Bactrim side effects

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 didnt 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 didnt 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 dont 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.

After 8 days I got very hot, had a headache, woke up with hives on elbows, arms and discovered my face, arms, chest, knees, legs COVERED in red rash like a sunburn that morning. Then it became itchy. Stopped using Bactrim and it started clearing in 2 days, drank lots of water, ate garlic to cleanse system and heard eating live culture yogurt also helps. Hope this helps others recover also. I'm all about holistic stuff.

I started taking generic Bactrim about 3 weeks ago for an ear infection. The first two weeks I had no problems, the third week I woke up one morning with one side of my neck sore. I thought I just slept on it wrong and didn't think it could be associated with Bactrim then over the next two days my neck became more stiff and sore it even hurt to touch. I could not move my neck at all without experiencing pain. Also I would get servere headaches when I moved my eyes to look up or to the sides. The sharp headaches would only last about a minute or so after moving my eyes. My arms and legs started to feel achy like when I have a fever. The third day after the first sign of neck pain I broke out in hives on my arms and hands. I stopped taking the Bactrim (because I found this site and similar ones) and two days later most of my hives were gone and my neck pain was noticeably less. Four days off of Bactrim and my neck is almost completely better and my hives gone. I will never take a sulfa drug again

I think my 2 yr old daughter was having some S/E's from Bactrim she was just on a 6wk course for a sinus infection She has been on it many times b4 but this time was diff. She doesn't seem thirsty & she is not peeing much, other than that she seems fine though, she finished it last week & is still having these issues I cant find any into on it either???

I called her pedi. & they said push fluids???

I began taking bactrim for a UTI and by the first night I had diarrhea, persistent chills, fever (as high as 102.8), headache, severe lower back and mid back pain, everything pretty much described here. When I called the doctor they said it was related to my uti and that i needed to come back in to be re-evaluated. However I don't have insurance and I didn't have the money to come in. I ended up spending most of the afternoon in the hospital for them to tell me there was nothing wrong with me and all they could give me was percocet to ease the pain and "cruddy" feeling. The day after I stopped taking bactrim, I woke up with small red patches on my arms. The day after that I woke up with a sunburn like rash all over my arms and knees. I pray that this goes away soon!

I was prescribed the generic for Bactrim for a UTI. I have taken it for 3 days and i feel sore and extremely tired.. can barely get myself up at night to take care of my 4 week old baby. My face feels numb, my tongue hurts, I'm feeling sick to my stomach and having bad headaches and a dry mouth. Ive also experienced a pain on the right side in my shoulder and down in my breast. I thought my UTI was causing this until i ran across this webpage so thank you..

I recently had a breast reduction performed and developed a minor, natural infection due to the type of surgery, yet needed an antibiotic to help clear it up. My surgeon prescribed bactrim, and I was fine for the majority of the taking. About 2 doses away from finishing the meds, I noticed a rash on my stomach when I got out of the shower. The next day, I was covered completely head to toe in a giant rash that felt like severe sunburn, with 102 fever to accompany it. I have never felt so bad in my entire life, and on top of everything else, I'm graduating from college in 2 weeks and had 2 finals to take within those 2 days. It felt like someone let me soak in boiling water for an hour--severe sunburn minus the sticking--and I was FREEZING. Well anyway, I'm just getting over the itching now, it's been a few days. And now that I think back, I did have a headache for 3 days straight prior to the hive outbreak (but I just thought it was my allergies). My PCP told me I was allergic to sulfa drugs--NO MORE OF THEM!! But no resentment to my surgeon (he's amazing), because we had no idea that I was allergic to it in the first place

I was prescribed the generic for Bactrim for the last ten days for cellulites around a bug bite.........fortunately, i did not have as many of the horrible side effects reported by some, but i realize now that about 7 days into taking it i started to develop a small lump on back of my neck, right below hairline, tender to the touch, now after i have finished day 10, i have two more bumps.....i freaked out, but now after reading some of these posts, it seems it might just be a common side effect with this medication for some.........guess they're just swollen glands.......since I'm done taking already, i guess there's not much to do but to wait for the glands to return to normal!! thanks for the posts, it helps to validate my experience!!

Just got prescribed Bactrim today for a URI. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and am very sensitive to ANY medications anyway. THANK GOD I had the brains enough to be cautious and only take a 1/2 of a tablet (I am the butt of many jokes in my family because I am almost medication-phobic due to side effects) but I just took a 1/2 a tablet and 11 hours after taking it, I have a swollen face, eyelids, etc., a bloodshot eye, nasal passages are swollen completely shut, have heart palpitations, and my urine is BROWN. Yes, BROWN. OMG I am not taking another pill, it should be removed from the market. You all know that SOME day, we'll be seeing some attorney commercial on TV asking for people that have been injured/death from side effects of this drug......unbelievable doctors are still prescribing this as I believe they've got to be getting complaints about it all the time. I had a friend that worked for a doctor and she told me that SOME doctors push certain drugs to their patients based on the good "perks" the drug reps give their office (lunches for staff, vacations for doctors, etc) shouldn't be that way but is for compensation for prescribing their drugs more than a competitors. Sad. Pray for me no long-term damage has been done.

I had been taking bactrim for a week when one morning i woke up feeling achy, tired, and light-headed. I noticed a slight rash forming on my arms but didn't think much of it bc i had been on the Bactrim for a week already. Then the symptoms got wayyyyy worse. I started to form lesion like sores on my vagina, and I immediately saw a doctor to get tested for STD's. The gyno examined the area, and she said it did not look like herpes but that she would test for it just in case. She put me on augmentin bc she said I definitely had some sort of infection down there. After taking 4 doses of augmentin almost all the lesions went away. The STD tests (blood, culture, and urine) all came up negative, as I expected they would. Has anyone else had genital reactions to bactrim???? Because as of right now the doctors are unsure what caused this outbreak/infection.

I started taking Bactrim for a UTI on a Monday night. Tuesday morning I work up with a intense headache I took the second pill that morning, by mid morning I started having pains in my left hand wrist, than having severe pain in my left leg making it very hard for me to walk, leading to fever and pain all over my body i.e., neck pain, lower back pain, joint pain I just hurt from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. I went back to the doctor that day (Tuesday) and was told I might have the flu after taking two flu test and both coming back negative I was given something for the pain and told to come back the next day if I did not fell any relief never the less I did not feel any better the next day in fact I was worse, I had a fever of 103.3 and climbing after returning to the same doctor for a third day and the doctor not having any answers for the way I was felling I, was advised to be taken to the ER on Wed and later admitted to the hospital and released with out being told what was causing me such sickness. It was not until the following week that I was told by my regular doctor that I was having an allergic reaction the Bactrim, it has been 9 days later and I still have swelling in my hands and feet and pain in my neck and legs. When will this end

Back in Novemeber 2007 my wife was prescribed Bactrim for Ance. About 6 days into taking the drug a rash broke out all over her body.

A lymph node in the back of her head on the right side swelled. She had stiffness in neck, nausea, cold sweats, irregular bleeding. Just horrible! I researched the side affects and found sites like this on with people having similar reactions. I immediately told my wife to get off Bactrim.

1 to 2 days later her lymph node was normal. It took weeks for the rash to completely go away. Since this
happened it seems as though my wife's immune system has not been the same. She had severe sinusitis, She's has a cold now. Still has fatigue. Bouts with headaches. Strange stuff. Not sure if it is related.

I don't recommend this drug to anyone. Whatever your ailment is there are alternatives.

My healthy sixteen year old daughter was prescribed Bactrim twice daily for acne on the 7th and began a full course on the 8th of April. Agressively preparing for a solo competition on clarinet, we did not get too concerned when she complained of some shortness of breath and neck stiffness and tightness at the base of her skull on the 13th. On the 14th she had some difficulty with hand and finger coordination. By late evening of the 16th she had developed an oral temp. of 101.3 F, was complaing of severe fatigue, had swollen and painful lymph glands at the base of her skull and under her jaw. When she awoke on the 17th after a fitful night, she had a red, raised, itchy rash from head to toe, swelling of the face, neck, and hands and a sensation of burning everywhere her clothing touched her skin. Her eyes were glazed and red. The Bactrim was discontinued. While some of the symptoms now are very slowly dissapating, she continues to complain or lethargy and dizziness, sleeping more than awake. Perhaps, needless to say, she bombed at her competition on the 15th. Sad, since she had been preparing for months. Thanks so much, Bactrim. We pray there are no lasting side effects that others have experienced.

My Dr. put me on Bactrim for a UTI infection. The first couple of days it seemed to work really well taking care of my UTI, and I did was i was told take all the meds which was 2 pills for 5 days. Well, I was suppose to start my cycle about the same time I started taking the Bactrim, 11 days later Iam still waiting to start . I feel awful. My stomach is swollen,my back, ribs, upper and lower abdomin. I have weak feeling muscles and chills at times. I called my Doctor and all he said was yeah, that can be a side effect sometimes. Well , i sure wish he would have informed me, I would have never taken it. I sure never will again. All he said was he was sorry for my discomfort didnt ask me to come in for a exam or anything. I guess i just have to let it get out of my system. I dont have heath insurance and it was expensive enough going in for the initial problem.

Well I'm glad I'm not alone...I was given the generic brand for Bactrim for a Staph infection and I took the first pill this morning. Just before lunch I began to feel quite dizzy and even after eating, I still felt dizzy and out of sorts. I came home and went straight to bed. Has anyone experience dizziness w/ Bactrim or its relative generics? I also have diabetes and my levels were a lot lower than what I'm used to. Needless to say, I called my Dr and they are giving me something else.

Used to get very frequent UTIs. A few years ago I was given Bactrim for the first time and developed a red spot on my side below my rib. It itched, otherwise I wouldn't have noticed it, it was like a rash. I brought it up to the doctor and they said it's probably not from Bactrim.

THAT SPOT NEVER WENT AWAY. INSTEAD IT TURNED A TAN COLOR/BROWN and has remained the same for years now. It might sound little right now, but it definitely hurts my confidence on a regular level.

Eventually after taking Bactrim again years later and having that same tan/brown spot turn red again and itchy i realized I was allergic to it. A different doctor again saying they've never heard of such reactions to bactrim. Well, I'm sorry to say but it does cause people to develop dark patches on their skin that are permanent!

I took Bactrim for a Saph infection a high dose, twice a day. On my third day, my lips began to swell and a cold sore that was I my lip prior to taking it swelled up. My staph infection cleared up, but I developed a sore tight throat. A huge blister like cold sore on my lip, and my right eye itches and is red like crazy.

Monday my first dosage and I feel like I'm out of place. My surroundings are almost not real. I did have some stomach cramps in my upper ribs area but that is all.
I too suffer from UTI's some of the symptoms I have read here make me very aware of possible side effects to look for thanks for your input.

I took Bactrim for 5 days for a UTI earlier this month and it went great, I felt fine and was very happy with it. Then, last week, for an unrelated preventive matter a doctor wanted me to take levaquin for a week before a minor elective surgery and I asked if I couldn't take Bactrim instead because it cost so much less. Well, did I ever get sick after the first pill. Chills, fever, headache, bloodshot eyes, rib pain and aches and pains all over, so weak I could barely make it to the bathroom, I thought I was going to die. I didn't connect it with the bactrim because I had tolerated it so well just a couple of weeks earlier. So, 3 days later when I felt somewhat better, I took another bactrim and the symptoms came back though not quite as bad. Be careful with this, just because you don't get side effects the first time you take it doesn't mean you might not get them in the future.

I started bactrim for a mild UTI. It was a 7 day dose, twice a day. I've never had any problems with any medication before. I finished all the pills on Tuesday, and woke up with a rash all over my face, neck, arms, stomach, back, and thighs on Thursday. All day I was feeling weak and near fainting when I stood up. I had chills, itched, and yet was hot at the same time. I believe I had some palpitations. Also a fever and swollen lymph nodes all over my neck and upper back. As the day went on the rash spread all the way to my feet and it went from blotchy to solid red. we currently don't have insurance so I'm pretty much currently stuck this way. My whole body itches, tingles, and I can't sleep.

DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG ! ! ! I would not even risk it ! I would much rather have a UTI !

Stupid Bactrim..never again!! I am a healthy 27 yr old, have never had any problem with antibiotics before, but my doctor prescribed me BACTRIM for my UTI! All I had was a UTI..and I felt like Bactrim actually made me feel worse than having a UTI!!!!
I only took it for 3 days..after that I stopped. I felt like I got the flu instead. I had a fever of 102.8, chills, headache for 3days, rib pain, my body ached, abdominal pain, fatigue..and the medicine extended my period. I should be over with it by now. But it is day 3 off the pill..I am feeling better. Drinking lots of fluids.Just feel a little more tired than usual. Will keep you all updated on how I do.

BACTRIM SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE MARKET!!!! So many people have horror stories about this drug!!!!!

I have been taken bactrim for 1 day and feel awful. I came home from work and got straight in the bed. I was feeling real tired,had chills and all kinds of body aches from my head down to my legs. And what got me, is that both of my wrists hurt so bad till I can't lift anything. Also having chest pains and elevated heart rate. I just got up from lying down after work and thought, I will search the side effects for bactrim on the internet. I'm glad I did. I wil not take this anymore.