day the pain had moved up to the mid-abdomen and had become a burning, pressure-pain that I imagine might be what an ulcer might feel like. My stomach and abdomen seem or feel swollen, too. Maalox seems to help, but only offers a little relief and doesn't last long. A dose of fish oil seemed to help a little at bedtime last night. I wonder how long this will last and what mechanism of Bactrim could possibly cause this?

HI- I was also checking in on the die effects of this drug and ran into this site. I am on my 6th day of bactrim and feel like my legs are going to explode. Yesterday I had chest pain and an upset stomach. I was prescribed the bactrim on my second visit to the ER caused by a bladder cystitis. I had a very large amount of blood in my urine and bled for 4 days. I feel better but I don't feel 100% myself still. Freaking out that it has such a reaction time after the medication has finished.

I had a very small insect bite looking spot on my leg on Wednesday afternoon. Since it had pain in it and I have had a staph infection before, I immediately went to the doctor. The doctor prescribed Bactrim and one other antibiotic. I took a Bactrim pill at 10 pm and by midnight I was up with stomach cramps and chills so intense that the shaking made my muscles sore. My eyes were extremely bloodshot. The only way to fight off the cold feeling and the chills was to get in a warm bath. After my bath, I stayed up for 3 hours because of the cramps. I was able to get a few hours of sleep. At 9am I made my way down stairs- all the way feeling as if I was going to pass out. When I finally made it down the stairs, I threw up. By this time I was also running a low grade fever and had begun spotting. I immediately went the the emergency room. Upon arrival, I threw up again. I asked the nurse to please let me lay down. After 4 hours, an IV, pain meds for my throbbing headache, nausea meds, and IV antibiotics, my doctor drained the spot on my leg. He told me KEEP TAKING BOTH ANTIBIOTICS and sent me home. He said that if I had more symptoms to stop taking the Bactrim. I did not follow his instructions. I came home and luckily one of my friends is in pharmacy school.... she sent me this site and told me what she thought about what happened. I am so happy that I did not take the medicine again. It is scary that this drug did this to me after only ONE pill. It is scary to think what could have happened if I had continued the meds. This drug is very dangerous and everyone should be aware of the potential hazard to their health before taking it.

I was prescribed Bactrim for a staph infection that turned out to be MRSA. I took the pills (2 pill 2x a day for 10 days). It did clear up the infection; but the side effects sent me back to the doctor. After the second dose, I started having a headache and feeling feverish. After the third dose, my muscles started aching and I began having little muscle spasms and numbness in my right arm and a low grade fever, headache and fatigue. The morning after the 5th dose, I woke up with severe muscles cramps in my legs and feet. I took the 6th dose and what a mistake. The muscle cramps and spasms moved to my inner thigh, legs, feet, abdomen and back. I had to use heat packs to quiet the muscles. I stopped taking the meds and notified the doctor. He changed my prescription to doxy and said that I was allergic to sulfer meds. He also gave me flexorial to help with the muscle spasms. It been 3 days since I stopped taking the meds. I still feel severe fatigue, muscle aches, fever, sweating, and anxiety. I will never take this stuff or anything like it again. I have noted it in my pharmacy charts so they will no ahead in case I don't catch it.

I completed the cycle of taking this drug. The next day I started to itch all over the body, followed by numbness in my jaws, pain in all joints of the body, chest pain, back pain and cramps in my leg. Lack of sleep due to itching. I continue to have this and it has been nearly two weeks. The doctor has advised me to take Advil (200mg) three tablets three times a day and to take a Benadryl at night time. I started this yesterday and it gave me some relief continue to see when I will be fit again. I recommend that this drug should be banned.

I don't wish this on anyone, but it's comforting to know I am not the only one. On Day 3 of taking Bactrim, developed a slight headache. The next morning, it was throbbing, especially when I bent down. The headache persisted, and was joined by body aches, sweating, and shivering. My doctor wants me to keep taking the drug, but after reading these postings, I'd much rather let the infection clear up on it own. Not sure if this is relevant, but I had an allergic reaction once to Amoxicillin (hives, rash). I cannot wait until this leaves my system.

I was given Biaxin for a sinus infection that never cleared up. So the doctor gave me Bactrim. I took one before I went to bed. I woke up all jittery and full of anxiety. Sometimes this happens, because I do have agoraphobia with panic disorder. I took my second dose with breakfast. About 3 hours later my gums started to burn; like I ate too much salt. It was irritating, but did not realize it was from the antibiotic. Then my teeth started to hurt really bad everywhere, and it felt like electrical shocks going down my body. My skin turned all colors of blotchy purple and yellow. I started to shake so bad that it hurt. My Dad rushed me to the emergency room. I was given epi, steroids, and an anti-inflammatory. Then monitored for 2 hours. Which was hell, because I have agoraphobia.

I was sent home with prednisone and benadryl. It has been six days since this has happened, and I still have the chills. I feel like I have the flu. My teeth still hurt, and advil won't even help it. I have a constant headache. This medication should be banned. I only took 2 doses and became so ill. When do the side effects finally stop?

I was prescribed this for a UTI. Dosing was one pill twice a day for 3 days. I took one dose of this medication & the side effects were awful. I am not allergic to anything & was shocked that I had a reaction to Bactrim.

I took my first dose at 1pm and actually started to feel pretty decent (better than I had in days) but by 7pm the side effects started. I had pins & needles feelings all over my body that are still present (almost 48 hours after taking med) side pain, joint pain, rash, fatigue. No headache thank goodness!

I didn't stay on this medication because to be honest the side effects and all of the things I am reading on the internet have scared me. My UTI appears to be better - however after just one pill - Im certain its not cleared up.

My husband had a cyst on his face. His primary doctor gave him Bactrim. The first week was fine, but then he got really sick and had to to go the ER. He was doubled over in agony, screaming, nausea. He was admitted. They scoped his stomach, CAT scan, X-rays. He got better ('cause he stopped it while in the hospital). They discharged him with a script for MORE Bactrim. He took it and ended up back in the hospital!

He has thrown it all out. He had chills, aches, he moved like a 90 year old man. He was very sick to his stomach with agonizing stomach and abdominal pain. He's still moving really slow and feels terrible. He says he can't taste anything sweet, either. We hope that resolves soon.

Was taking Levaquin for UTI and prostate infection, which caused horrible side effects. Now taking Bactrim and feel terrible, do not sleep well and get up feeling so tired cannot do daily chores. Guess will have to tolerate all this in order to get rid of infection, but wonder if there are not some antibiotics that do not have all this terrible side effects and still do their job.

I got an infection on my leg from an bite and went to the er to get it checked out and they opened my abscess and prescribed me Bactrim. I made sure i was talking it to get rid of the infection and didn't want to go through that pain again. Then 4 days later I started running a high fever and nothing I did could get it to stop. It would go away for an hour or so then come back. I assumed I was getting the flu cause I had a fever, bad body aches, and I had nausea and stomach ache. But I could not figure our why I had chest and back pain. Well then the next morning I woke up with a major rash all over my body. From my head to my toes, I went straight to the emergency room and they told me to stop taking the bactrim and gave me Prednisone and Benadryl. This has been the worst experience of my life. I don't think they should use this drug at all. It has the corst side effects and they take a long time to recover from.

Diagnosed with MRSA on my right leg 2 months ago, was prescribed Bactrim(2 a day for 7 days) and didn't have any major side-effects. I now have MRSA again and have been prescribed a higher dosage of Bactrim and have some possible side-effects as well. As noted by others, I can not sleep (as is evident by this posting time, if its EST), but I am exhausted! Also, I have occasional shooting pain down my right arm and my fingers on my right hand are numb. This usually occurs while I'm lying down.

Not sure if these are directly related to the Bactrim, but thought I'd post in case anyone else has had something similar. Seems not too much out there regarding the arm pain (as I try to self-diagnose in the middle of the night :) ).

I came down with a severe UTI-you ladies know---the kind that makes you teeth hurt !! I went to the doctor-he prescribed Bactrim-2x a day for 7 days-Into the 2nd day-I had no idea what was going on ! I had the most excruciating heartburn & bloat & headaches--And on the 6th day-yet still !
I don't think I will finish the last day as I want to get this LOVELY drug out of my system--And here's the truth ...I don't know if it actually cured this UTI !!! I don't go as frequent & thank god the bad pain is gone--but I still have a slight feel of uncomfortableness & burning---So , back to the Doctor I go after I went through of week of wondering what was happening to me !!!

Can't even believe I forgot another side effect-- major, major chills followed by sweating. Where I was shivering so hard my roommate got worried.

Honestly thank you for this website! I mentally feel better if not physically yet. I was prescribed 3 day/2 dose Bactrim for a UTI. I have NEVER had a reaction to antibiotics or any type of medicine. I can no longer say that.

That said...thought I was dying. My temperature was 102 for days, every muscle in my body felt so sore I felt like a car had hit me and then hit me again, ridiculous size headache, massive stomach pain, insomnia, thought I would faint every time I stood up, could barely walk, no appetite, etc. It was ridiculous and I thought I was going crazy because how can one medicine do all that?? I now have a whole new respect for antibiotics.

Since I was feeling so horrible by the 2nd day on it I went ahead and finished the last day. (hindsight probably stupid)

This is my first day off and all my muscles are still killing me, especially my neck, chest, stomach, back. Still feel weak and my temp. this morning was 101 and went down to 100 now.

And I don't know if it was the medicine or just being sick but I've been so 'out of it' today and just depressed. I can not WAIT for this medicine to be out of my system! And I will never use it again.

To add insult to injury I'm not sure if it cured the UTI all the way. Not running to the restroom but still have slight (non-painful) tingle down there.

I was prescribed batrium for a cyst that a had. The first day I started talking it my eyes started to turn blood shot red and with a little bit of swelling around my whole face. Then more things came like itching on my legs and the bottom of my feet, dizzy, headaches, and feeling so sick to my stomach that I even throw up. This is the fourth day of it, I am going to stop talking it to see if the swelling on my face is going to go down.

My 10 year old daughter was given Bactrim at an ER for infected bites. Within a couple days she was running a 104.8 temp that would not go away and from her knees up she had a rash with whelps that was driving her crazy. She was pale under the rash and every bone in her body hurt. We rushed her to the hospital and she was admitted. They said her blood palates were low and her white blood count was low...then her potassium also dropped. We spent 3 days and 4 nights there. Today we go back for a check up with her doctor...and I will express my concerns about the kidney problems I have read about today. I am now warning everyone I talk to about this drug. Seems the more I share her story the more people I found out this has happened to ..I feel like I should of been warned of the side effects of the medication

My mother is on Bactrim for a UTI. She has Alzheimer's disease, but can normally function pretty well. Two days after starting the three day treatment she got more confused and couldn't even figure out how to take her medication. Now she has leg pain, muscle weakness, and joint pain although I think it has helped the UTI.

I'm not a person that necessarily thinks the drug should be removed from the market because of what I've read here. We aren't reading posts from the thousands of people that it has helped without ill effects. All drugs potentially have side effects. There is always the potential for adverse reactions or allergic reactions. As a matter of fact, many people on this forum continued to take the medication when they were clearly having allergic reactions making themselves sicker in the process. We must be diligent and educate ourselves about medications and not just rely on someone else to tell us that it is fine. That being said, I feel for those on this board who have endured such suffering and hope that they recovered without incident.

Hi Gang,
I have a problem of my own with bactrim, but I want to start this post by saying I am an emergency room physician assistant and I prescribe bactrim all the time due to a number of reasons - one, it does, according to state guidelines, cover MRSA (people misunderstand that MRSA is a PENICILLIN resistant staph - but USUALLY responds to bactrim, levaquin, or cipro (ciprofloxacin). And two, traditionally bactrim is the cheapest and I personally try my best to keep my patients costs down (I have 6 kids and even I cannot afford the $800 a month cost just for insurance so we put money in a health savings account and pay cash for everything - though we rarely go for just "colds" like so many do). But I developed a UTI which tend to be real bad in men as we do not get them as much as women do - this is due to the urinary tract and anatomy differences. Almost ALWAYS a UTI is from E. COLI 80-90% of the time - don't let that scare you as it is a normal digestive enzyme - but outside of the digestive tract or if exposed to an outside source like bad meat - it cause infection), why that matters is some antibiotics, like zithromax, do not cover that bacteria.

Well, to the point. I started on it for my UTI, normal dose, 2 times a day. I noticed I was having some weird dizziness and even slurred speech - no rash. I noted in this blog that people worry SO MUCH about the rash, but the rash is usually not any big deal. We see it, but unfortunately what we see scares us more than what may be going on silently inside of us!

So I have these symptoms and now I have a lump under my jaw that I can hardly open my mouth and still slurred speech. The Mrs thinks I am taking something else or who knows what, but I almost felt like a stroke. No headache, some nausea at times, but no rash. The jaw pain and I guess a left side neck pain are pretty intense today. I am stopping the bactrim and I promise I will be a bit more sensitive to others who I prescribe it to! I was looking for side effects and came across this blog.

Jamie B. PA-C******

Hello all,
I'm in the same boat but near the end.... I was given Bactrim for a UTI. I woke up after 2 days with horrible aches in my joints and muscles. I was immediately taken off the Bactrim and put on Doxycycline. I was then put on Prednisone for the aches (which helped). I developed blisters and a rash after a few days. My aches went away after about two weeks but now I have itchy, sore and peeling feet, buttocks, mouth, and genitals. Stomach upset as well. I have been tested for everything (STDs, Lyme Disease, West Nile, etc, etc) and everything has come back negative. I was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome from the allergic reaction I had to the Bactrim. It has been 3 weeks since the first dose and I am finally starting to feel better (except for the insane itching). Good luck to everyone. Never again!

Your website helped me know that I was not dying or crazy when I was prescribed to Bactrim. I went to an Urgent care facility to treat a UTI. I have had them in the past and figured it would be a quick fix. The prescribed Bactrim twice per day for 7 days. After the first day I developed a sore throat. After the second day my body began to ache a bit. After the third day, I almost collapsed from faintness. I stopped taking the medication because of how it was making me feel and since I saw NUMEROUS online complaints (like this site) on how awful the medication was. I though I would feel better after stopping the medication but it only got worse. That is when I developed a fever with severe flu like symptoms and also vaginal sores. I was confined to my bed for two days and this was two days after I stopped the medication. After day three of no medication I began to feel better. Today (day 5 of no medication) I went to see my PCP( which is an internal medicine doctor who I should have just went to to begin with). He said I would be fine and I am allergic to Sulpha drugs. He also stated that mosts UTI's clear after three days of treatment. In addition he stated that most women have resistance and reactions to Bactrim and that Cipro would have been a better choice. Although Bactrim is a lot cheaper than Cipro. I would NEVER recommend Bactrim to anyone!!! I thought I was dying! I am getting tested for STD's incase that is why I have sores (highly doubtful) but I'll let you know.

Guys thanks for posting. I was prescribed this medicine 2 days ago for an internal infection of the tissue surrounding my ankle. I'm not sure if it's helping the infection, but I do know that I am ridiculously nauseated. I'm afraid to stop taking the medicine because the doctor said if untreated the infection could infect my blood. This is the only antibiotic that has ever made me feel this way.

This drug made me terribly ill and I will refuse to take it if it is ever prescribed again. I had to take 3 a day during which I became so ill that I cut the dosage down to 1/2 pill which I found I could tolerate. I had a UTI which became MRSA. I'd rather have MRSA. I could have been depressed or had headaches. I was so nauseated, I wouldn't know.

Hi everyone! I am a 20yr old female who went to the ER with a seriously infected bug bite that had a red streak leaving the bite. The ER doctor told me it was a staph infection and I was very lucky to have come in when I did. He gave me Bactrim for 10days, twice a day. First things first BACTRIM DID heal my staph infection beautifully! BUT On day 8 around my P.M. pill I realized that my thighs were COVERED in a red rash that didn't itch and did not have any kind of bump to it.. In panic because of what I had just gone through with having a staph infection I ran to my mother who looked online and we found this site.. I agree with ALL of you who say this drug should be taken off the market and also before I take any drug ever again I will be looking at this site and to people like you who apparently care more than the doctors do. On day 8 I NOT ONLY had the rash (which by day 9.. today has spread everywhere but my face and hands pretty much, developed some bump and itch) I have the worst stiff neck and swollen glands!!! Behind my eyes KILLS to look in any direction or strong light.. I am always tired and have weak arms and legs... Tomorrow is my last day on the pill and Wed I will be seeing my regular doc for a routine check up... Note as well that yes I have been able to sleep but since the very first night on Bactrim I have been having very weird and very realistic dreams!.. I'm sorry if this is scattered in thought but I just want to put out there what I have as well to help just like most of you helped me.. and saved me from a complete panic attack.. also watch for signs of depression.. I used to take pills for depression and scary enough my mother since I have been on Bactrim has been saying shes seeing signs of my depression returning.... DRINK TONS OF WATER & SLEEP AS MUCH AS YOU CAN... If you are on the last few days of the medicine stick it out and bitch like hell to your doctors.. maybe if enough of us to we can get this crazp off the market

Other what seems to be common side effects: Along with the rash, swollen glands, stiff neck (mostly on the right side), fever, chills, always tired and weak, EXTENDED period.. sorry ladies!, funny stomach feeling where it doesn't hurt but it does not feel good, starving or nauseated by the idea of food, gass (gross), and the funny dreams. This stuff is HORRIBLE and I cannot wait for day 10 to be over and done with so I can get back to normal.. Good luck to everyone else!... Also I have to pee a ton!!!

I'm very very VERY sorry to all of those who lost loved ones because of a medicine.. that should never happen and I truly am so sorry.

About 3 years ago I had severe chest pains and thought I was having a heart attack so I went to the ER and they couldn't find anything wrong. I had these chest pains over time but my doctor checked my heart out with every test and they were all normal. Last year when I took bactrim the bottom part of my tongue got a white film and it hurt very bad, I also had the severe chest pains again but I still did not connect it with bactrim. I started taking bactrim on July 7th-Monday and by Thursday I had the white painful film under my tongue again, and I actually started to connect it with bactrim use so I quit taking it but by Saturday night I began itching and getting hives. Sunday night I started having the severe chest pains again and went to the doctor on Monday, he has scheduled a cat scan for me, I have already had the endoscopy and chest x-rays but nothing. I sat down and began thinking and every time I take bactrim I have the severe chest pains. It is Saturday July 19 and I still have the chest pains and itching.

Was prescribed generic for Bactrim (10 days) for UTI and started to get headaches almost immediately. Along with neck discomfort, constipation, eyes sensitive to light, mild nausea, unusual dreaming and aches in the mid-section. Wanted to stop taking but the docs said to finish it all, but after seeing this site im stopping 3 days short.
Now I wish i would have treated it at home with natural and safe methods. I have come to not trust all of these medications. Please don't take it if it can be helped!

I was recently treated for a staph infection with 10 days worth of bactrim. The whole week my BP was through the roof (now on BP meds), severe headaches, sore spots on my head, weird eye pain and vomitting. It was horrible. I was linking it all to my unusual high BP but from what I've read it looks like most of you have experienced the same side effects. I had two days left to take but I'm not going to mess with it anymore.

Prescribed for UTI, 1 pill 2x day, actually Bactrim DS, which is 800/160 tabs. After 1 dose, next morning severe migraine with vomiting, nausea, chills, (I didn't take temp, but probably had a fever), loss of appetite, finally went to sleep for a few hours and was jarred awake by a bad dream (unusual for me) and couldn't go back to sleep thought I had drank to much caffeine. Had tight chest, but thought that was linked to my 130/90 BP...I thought I was having a heart attack. Followed by sleeplessness last night. Today, after 3 doses, I woke with a stiff neck and had a headache this morning which was made better by 2 Tylenol. Went to my GP to get on some BP meds. He must've thought I was crazy, but I wasn't leaving until I got something to make my chest feel better and theoretically lower my BP. I thought all these side effects were just me, but apparently not. I wish everyone the best in finding a better, safer treatment than this one.

I talked to the pharmacist and she said the half life for Bactrim is 3 days. And sure enough you could have set a clock to it, I started feeling tons better 3 days after my last dose. Thank you LORD!!!

I was prescribed Bactrim for 10 days. On about the 7th/8th days, I noticed my lymph nodes under my jaw were becoming very painful and swollen. By the next night my lymph nodes continued to become more swollen and painful under my jaw and spread all along under my jaw and in my neck (I looked like I had two chins!). I also then developed a fever of 102, chills, severe headache and ached all over (oh yeah, my heart was racing for days). The fever and chills made me absolutely miserable! I could barely get out of bed or off the couch for almost 4 days. The next morning after fever, chills, headache, I woke up with a red, splotchy, sunburn-like rash from my neck to my ankles, which got itchier and more painful in the next two days. My MD said the rash was a reaction to Bactrim but did not seem to know what the other symptoms were from so ordered blood tests and told me he was "concerned" for me (I was freaking out)! The bloodwork came back negative (thank God). He still didn't seem to put the other symptoms with the rash and Bactrim. I then started to research Bactrim allergies/side effects online and found this website. I found that others had experienced some of the same horrible side effects as I had. It was pretty scary until I realized this was all apparently related to Bactrim, as my MD apparently had no clue. Other's experiences helped validate what I was experiencing so thanks to you all who shared your Bactrim horror stories! I started feeling a little better 48 hours after the last Bactrim dose and at about 72 hours, I pretty much felt back to normal. No more Sulfa for me!

First morning of being off the Bactrim and I'm still experiencing the same side effects in my previous post, however, I see that I failed to mention the extreme light sensitivity in my eyes and the chills, sweats, and all over muscle pain and joint pain. Last night I felt like I was dying or something. I was able to work with the UTI...but not able to make it in today w/all these side effects still happening. Again...if at all possible please avoid taking this medication!

So glad I found this site. I started to think I was going crazy or something. I was prescribed the generic Bactrim for a UTI for five days. I am one pill away from finishing and have been experiencing the weirdest pain in my eyes when I try to look in different directions, VERY cranky and irritable, extreme tiredness, headaches and nausea, as well as random rashes that occur on my neck and arms. The UTI doesn't seem so bad now! Will definitely be flushing my system more frequently w/cranberries and lot's of water from now on. I would NOT recommend sulfas to anyone if it can be avoided.

Recently I was prescribed bactrim for a staph infection. On the fourth day I developed a severe rash all over my body. Swelling of my feet and hands. By the time I got to the Dr. my blood pressure had dropped dangerously low and I nearly fainted. The Dr. gave me three shots, cortisone, prednisone and one other I cant remember. By that time my breathing was weak. So the Doctor sent me by ambulance to ER.During the five minute ride my pressure dropped really low again. The EMT started an IV. SInce Primary care Dr. had already taken steps to treat me, ER did very little other than keep watch of vital sighns and let IV finish. ER Dr. concluded it was do to bactrim. He prescribed prednisone and over the counter benadryl and sent me home. After taking prednisone rash seemed to get worse, noticed new rash behind ears and on the top of my head were lumps. Blood pressure has been spuradic at best, but not dangerous. It has been 24 hours now and no changes. My side effects include headache, backache, swelling of feet and hands, rash all over body, itching, raised welps on legs,arms,behind ears and on top of head. The swelling of my feet has went down but my hands are still swollen and sore to the touch. One question. There seems not to be much medicine to help this. I just have to let it run its course how long could the recovery take.

Can I swear on this site??!!! My gosh..I thought I was dying!!! I had been given this med for uti...never had one before, started taking it...then came the fun....fever, chills sweating,swollen everywhere,red rash,splitting headache,throwing up, literary feel like you will die!!!!! PLease always check on the side effects of these meds...it will save you from feeling like you are at your death bed!!!!!

I am so glad to have found this site. I took 3 Bactrim pills for a urinary tract infection. After the 2nd pill I should have stopped, because I thought I was feeling oddly and wondered if it was from the drug. I talked to my mother and sister who have frequent UTI's and who take Bactrim, and they said they had no side effects from it whatsoever. I figured it was in my head then that I was feeling bad, and decided to take another dose (My 3rd). I experienced tingly, crawling feelings in my legs. Cramps and pain in my stomach, major gas and acid reflux, lower ab pain, right side pain, and low back pain. In addition, I felt out of my own body, everything seemed very bright to my eyes in an unusual way, I saw stars when I looked to the left or right and shadows, I also felt sick to my stomach or starved depending. I noticed a slightly sore throat and last night a terrible headache at the base of my neck and up the back of my head. Today I have a very sore and swollen tendon in my right side. My stomach remains bubbly and gassy and I still have some headache pain and leg pain. I also experienced rapid heartbeat to the point of just about hyperventilating. I stopped the drug immediately. It's been 2 days since I've taken any Bactrim and I still feel horrible. I can't wait until this crap is out of my system!! I am drinking tons of water and resting as much as I can. I will take Cranberry Tablets Supplements every day from now on to ward off UTI in the future, and NEVER EVER take Bactrim again. I would NOT recommend this drug to ANYONE. The side effects are horrible and all this from just 3 pills! I cannot imagine having taken more.

Good luck and good health to all who have been in this position! It stinks.

I was given Bactrim at the ER where I was diagnosed with a staph infection. They gave me 800 mg twice a day for 7 days. On day 8 I returned to my regular GP because another boil had appeared. He said the dosage the ER had me on was not high enough. He doubled me to 3200 mg a day. After 4 days on this high dose I began to feel terrible, flu like symptoms, all of my lymph nodes were swollen and painful to the touch, especially the ones at the base of your neck/head. That night my eyes started itching like crazy and began to swell. I went back to the doctor she said it was allergies in my eyes and prescribed some expensive drops, told me I had a virus causing my body aches and fever, and lanced my other boil, she then put me on Doxycycline. That night I broke out in a terrible rash from head to toe that was itchy, then became more like a very painful sunburn. I thought I was allergic to the Doxycycline, so I called the doctor who switched me to Levaquin, wow,,,I sure have spent a lot of money on medicines to discover tonight on this forum that all of this was due to Bactrim. I will NEVER take it again as long as I live.