Skin infection symptoms and conditions

Prescribed Bactrim for MRSA skin infection on my arm that I picked up at my local gym. Day 1 OK, Day 2 severe headache at the base of my skull. Day 3 continued headache, general nausea, gas. Day 4 I began to develop a low grade fever and dizziness. Almost passed out after walking just a half mile. Still a severe headache, weakness. Day 5 Headache, consistent fever of 103, chills and muscle aches, light hives visible, weakness, unable to sleep. Day 6 early am, couldn't sleep all night, went to the ER with the worst muscle aches and fever I have ever had. Hives now very clear and pronounced all over my torso. I was tested for the flu. Said it was not, but was a viral infection that was attacking my muscles. Muscle breakdown found in both blood and urine samples. ER physician changed medication to Clindamycin HCL. Told to stop Bactrim, but thought what I had was viral, not a reaction to the Bactrim. I continues to feel bad for a couple more days, but hives started to reduce, fever diminished and started to feel halfway human after being off Bactrim for a couple of days. Still not 100%. New med has it's issues too (have to take every 6 hours, can't lay down after taking it) and a nasty taste in mouth and stomach upset, loose stool. After 5 days of new med went back to my doctor. A secondary infection had set up in the Staph area. The fungal infection needed a different med. Now is 4 weeks later, after finishing all meds, still have an infection. Blood cultures taken to see if the infection is the staph or fungal. I have lost 8lb, have no taste buds, loose stool, severe stomach cramps/burning (now taking Activia to put back good bacteria in my stomach...no one told me to do this before!!). If Staph not gone, need IV antibiotic for a month. I am 50 year old female, but note I had taken this in my 30's without any problems. You can develop an allergic reaction to medicines previously OK for you. Beware of Bactrim. It kicked my behind!

I was prescribed this medicine for 10 days due to a cyst like skin infection on my inner thigh. On day 5 My right eye on the left side was very bloodshot. Not sure if its related as I had pink eye a couple weeks ago and thought it was gone. I also have gout and take allopurinol which sometimes causes my eyes to get bloodshot for extended periods. On day 9 I had a headache (throbbing behind my eyes), slight fatigue and that night it felt like I might be getting the flu (aches, nose passageway closing a little). Today has been the worst, still not sure if its related to the meds as this has been the season of the swine flu as well. I have positional vertigo which makes me dizzy sometimes, I've been free of dizziness from the vertigo for 3 years and just started again tonight. My teeth have been sensitive to cold all day too and even though it was 98 degrees outside and 77 in the house I was freezing. Feel a little bit of heart flutters as well. I did miss one dose on day 8. I probably didn't drink enough water with the prescription either. Lastly, I've been a bit stressed from work and an upcoming trip so take these "side effects" with a grain of salt. Either that or my body is week from all the other problems I have. Thankfully I haven't been itchy as others describe.

I had a skin infection on my lower legs and was prescribed Cephalexin Monohydrate. I took it for 6 days, 4x per day, then stopped. I was supposed to continue on 2x per day for the next week.
I started itching at the top half of my buttocks and it quickly spread all over my back, chest, shoulders, arms and onto my scalp. Small lumps or hives and red blotchy skin nearly all over my old body. The itching was driving me crazy. I didn't know where to scratch or rub next.
My doctor couldn't see me for another week so I went to see another doctor who prescribed Phenergan (promethazine hydrochloride) tablets and Celestone M (betamethasone) cream.
Relief came within 24 hrs, I went through 4 days of hell and while still itchy on the 5th day, it was getting better. I also used ionil T ( a medicated shampoo ) for my scalp.
I have never been allergic to any drugs before this monster
This antibiotic should come with a warning

Hello, I took two pills of Sulfamethoxazole-TMP d's the first tablet caused no noticeable side effects. Unfortunately the second caused a severe headache as pressure built up behind my eyes. I haven't had a headache in years, without being sick. The headaches were pulsing at times and worsened should I bend over or exert my self. I became fatigued easily early in the day, and I work out a lot and try to become fatigued purposely almost everyday. Immediately after taking the second pill I felt sharp pains in my stomach. I haven't had an upset stomach in years. The effects of the second pill did not stop there I also had started feeling the aches in my joints. My skin itches where I usually rub against things. Such as ankle to ankle, knees from wrestling and back from laying in bed. I also got three blister bumps one on my back and two on my face. It reminds me of what I get when I eat fast, canned or preservative packed foods. The prescription was due to a minor skin infection which is healing just fine to the best of my knowledge despite discontinuing the Sulfamethoxazole. Oh and the scariest and strangest side effect that I have not heard of yet is, my eyes became bloodshot after the second pill. I mean it looked like the whites of my eyes were blood. It has finally passed and my eyes are returning to white after three days from taking that second pill. I thought they were never going to go back to normal. The last side effect was blood in my stool. Scary. I will never take this stuff again. I just hope I get back to normal soon. Going on fourth day trying to rest and get better.

Long story short, I got a terrible skin infection on my right index finger, directly next to the nail. I was prescribed Keflex 500mg, 3 capsules a day. So far, I see no improvement whatsoever, in fact, the infection is becoming more elevated and more sensitive. My whole finger has doubled in size and I can hardly bend it all the way down anymore. I've been taking Keflex for 4 days now.

my 95 yr. old mother was given 2 SMZ/TMP pills 12 hrs apart and within hours after the 2nd one, spiked a fever and became flush around her eyes and then her entire face. She ended up in the emergency room. Several days later she broke out with hives, red blotches, arm bruises, a skin infection, and blood vessel breaks on her arms and legs. She also itched terrible all over. Doctors thought it was her blood platelets causing this but they were wrong. She is allergic to sulfur drugs. Finally after 5 weeks now she seems to be improving. This is a very dangerous drug for some.

I was prescribed levaquin for a skin infection called cellulitis. I was meant to use it for 12 days but i stopped on day 10 because i started feeling a sharp pain in the right side of my chest. I intend to talk to my doctor today about this but I'm sure there won't be any real solutions considering the posts I've been reading on this website. I'm currently at work and just can't concentrate as a result of this chest pain. I can't stretch, I can't swing my right arm, I can't even lift anything heavier than my cellphone with my right arm!!......Pls if there is anyone out there who has a solution to this problem, kindly send me a reply. I feel sorry for everyone on here with this experience with levaquin especially with those who are in a more serious situation than i am. Thanks as I look forward to someone's suggestion.

I had a great experience with Biaxin. I have chronic fatigue syndrome...took Biaxin for a skin infection...the skin cleared quickly. The only side effect was that I actually slept incredibly well for the first time in years!

I was prescribed a generic for keflex (cephalexin), 500mg three times a day for 10 days for cellulitis(skin infection through an insect bite). My gastrointestinal tract went totally haywire as soon as I started taking the medication, bad stomach upset. The infection subsided in a couple of days but started having stomach cramps and the diarrhea continues for almost a month till I started taking probiotics to replenish all the flora in the gi tract.
It has been almost a month after I stopped taking this medication and now experience phantosmia( phantom smell ), in my case smelling smoke/exhaust fumes at random times throughout the day. I mentioned this symptom to the doc and according to here, it is one of the side effects asked me to hang in there for 5 more months before I can consult an ENT specialist.

Was prescribed cephalexin (Kaiser) for a broken skin infection on my leg from a sporting accident. It was pussing and not healing well. Started taking cephalexin immediately after leaving the pharmacy. Within a couple days, my skin infection was not any better. Hives and bright red dots appeared on my chest, my arms, and my legs. Itching was intense - I couldn't sleep - would wake up in the middle of the night totally on fire - but I was told to stay on course by the nurse at the pharmacy and finish the bottle as I wouldn't want an antibiotic from losing its hold on the stronger existing bacteria. The hives, in the form of red patches, bumps, and streaks were visually traveling through my body and hives would break out. I resisted itching. Then one morning I woke up and my entire chest had a huge patch of hives taking up the entire space between both nipples and from the top of the rib cage to the collar bone. It was ridiculous. One week in, I called my doctor and went in for a check up. Instead of prescribing another class of antibiotics, my second doctor (and opinion) opted to stop taking the medicine all together. He determined the hives were an allergy to Cephalexin.

EVERYONE PLEASE READ!!!! GARDASIL HAS DESTROYED MY LIFE! I am 24 years old and a year and a half ago I was graduating college and planning to be a professional dancer and go to law school...I was perfectly healthy and energetic! In February of 2007 I received my first Gardasil shot. After a few days I started to feel as though I had a Urinary Tract Infection and was also feeling more tired than usual. The doctor gave me an antibiotic and sent me on my way.

In May of 2007 I received my second Gardasil shot and yet again, a few days later I started to feel like I was getting another Urinary Tract Infection. I went to the doctor numerous times between the second and third shot...all for bladder and urinary tract pain. For months I was on different antibiotics and they were not making the pain go away. After visiting a number of urologists, I found out that the urine cultures had all been coming back negative - showing no sign of an infection, so the antibiotics were pointless. All tests that I had run, both blood and urine came back normal. It is not standard procedure for a doctor to call you if your test results come back normal, but there was clearly something wrong, so I searched for a urologist who would believe me that I wasn't making up the pain I was in.

In August 2007, I had a cystoscopy done (they took a scope and went into the bladder to look in the bladder wall) and they concluded that I have an incurable bladder disease called Interstitial Cystitis. This is a condition where there becomes a defect in the bladder wall causing it not to have the protective mucus layer inside of it. The pictures of inside my bladder show red, raw skin, obviously showing the severity of my case of it.

There is no evidence as to what causes Interstitial Cystitis, and there is no proven successful way of treating it. The initial signs are exactly the same as a Urinary Tract Infection (painful bladder spasms, painful urination, body aches and back pain). The main difference is the fact that it is not an infection. There are thousands of people with Interstitial Cystitis who are misdiagnosed as having chronic Urinary Tract Infections.

I received my third Gardasil shot in October of 2007 and that is when EVERYTHING fell apart. The bladder pain became constant and there has not been one minute in a day since that shot I have not been in unbearable pain. This is when everything else in my body began to crash down as well. The other health problems and side effects from the Gardasil that I am having are constant sore throat, vicious migraines, vision changes, back pain, body aches, joint pain, sinus problems, vomiting, constipation, dizziness...I could keep going on forever!

I have tried all of the conventional treatment for Interstitial Cystitis and have gotten NO relief from the pain and other side effects. The doctors didn't know what to do, so they put me on OxyContin and a diet consisting of no acidic foods. That has now posed its own set of problems seeing as now my body is addicted to the narcotic, and I have gone from 5'6'' 125lbs to 100lbs over the course of a year due to the diet. I am extremely malnourished and have to take B12 vitamin shots once a week due to the severe anemia. I am 24 years old, and feel like I am 100. I can not live a normal life, I am going to lose my job from numerous absences, I lost my fiancé and am not able to have an intimate relationship anymore, I am extremely depressed, I have to have my family clean my apartment because I am too sick to do it, I can not do social activities because I am too tired and in pain. This vaccine has DESTROYED my life! I am desperately seeking out someone else who is having bladder problems due to the Gardasil so that I can contact an attorney. This needs to be OFF the market a soon as possible so that it does not run any other lives! Gardasil has caused some deaths, but in my mind, I'd rather die than live with the pain I am having. I did notice there are some posts regarding girls getting urinary tract infections... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE have your urine cultured because there is a good chance it may be Interstitial Cystitis!

I am desperately looking for someone who is having some of these symptoms so that I can go to a lawyer and get something going before things like this happen: Numerous states are pushing to make it mandatory that girls receive the vaccine before they enter the 6th grade. We can not let this happen! We all need to stick together and somehow fight this and get out lives back!

Let me know if you are IN - and also what you thought about my post!

You can email me at ******

Bless All of You!

*~Amber~*

I have been taking keflex for 3 days for severe cellulites on my right leg that was caused by an insect bite. I am allergic to penicillin, which the doctor knows. The pharmacist did counsel me and I knew. I have developed itchy patches in a lot of places, especially my face. So far it is not bad enough that I can't handle it. I am not ready to throw in the towel yet and try something else though because I know it is supposed to be effective against what ails me. I was bit by a brown recluse spider in 1984 and as a result I am concerned about how bad a skin infection like I have can get (even though I am sure this time the insect that bit me was not a poison spider). I have a few mild other symptoms (stomach, back, tired) and I have been feeling a little blue also but I am not sure whether keflex is the cause of any of that, or if it is the bite.

I too, have been having weird symptoms over the last several months and just connected it all with having a Kenalog shot 7 months ago. In October 2007, two months after my injection, I developed severe anxiety and panic attacks. I thought it was related to perimenopause. Then, in January, I started having lots of muscle and joint pain all over my legs and hips. I've been a healthy and active person, so this was very unusual. I saw an orthopeadic surgeon who diagnosed me with a strained rotator cuff and bursitis on my hips. Now, just two weeks ago, I woke up with a large indentation on my left glut. Right where the Kenalog injection was given. My doctor had no clue what it was and said she might refer me to a Plastic Surgeon. I am SO relieve to find this board. It all clicked when I read everyone's postings. Now I just want to know if it will get worse or eventually go away. I did find some interesting information about the drug. BTW, the nurse or doctor NEVER said anything about side effects before giving my the injection. I am seriously going to pursue a law suit, so we can get this terrible drug OFF the market and no one else has to endure this disfiguring problem. If ENOUGH of us join together in a law suit, it might be worth suing the drug manufacturer. But we have to somehow get organized. Anyone intersted in pursuing this?

Here are some facts about the drug I found online.

Kenalog is not appropriate for everyone. A thorough medical history should be assessed prior to prescribing this medication. Patients with a medical history which includes skin infection, tuberculosis of the skin, chicken pox, herpes, cold sores, sunburned or wind burned skin, chapped skin, open sores, diabetes, or a stomach ulcer may not be able to take Kenalog or may require careful monitoring while undergoing drug therapy with this medication, depending on the condition and the severity of the condition.

The American Food and Drug Administration rated Kenalog as a pregnancy risk category C. This medication has been known to cause harm or birth defects in unborn babies. It has yet to be determined whether or not Kenalog passes through the mother’s breast milk and affects a nursing baby. The prescribing physician should avoid prescribing this medication to women who are pregnant, nursing, or have a high likelihood of becoming pregnant.

There is a risk of side effects associated with Kenalog, some of which are severe. A patient who is experience a serious side effect or an allergic reaction should seek immediate emergency treatment. An allergic reaction will present with symptoms which may include facial swelling, such as swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, hives, and difficulty breathing. Other serious side effects which require immediate emergency medical treatment include symptoms such as insomnia, blurry vision, mood changes, halo vision, fatigue, weight gain, facial puffiness, or irregular heart rate.

i had got on Bactrim for a skin infection from a bite on my left upper thigh I was on it for 9 days (it was 10 day supply) did ok then on the 9th day of taking it after my night dose my throat started getting to where it was hard to swallow an I started throwing up so I went in an laid down with my mom an woke up in the mid morning covered in hives that itched and burned an looked as if they were 1/2 in to 1 in off the skin we rushed me to urgent care an they said it was an allergic reaction to sulfa gave me steroid peels and a new antibiotic to clear up a bladder infection well the next day went back in my eye swollen shut an my lip tripled in size they gave me a steroid shot an told me take Benadryl...this has lasted almost 6 days now..knowing God is healed me!.......just wondering how long symptoms will last ?

I was prescribed 750 mg of Levaquin for a skin infection after a minor burn. On the third day I noticed flashing lights in my right eye and the next day I felt as though I was looking through a black lace curtain. It has now settled into a large thread like floater that is in my central vision. My eye doctor said it is a large vitreous tear which is permanent. I also had tinnitus and burning on my lips and tongue which stopped after I stopped the medication. Two weeks after stopping the meds, I was biking and lost my balance. I turned my ankle, not violently, but it resulted in ruptured tendons all around the ankle. Three days after that, my right shoulder began popping in and out of its socket. Each evening, I had a low grade fever and chills. I'd wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat. I also had a rough eczema-like rash on my elbow and neck, however that has gone away. I'm sleeping better now and last night I did not have a fever or night sweats. My ankle is improving and I can now get through the day without having to take Advil. The shoulder is still popping when I extend my arm, but I'm hoping that will improve with time. So far, the only permanent damage seems to be the eye floater. It's annoying, but I'm adjusting. I'm planning to go back to the gym today, but honestly, I'm feeling like a ticking time bomb and I worry that new symptoms will continue to pop up. Has anyone out there been completely symptom free for any period of time? Has anyone discussed their case with an attorney?

i had to take Deoxycycline 100mg once a day for a month to treat a skin infection which improved but OMG for the first time in my life I started to feel really WORTHLESS and DEPRESSED I was SAD most of the time and i lost my intrest in the things that i ENJOYED the most , I couldn't concentrate or study and the funny thing is that i did not SUSPECT the medication at all I thouught it was just me you know but when i read what happned to you guys i knew that there must be something because Depression was not listed on Deoxycycline side effects on the FDA site

This is one of the worst things I have ever taken. I took three doses for a skin infection and stopped. After taking the first one I felt extremely tired... then my limbs began to ache, I felt like my bones were replaced with lead and my head was spinning. Every time I tried to lay down and rest I was overcome with nausea and dizziness severely. I could not focus on anything or complete simple tasks without being fatigued and needing to rest. Later that night came the panic attacks or should I say a three hour long perpetual panic attack. I really thought I was going to die. Fortunatel(unfortunately) I had a few panic attacks back in college so I knew what I was experiencing was only a panic attack but it was one of the worst I've ever had.
I would not recommend anyone take this drug unless their lives literally depend on it, it's HORRIBLE.

I have been on Doxy for three weeks now to treat a skin infection. I am now experiencing bad chest pain where my heart is and also into my upper left back. I have had the tingling in my head and some shortness of breath. I have also noticed that my joints like my kness and hands are aching. Has anyone had these symptoms too?

My 19 month old son was given Bactroban ointment to prevent a skin infection. He soon developed little red spots all over his body that grew in size until they reached about the size of a dime. These red spots then began to raise and became itchy and painful (judging by his reaction). We stopped Bactroban treatment and the rash subsided in about 24 hours.

I took doxycyline for 18 days, 100mg 2x/day for a skin infection. Immediately I realized how rough the drug was on my stomach, but I was able to overcome the nausea, etc. by how much I ate before I took the dose. My infection began healing very soon after starting the drug, and I was happy about that.

The side affects took a while to become apparent. Things started to get strange, little by little. I've never had heartburn until taking this drug. The sun sensitivity was not to be taken lightly. I even got a sunburn on my hands and knuckles. After the burn healed, I thought my hands were tingling as a result, but it seemed odd that they didn't stop. I was irregular and kept thinking that I had gained weight, though the scale showed no gain. All the weight gain issues turned out to be (gas) bloating that ended up being pretty extreme. The dr. said the drug probably attacked the "friendly flora" in my digestive tract. The yeast infection confirmed that theory. I also had moments of complete idiocy - really weird ones unlike anything I could attribute to lack of sleep or other normal causes of confusion. I also felt depressed during the last week on the drug. Because the side effects seemed unrelated to each other and all happened gradually, it took a while to attribute them to the antibiotic.
I finally stopped taking the drug when the syptoms sort of peaked.

I've been off the drug for 5 days, and my digestion is 75% back to normal, with huge doses of simethicon and acidophilous. My yeast infection is gone (post-treatment), and my hands are back to normal. But I am still depressed. The depression seems to have deepened since stopping the drug.

Did any of you have to be treated for your doxycycline-related depression, or did it just pass like the other side effects?

I wish I had bothered to find this site before taking this medication. My doctor prescribed Sulfameth, 1 pill 2x a day for 7 days for a skin infection and wheezing in my chest following a bad head cold. I quit taking this medication after 3.5 days for many of the reasons already described by others herein.

The first day I noticed my heart was "racey" and I had a headache. My symptoms have been getting progressively worse. I feel compelled to eat every few hours (possibly a reaction to feeling lethargic) but food just doesn't taste right. I seemed to crave sweet and salty snacks, which has caused me to retain water. To add to my frustration, I noticed that I seemed to be feeling worse and getting sicker instead of better. My head has been very stuffy and I thought I might be coming down with strep or the flu after feeling like I had an ulcer in the back of my throat. My mouth has been very dry and I am finding it uncomfortable to swallow. My tongue and the top of my mouth is very sensitive and feels raw. Also, my chest wheezing has gotten no better. I have felt very tired and i have no energy to do my normal walks in the morning let alone a full work out. In fact, walking across the room is quite taxing right now. I can't sleep but am exhausted. I was absolutely out of it today, and considered going to the urgent care facility to see what is going on. That's when I discovered that many people have reported similar experiences. Thankfully, I never got a rash or the high fever. This seems like a terrible medication and I will not be completing my course.

I was prescriped this drug for a resistant skin infection (MRSA) At first it was prescriped intraveinously....it gave me a rash, and caused the needle sites to develop thrombosis.

After given orally, my joints are sore, elbows first, then hips, shoulders and knees. Headaches, blood pressure is up (but not too bad). I have to use it tho, as it was the most effective of all the antibiotics in fighting my MRSA.

I was prescribed Levaquin,by a dermatologist, 500MG for 10 days for a skin infection. I began to have severe muscle/tendon pain within a few days. I took it for 9 days. I stopped taking it 8 days ago, and still have severe arm pain. I feel like I've been doing more than 100 pull-ups. I find it difficult to carry a bag, as it adds to the pain. I've tried Naproxen, but it doesn't seem to help. The pain is worse earlier in the day. I talked to my primary Dr. 2 days ago. He thinks it is from the leaquin in combination with Crestor", a cholesterol lowing drug I take. I also take Femara and effexor. I'm wondering ifanyone has had drug interaction problems when taking levaquin, or if this pain is just from the one drug.I am also experiencing unusual (for me) fatigue, and wonder if this is related to Levaquin also.

My doctor subscribed doxycycline (100mg) once a day for 30 days. I completed the medication over a month ago, and eventhough it did a great job clearing up a skin infection, I'm still suffering from joint aches, particularly in my left foot and right knee. These mostly occur when I get up in the mornings and after I've been sitting for an extended period of time. Because I didn't have any of these aches before taking the medicine, I'm convinced this is a side effect resulting from the doxycycline.

Took "Double Strength" SMZ/TMP twice a day for 5 days for when some acne caused a swelling in my forehead. It was a suspected skin infection, but analysis later showed it was non-bacterial. I then stopped taking the medication.

No noticeable side effects, maybe some minor anxiety at first, really hard to tell, minor at most.