Bactrim side effects

Had severe middle ear infection in both ears. Dr stated most antibiotics are for 7 days, but I would need the bactrim for 10. By 10th day (yesterday), my ears are still congested and crackling, and I had symptoms of fever-the chills, then hot. But, I never had a temp. Felt a bit nauseous. Figured I was coming down w/something that everyone at work had. My neck had a tiny bump that was itchy-that's it. Called Dr and they prescribed more bactrim since the ear infection wasn't cleared up. Last night, my ears started burning, and were itchy(the outer cartiledge, not inside). My upper arms were itchy, as well as my back. I took a closer look @ my back, and there are millions of small red bumps. This morning, the bumps are on my neck, entire arms, even my legs down to a few spots on my feet ! I called Dr's office, they are prescribing something different, and told me to get Benadryl. This is so awful-I feel like crap, and can't stop itching !!! To hell with bactrim.

I took bactrim last night for a uti. 2 hours after taking I began throwing up and continued to do so for 8 hours in 20 minute intervals. Then I got diarrhea that is still going. It been almost 20 hours. I went to the E.R. For fluids and they gave me morphine for the pain in my lower back, knees, and uti pain. I will never ever take this medicine again. It feels like food poisoning and I'm completely dehydrated again. I can't wait until this goes away.

I started taking Bactrim to treat Epididymitis, so also related to UTI. The first 6 days went by fine, I didn not notice anything special. (I did not sleep good as usual. but I did not think anything about it) The 6th night I got moderate fever and could almost not sleep, restless, heart beating faster than usual - very annoying, but not scary. The fever stayed, but went down a few hours if I took paracetamol, after which it came back again. Day 7 I went to the doctor, my first question was "could this be the bactrim?". No way, the doctor said, allergic reaction of bactrim is different, you clearly have all symptoms of a virus. So don't stop taking the bactrim, rest a lot because the virus we cannot do much about that, you have to sit it out. the rest of the day situation remained the same. Day 8th in the afternoon, my symptoms are getting significantly worse! Higher fever, and the worst headache ever experienced. Also a sore neck, painfull glands in neck and chin. Fever, that only moderately goes down from the paracetamol at that point. Cold hands and feet while having fever - 38.6 centigrade temp (metric). That is the point where I say, ok now I go browse the net a bit, cause I dont trust this one bit. The progressive worsening of symptoms seem to me to be an indication this might be other than a flu or similar virus. Off course I think about meningitis, start reading up on that. But when I google "bactrim fever" tons of pages appear like these.. with again and again very similar stories like mine!! I know we have to be very sceptical about what people post, but in this case the long list of testimonies is the missing key of the puzzle to me. It is likely to be the bactrim causing this.
The bad thing is I just took one an hour ago!! now I have to sit it out ... and I feel the worst so far!! I called the doc (at 11pm) and she was receptive about my theory on the bactrim reaction now.
Anyway, I hope I survive the coming night, I am confident I will but it just doesn't feel like it right now. I just wish I had found this website earlier....

I've taken Bactrim for about 8 days now for a MRSA infection I've had for 15 months. When it started, I had tried some hair-dye that irritated my scalp and the next thing I knew, I had a throbbing, hot, draining boil on the side of my head! I was put on an antibiotic, several in fact, and thought that the infection had gone away, but it came back and got worse over the next months, leaving bald patches on my scalp, itching like mad, until I finally went back to the doctor. I am almost certain that Bactrim was one of the ones he had put me on when the infection started but the side affects were so bad, I didn't finish it. Hence, having the infection all this time. At first, the doctor thought it was a fungal infection this time, like ring-worm of the scalp or something, but I had already been on Lamisil for a month, with no change. I have degenerative disc disease in my neck, carpal tunnel in both wrists, and tendonitis (tennis elbow) in both elbows so I thought the my neck being stiff and sore was from that. I thought the swollen lymph nodes in my neck was from the infection. I thought the severe headaches that NOTHING would touch was from me taking too many of my pain meds to try and get rid of it. The stomach pain, severe body aches, nausea, loss of appetite, terrible depression,and lack of sleep was even more I was dealing with. I felt lethargic and toxic, like I was slowly posioning myself. I took the last one I'm going to a few hours ago.If the MRSA infection on my scalp isn't cured, oh well. I'm certainly not going to take some drug that makes me feel like I'm already dead! I was supposed to take it 10-14 days and I've been on for about 8. I'm surprised I made it that long. I was in the doctor's office on Janurary 15 and he said that my head was healing up, but I can't make myself go through another 6 days of Bactrim. I was having to take at least 20 mg of hydrocodone every 8 hours and even that was not enough to rid me of theses horrible aches and pains caused by the bactrim. I know that people can often get even worse pains than their disc disease or ailments give them if they start to take too much pain medicine but THAT is just how MUCH I hurt.I haven't developed a rash, YET, but I did notice tonight that I have another painful lymph node in my neck. The skin over it feels funny, like the neuropathic pain you get with the shingles. I thought the dry mouth was from my ADHD medicine and pain medicine but it had never been THAT bad before. I also suspect I'm getting a yeast infection as well.I'm supposed to see the doctor again next week and I've got a list ready of all the side-effects I've had to endure on this medicine. I had even mentioned the headaches and stomach pain to him when I was there earlier this week (Jan 14, 2010) but he STILL wanted me to take it another few days. NO CAN DO! At least I know it's not just me.I agree with everybody else on here. I'd rather take my chances with the MRSA!

I was prescribed Bactrim for a UTI and felt worse after starting the Bactrim...headaches, chills, aching all over my body. On the 6th day of taking Bactrim I woke up with a burning sensation on my back, by the 7th day the burning sensation had spread around to my lower chest. the burning sensation is what you would have if you had a severe sunburn, but no redness!! It's bizarre. I told the doctor about what was going on and he said to continue the Bactrim because he didn't think my symtoms sounded like a drug reaction. I strongly disagree, so I stopped taking the Bactrim with only 2 days of medicine left. I'm now about 36 hours medicine free but from what I understand, Bactrim has a 60 hour half-life so I guess I'm still under the influence to some extent. I still have the burning sensation on my back, which makes clothing almost unbearable and sleeping isn't doable without some type of pain med to get me past the pain....Just wondering if anyone else has had this type of reaction to the Bactrim experience. I know I'll never take that drug again, for sure.

I was prescribed Bactrim for a UTI & kidney infection. Well 2 days after taking it i went into the ER because I hadn't urinated at all after starting this pill. The ER ran all kinds of test and could not find the problem and sent me home. Well it is day 6 i can now urinate but i have to sit there for about 20 minutes & the burning and stomach pain are unbearable. I have also been getting very weak and lightheaded due to be super hungry but not being able to eat. NO more bactrim for me i guess i am just going to result to lots of water & Azo. Oh yeah and lets not forget the awful arm & chest pain.

Was prescribed 2 a day for 3 days for a UTI. Age 29. Within 12 hours felt nausea, chills, headache, fatigue. Within 24 hours had puffy, sore lips; achy joints; red face; non-itchy rash on hands and knees; itchy, red ears; small sores on fingertips; swollen lymph node behind left ear; insomnia due to restlessness. Stopped taking after 3rd pill. I've been off Bactrim for 48 hours and still have sore lips, achy joints, minor rash on hands and knees, small sores on fingertips, swollen lymph node behind ear, malaise.

I'm so glad I found this site. When I called Walgreen's pharmacy to check whether fever over 100 degrees was a side effect of Bactrim, the pharmacist said "no" and said "take another dose." The fever had stopped after the 12 hours was up with the first dose. Promptly after taking the second dose, the fever, chills, severe headache began again and lasted the full 12 hours. I stopped taking the Bactrim after the second dose and no longer have a fever, although I still feel rather shaky and not quite normal. However, I do not have the flu or a cold or anything else that might give me a fever. I no longer have the fever after stopping Bactrim. I called Walgreens and asked to speak to the pharmacist to report the side effects. She said she would inform her supervisor. I asked for a number for the Food & Drug Administration to report what I consider severe side-effects. She did not have a number. How can consumers report these severe side effects to protect other individuals? I certainly did not feel like Walgreen was very concerned.

I was given Bactrim from my doctor at school ( Manhattan College in Riverdale) because I was sick for up to three weeks. After the third day of taking Bactrim, I experienced the worst tight, sharp, piercing pain in my heart and chest. I was having difficulty breathing and sleeping, although I was extremely fatigued. I was very depressed, and I had serious panic attacks and worry. My mother picked me up from school and asked me a few questions. I told her about how I was taking Bactrim. She called the doctor, and after a few moments of deliberating, she found out I was having a bad Bactrim reaction. I discontinued the use of the medication, and I had severe heart pains and vomitting for days after. This happened three months ago, and I still get heart pains occasionally from my reaction.

I hate to say it, but I can relate to you all, to some effects....I went in to Urgent Care 3 weeks ago, knowing I was dealing with a UTI, I was prescribed Bactrim--2 a day for 7 days. I took the entire dose and just felt yucky. It wasn't until 6 days later that my first symptoms appeared...ultimately this is what I have dealt with, severe joint and muscle aches and pains, irritated mouth/throat/ears and tongue (YES, my tongue ITCHES), I have dry eyes (moreso than normal, since I deal with severe dry eyes) I have had pains all over my body, one comes, leaves, then a new one appears....just odd. Hot, swollen wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, feet, you name it. Rashy face/neck.... I finally made an appt. with my reg. doctor who immediately diagnosed me with an allergic reaction to Bactrim. She said you can take it 1, 2, 3...etc. times, and one of those times your body may decide it can't handle it. She also stated that your body can react to it up to 3 weeks after taking it. I took the full course which I believe is why I am having more side effects. She mentioned Lupus or Lymes Disease, but the treatment for anyone of the issues is the same....Prednisone. She told me I could take Tums with it, as it may upset my stomach, and that Claritin or Benadryl would help the itching. Thankfully some help!!! This has concerned me terribly,. knowing that so many people deal with this daily, and for NO REASON!! I would love to see Sulfa drugs off of the market, and unfortunately the drug companies do pretty well at covering their butts by putting apparent warnings on the info. sheet. Enough to protect them from most lawsuits anyway. My Doctor also stressed to me that I should NEVER take any sulfa drugs ever again, including Septra, or any drugs that mimic Sulfa drugs....therefore get well informed about the drugs you are on by your pharmacist!!! I just took my first prednisone, and am off to take a nap....thanking God for this to be over soon!! Same to you all!!

I have been prescribed Bactrim to treat a kidney infection and I'm supposed to be taking it for 14 days. Day one I was fine. Day two, I noticed yellowing of my eyes AND I was spotting blood. So I went back to the ER and they said that those ARE NOT side effects of Bactrim!!! I had already looked up the side effects prior to going to the ER on another site called secondcheckMD... They had NO explanation as to why these things were happening! So they just told me to wait 48 hrs and watch for any new symptoms... May I add that both of these side effects were considered severe on this other site! Well here's day 3 and I'm so scared to take the drug but I know if I stop my infection will get worse and possibly life threatening.My advice to any of you out there is as soon as you hear that you are prescribed bactrim IMMEDIATLEY ask for something else!

I was given Bactrim DS to treat a possible kidney infection. I was to take it 2 times a day for 5 days. I made it to day 4 when I noticed I was broke out with an itchy, burning rash on my chest, back, and arms. I also had the glands behind my ears get real big and swollen and they hurt like crazy no matter what position I was in. I have never had an allergic reaction to any other antibiotic before so I didn't expect to this time. This is one med I will never take again.

My husband was prescribed Bactrim prophalacticly while being treated for leukemia as a lot of patients are. We did a lot of research and found that this medicine is banned in other countries. It has a very long documented history of bad side affects. He took it for a while but it's hard to tell when on chemo what is causing what but we decided to discontinue using against doctors orders because we felt that the side affects weren't worth the preventative affects. In our case we live in a fairly population isolated area so weren't as likely to be exposed to germs/bactria so felt we could take our chances. I have been to many sites warning against use of this med. Be careful.

This drug has been banned in other countries......

I took this drug for MRSA and was supposed to take two pills at once for ten days. The first time I took two pills before bed and felt a hot flush on the back of my neck as I was going to sleep. The next morning I woke up I felt awful. The hot flush was still there, I was vomiting and had diarrhea. I thought I was dying and almost had my husband call the rescue squad. I called the Dr. and he thought I was sick from the mrsa infection so he sent me to be admitted to the hospital. I stopped the Bactrim while in the hospital and was put on IV meds. I had an allergic reaction called Red Mans Syndrome to the Vancomycin. I felt better after one day in the hospital and convinced the Dr. to send me home. They told me to continue taking the Bactrim one at a time every 8 hours. I did that and noticed I had a huge lump in my throat (it felt like I had a pill stuck in my throat) This lasted for 3 days. I kept taking the Bactrim not realizing I was probably allergic. After taking the full 10 days, I had absolutely no energy, couldn't even feed myself, felt like I was coming down with the flu, and had diarrhea for 3 weeks straight. I lost 10 pounds in a week and started to have anxiety attacks. I had never had them before. My Dr. put me on Zoloft for anxiety. I still had panic attacks and they became worse than before. I decided to stop taking all medication and am slowly returning to normal. I have been off the Bactrim for two months and the zoloft for a week. I am still experiencing the hot feeling on the back of my neck on occasion but my anxiety attacks have gone away. I am convinced this all started with the Bactrim and that I was allergic to it. I am just wondering why the side effects linger if the Bactrim has been out of my body for this long. I will NEVER touch this stuff again. I have not been myself since I took Bactrim and I am wondering if I ever will be myself again.

Apparently I was another victim in the long line of Bactrim prescribed patients. While it did exactly what I needed to the effect of clearing up a chronic cough with excess mucus. However, after about 20 days on the meds, I woke up to a fat lip. As the day progressed, I had itching all over my body to the effect of a rash.

I was prescribed a generic form of Bactrim for a sinus infection. I started having terrible headaches (so painful, I couldn't move around) and nausea (bad enough to cause vomiting) about 8 hours after I took the pill. I thought this might be due to the infection, however, as the sinuses started to clear, the nausea remained and I noticed it started about an hour after taking this pill. I tried taking this pill with an empty stomach, full stomach, and guzzling tons of water. Nothing seemed to help. By day 2 the lymph node on the right side of my throat was swollen up and I feel like I'm swallowing around a lump. I also noticed a lack of appetite, but it could be because I felt nauseous all the time. I called the doctor and asked to be switched to amoxicillin.

I will agree with previous posts that drug interactions vary depending on body chemistry, so what doesn't work for one person, may work great for another. Just be aware that the side effects exist and call for a new antibiotic if you have these symptoms and they persist.

Wow, I'm glad I found this site...I was prescribed the generic for Bactrim (Sulfameth/Trimethoprim), 2/day for 10 days. Within hours of the first dose, the headache (tylenol wouldn't touch the pain) started and progressed to stay with me for 24 hours a day for the 4 days I was on the stuff, that was accompanied with nausea, fatigue/listlessness, severe mood swings, and chest pain. I called my doctor to report this, and they immediately took me off of it and said I was allergic to Sulfa drugs. Luckily my infection is currently clearing up on its own, however, this is my 3rd day off the stuff, and my head still hurts!! This site was very informative for me. My doctor told me going forward, I need to update my charts to "ALLERGIC TO SULFA DRUGS"

After reading all the other side effects, I think I'll stop complaining LOL I've been on Bactrim for one week and one day and it's been the most miserable experience! I fell a few weeks ago and had a hematoma that brought on cellulitis, thus the Bactrim. I have been out of work since I have started taking this medication. I'm constantly sick to my stomach, have indigestion, can't stop burping, I'm weak, my vision seems to be a little distorted at times and I have these really weird hunger pains. The first time the hunger pains came on, it felt like I was going to starve to death. I had no idea this could be a side effect until days later when I finally decided to read the documentation that came with the medication. I have been told by the Dr. and a nurse friend that these are normal side effects and I should keep taking it. I was advised to drink as many fluids as possible to help lessen the effects. 4 more days of this antibiotic (and each day seems to last a lifetime)!

Taking the generic version of Bactrim DS called Sulfameth/Trimethoprim 800/160. I am a 26 year old male in generally good health. I was given this medication for a UTI and was told to take it 2 times a day for 10 days. A good friend of mine was on the exact same drug but was on it a week before I was put on it. She mentioned how it gave her bad anxiety and chest pains. This made me a little nervous but I still took it. First day I had some of the worst panic attacks of my life and I have lived with generalized anxiety disorder for the past 10 years so thats saying something right there. Racing heart, headache, hotflashes, muscle aches etc within the first few hours of taking the pill. I tried to continue on with the 2 a day regiment but was feeling so ill I cut it down to one a day on the third day. I continued on it for 4 more days till I couldn't take the side effects anymore and stopped taking it. The anxiety was so bad I had to break out my xanax which I hadn't taken in forever just to calm down. Fast forward to yesterday, I started having the UTI signs again and since the first time around the Bactrim did get rid of it (or so it seemed), I took one pill since I still had some left over. HUGE mistake. Within an hour I had the worst migraine I've ever had and felt rather fatigued. I layed down and took my temp to find my temp in the low 100s. I am also having muscle aches all over my body. Esp in my back, forearms and legs. Needless to say I didn't take anymore and even though its only been 24 hours since the first pill, I still have a low grade fever, aches and headache. Hopefully it'll subside soon but wanted to warn others about the drug.

RECAP: fever, hotflashes, panic attack, racing heart, fatigue, muscle aches, chest pain and migraines.

I experienced a very painful kidney infection about 3 months ago. I was already on cipro for a uti, but when my fever got to 103, I went to the ER. They diagnosed the kidney infection and prescribed me Bactrim for 14 days. I started feeling better very soon after that, however about a week into it, i started to get a slight fever again and just a general fatigued feeling. I stated to freak out that the kidney infection was coming back so i went to my doctor. He took a urine sample and told me to keep taking the bactrim and to push lots of fluids. After I finished the Bactrim, I started to feel normal again. So, after 3 months, I got another UTI. I went to my doc and he prescribed Bactrim again, this time for 7 days. Like before, I stated to feel better almost immediately, but then a few days into it, I got that low-grade fever again and the crappy, tired feeling. I went back to the Dr., convinced I was having recurring, resistant UTIs, but my urine samples showed no bacteria at all. So I went home to keep taking the Bactrim and pushing fluids. But my temp is still about 100. Not enough to keep me bed-ridden, but Im still not feeling great. I was starting to think I was crazy, maybe I just didn't know how to read a thermometer correctly. I actually started to think that, because my doctor has no idea why I have a fever. He said that I probably have a sinus infection or a virus--that's what he said the last time. Im so glad I found this site, Im convinced now it is the Bactrim. It can be so frustrating to be sick, see a doctor, and then go home with no answers. When my doctor said I had no trace of UTI, I was shocked. I was feeling horrible, with a fever, and my doctor pretty much wrote me off when he received the results from my urine tests. I thought I was going crazy--I started to think the fever was from anxiety or something. Anyway, I have one day left on the bactrim, and I guess I shouldn't take it, but I an nervous because if there is the tiniest, little chance that i did have a UTI, I want to knock it out entirely. Having it grow into a kidney infection again is my worst fear--that and Bactrim.

i was/am on a combo of doxycycline (2 a day for 20) and bactrim (2 a day for 10) for MRSA in my knee that flared up a month after a run on clindamycin (2 a day for 10).

Ive been on Bactrim before, for staph 4 years ago, and i think it did the same thing to me. besides the headaches for the first 3 days, most of the time I felt like i was having some kind of minor hallucinations, looking at the world through a weird lense. Like i was about to start tripping on some wild drug. Insomnia, irritability difficulty focusing, and low energy. that and frustration and a bit depressed.

so i started to smoke some pot, and that made the vertigo and nausea subside, almost all the way gone. the hallucinations stayed, in fact they just got more interesting with the pot, they were like the peripheral hallucinations when one is detoxing from alcohol... DTs? u think someones standing next to you or a small thing moved on the floor next to your desk but nothings there when u focus on it. yea those.

also the M. J. helped me eat, which made me feel a whole lot better and i noticed my wound healing faster.

Probiotics are KEY with these antibiotics, Jarrodophillus +FOS was wat i took throught the treatment and after, so my poo got normal, and i was smooth sailing through the recovery.... until day 8 when i decided to stop the bactrim at 8 days. i got sick looking at the pill no matter how much pot i smoked.

i dont react well to wine with allot of sulfer in it, maybe its a similar situation.

anyway, medical marijuana helped me, so did pro-biotics, and weeing off the ibuprofin they had me on helped me with adverse side affects of that stuff, woo didn't know it could be sooo nasty (advil/ibuprofin)

cheers

I was given Bactrim for a Severe Bladder infection. I got hives all over me Just big itchy bumps, I felt like needles were going through my body especially my feet. Absolutely Couldn't sleep. Legs shook nonstop. Horrible experience for me!!!

Spoke too soon. I woke up yesterday (my tenth day on the medication) with puffy lips and red bumps on my arms and thighs (I just thought it was dry skin). I also have huge red rashes on the insides and backs of my thighs. Is burning/itchy palms a side effect? It's killing me! :(

I haven't finished taking the medicine yet because I'm only on day 4, but I must say that it's clearing up the staph in my right armpit. My left armpit is still swollen and hurts like hell. My mother is an RN, and she's been trying to drain the pus and blood from the wound. It hurts so bad that I'm ready to just drive up to the local ER and have them lance it. How long does it usually take for Bactrim to clear up the infection? I'm taking 2 pills once a day for 10 days.

And another thing, I think why people are having nasty side effects to the medicine is because it's not mixing well with their body chemistry. My sister took Bactrim last year for MRSA, and she cleared up beautifully without any horrible side effects.

Thanks guys!

I am so relieved to have discovered this site. I suffer from reoccurring UTIs. Two years ago I was prescribed Bactrim and within two hours felt all of the symptoms of a very serious virus, or so I thought.

Recently, I switched medical providers and was again prescribed Bactrim for my UTI. Within 4 hours I began to experience chills; the chills soon turned into a fever (fluctuating 100+) and night sweats. The symptoms continued throughout the night and into the next day when I started to get tingling skin, body aches, a severe headache with pressure behind my eyes and ears (which got worse when I bent over or stood up), vomiting, restlessness and insomnia.

I started to make a correlation between my first Bactrim incident and second. I called my Dr. to describe my symptoms and she said I most likely was suffering from both the UTI and flu. But, she recommended I stop the Bactrim dosage and call her in a few days to let her know how I was feeling. After missing the second dose of Bactrim I am starting to feel human again.

There is no doubt in my mind that this was the Bactrim. The symptoms came and went too quickly to be a virus. I still have a slight headache, especially when I stand up too quickly, but it's improving.

Thank you all for posting. No more bactrim for me!

I was prescribed Bactrim for a sinus infection. Cleared infection well but on day 2 started to feel very nauseated and VERY COLD although no fever. Strange dreams and sleeplessness. Day 3 loss of appetite and more nausea chills, (no vomiting) Day 5 wound up in Emergency room with fever, dizziness, , panic, paranoia, disorientation, pain in right side. ER took blood and my liver enzymes were elevated. They too said it was a virus...NO Way is this a virus...I have had a very bad reaction to the Bactrim. They said if it was a reaction, it would clear in a few days. I am taking milk thistle extract for liver...I had blood taken two weeks ago and liver enzymes were much lower....they had doubled on bactrim. BEWARE OF THIS Drug...(I took it when I was younger with no troubles too. Dont drink on it either (I did and this maybe why I had such a bad reaction. ) Gave me zofran for nausea. I am drinking LOTS of water to flush.

I was prescribed Bactrim for 10 days due to ear/throat/cough issues. After day 2 I had 102 fever, chills, sweats, extreme fatigue, and headache. After day 3/4 I started feeling severe doom and gloom. After day 5 I had insomnia and began having vision problems and felt like my eyes were "loose" in their sockets. I went back in, and saw a different practitioner, and reported my symptoms she thought it was my blood sugar and checked me for diabetes (which it wasn't). She ran more lab work, and chest xrays. Nothing came of it. On day 6 I began feeling a burning and itching sensation on my face, and throughout my head. Nothing helped. During all of this time I could not eat, and was extremely nauseated. I got online, and found all of my symptoms of Bactrim side effects. Needless to say, the bactrim is in the trash. In addition, last year my husband was prescribed bactrim for bronchitis, and ended up in the hospital. At the time they told us he had Scarlet Fever, but when we both went in this week, they stated it was an allergic reaction to Bactrim. He looked like he has a sunburn from head to toe, with a rash. He had 105 fever, and was severely dehydrated. I wish we would have been told that last year. They gave him a zpack this time, saying he was allergic to bactrim. I will never take this medication again, or have my family on it.

Red face, mouth and tongue ulcers, achy joints, headache, decreased appetite and lethargic. Worse than the illness itself.

Out of courtesy, are you guys taking generic or brand, assuming there is a brand form? My husband has taken bactrim before but this time he broken out in hives and major rash, itching, and swollen lips. Absolutely miserable!

I stopped taking my Bactrim last night after a trip to the emergency room. From the first day of taking it for bronchitis, I started having headaches, pain behind my eyes and could not sleep well. On my sixth day of the medication, I started feeling dizzy and nauseated constantly. By day seven I was running fever of 101 and that evening, broke out into a rash from head to toes. My skin was itchy and tingling and it was getting difficult to breath. I immediately went to the ER. They have me taking Benadryl 3 times a day for 3 days until the rash clears up. I am not a fan of this medication….and I still have bronchitis!!

I feel compelled to share my daughter's horrendous experience, which we (and some of our docs) believe was a reaction to Bactrim. Her chills, high, high fever, night sweats, itching and majorly swollen lymph nodes mimicked lymphoma. She had a biopsy of one of the swollen lymph nodes and it revealed Kikuchi' s Disease or Kikuchi-Fujimoto's Disease. Google it. Thankfully, it was benign and self-limited, but it made her very very sick and it was scary and most probably triggered by her allergic reaction to Bactrim - taken for acne. We will never take this drug again.

i stopped taking bactrim yesterday, i couldn't stop spitting, my skin felt prickly, i woke up with swollen eyes and mouth, something i think im going crazy. Monday i couldn't sleep at all. I am so tired and its a struggle to keep my eyes open. Nightmares and paranoia keeps you awake. Chills and Hotflashing. Tingling in vagina. Today it feels like i cant get enough sleep. I have the worst taste in my mouth. I would not give this drug to my worst enemy. I don't know why they give it in the USA, if the side effects are this great

Wow, am I ever glad I found this site. I'm taking Bactrim for Pouchitis. I thought surely I was going crazy. Just a few days after starting the meds, I ended up in the emergency room because of a headache so severe and fever I thought I had meningitis....I was treated with a Zpack and sent home with a diagnosis of Sinusitis. I had even told the doctor that I just started Bactrim and she said it shouldn't cause these symptoms. Not long after the episode with headaches and fever, I began having joint aches primarily in my legs, but now it's starting up my back. I called the Dr. that prescribed it today, but plan on stopping it whether he recommends to or not. This is crazy...also noticing signs of depression and fatigue...

Treated for a staph infection, I was 12 days into my 14 of 2X 500mg/day on Bactrim and Cephalexin when I started having chills, nausea, migraine-level headaches, fever, swollen lymph nodes and disorientation. I went to the doctor on the 12th day expecting that I had the flu (Swine/A and influenza B are here)...both were negative. My doctor prescribed Tamiflu (thankfully I chose not to take it) hoping this would ease the flu symptoms. Three days later I'm still battling these symptoms and frankly concerned about damage to my liver, kidneys, etc. as a result of the Bactrim. The doctor said that I likely am having a reaction to the Bactrim - thanks for telling me two days after the fact.

I run a small business and missed 4 days of work as a result. I'm hopeful that two more days off of Bactrim will get my body back to normal but I feel like I was poisoned by this drug that shouldn't be on the market.

My symptoms are much like others described. I was prescribed Bactrim for a recurring UTI. I have never taken it before and have never been aware of any drug allergy. I took the Bactrim two times a day for five days. On the fifth day I began to develop a fever, with very cold chills, then very hot. The lymph nodes in my neck and the back of my head swelled up that evening and were painful when pressed. The next day I stayed home from work and my temp was up to 100.1. By evening that second day, I had developed rashes on my elbows and feet. They were itchy and raised. The next morning, which is today, the rash has spread to my shoulders, arms and thighs. It is not raised, but is a mass of small red dots. My face is also very red, and I think that my lips feel swollen. It has been good to read here that these are likely the result of the Bactrim. Much better info here than I got by calling the pharmacist! The only reason I looked in to it being a reaction is that my mother in law has had allergies to sulpha drugs, and has mentioned rashes. I agree that it is also interesting to here that it has happened to others either after the prescription had finished, or right around that 5 or 6 day mark.

Wow, Im glad I found this site. I was prescribed Bactrim last week for a sinus infection. The 1st day I took it I felt horrible nausea, and had no energy whatsoever. Ive had horrible back pain all week, which I had not thought was related to this as well. My throat has been hurting, I was about to go for a strep test. I cant believe these are all most likely from the medication. I have 3 days to go on it. Im going to call my doctor in the morning and see if I should stop taking it.

I was prescribed Bactrim for MRSA on August 26th, (2) 500 mg pills twice daily for one week. My first dose was that night, and the following morning I woke up with a severe migraine, and eye muscle pain. Day two I woke up with the same symptoms plus mild fever and severe pain from my neck down my spine. I was worried it was meningitis. Went and had my abcess drained and told the instacare Dr. all of my problems I had been having, and that I wasn't sure if it was a reaction to the antibiotic, or something else. Every day I have woken up sweating from the fever, I'm sleeping horribly, and the aches in my head and behind my eyes are at times unbearable. I will take my last dose tomorrow morning, and hopefully all of the symptoms will start to disappear. I am generally a healthy person, and rarely even get a cold, but this drug has really done a number on me, I haven't not felt these types of symptoms all at once before.

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 started on Bactrim 7 days ago. The first two days I felt fine, but the 3rd night I got cold...very cold and could not stop shaking for about two hours. My heart was racing and I was nauseated and couldn't focus. This went on for about 8 hours before going to the ER. Upon arrival I had elevated BP and pulse, but after a couple of hours it went down to normal. I saw a new doctor who said it sounded like I had a hypoglycemic attack!! I never had one of those before!! So, I'm figuring I'm getting sicker and maybe it is not from the Bactrim so I take it again and last night was another horrible night!! Racing heart, confusion, and urinating every 30 minutes. Thinking maybe I'm having another attack I get up and eat some applesauce and my husband gives me some sweet tea. I promptly threw up a few times and then we went to the computer to look for ourselves the side effects of this drug. Guess what? It causes hypoglycemia, racing heart, confusion and does something to your kidneys and makes you urinate too much and could be very dangerous!! That was it for me!! I didn't sleep the rest of the night but slept on and off during the day and felt like myself today for the first time since taking the drug. I don't know if it has done any permanent damage, but I will let everyone I know about this awful awful drug!!

I was prescribed Bactrim DS for mild acne. I was told to take it once daily for two weeks and then twice daily thereafter if I didn't have an adverse reaction, as my dermatologist indicated that it sometimes takes a long time for side effects to become evident using this medication. I am still in the one pill a day phase of my treatment and I am going to stop taking this medicine.

When I first started taking it, my lymph nodes in my neck became swollen, yet I did not have a cold or anything else that could immediately explain this symptom. My right lymph node in particular became very, very swollen and tender and was rock-hard to the touch. You could literally see it bulging out of my neck. It hurt to move my neck the wrong way and I could hardly turn my head because of all the pressure and soreness of my lymph node.

I stopped taking it for a few days and the size of the lymph node decreased, but it remained very full feeling and firm / rock-hard to the touch.

In addition, I have experienced persistent headaches and joint pain during the time I have taken this medicine. (I'm 21 years old, so joint pain is a symptom almost definitely linked to the Bactrim.)

I took ONE PILL last night, foolishly thinking it would be okay, and not long after I showered and got in bed, I began to feel a prickly sensation primarily from my groin up. It was a prickling, itchy sensation on my face, scalp, neck, arms, back, and even in my groin area. It was absolutely maddening and I couldn't get to sleep. At the suggestion of my fiance, I tried a second shower and that temporarily soothed it very slightly.

It is the day after that and I haven't taken it again, but I am still prickly / tingly / itchy all over and I believe I am beginning to develop a rash. I have also had a headache since last night, which began about 40 minutes after taking the pill. My lymph nodes are also inflamed yet again, so I have isolated the problem to be a result of the Bactrim. I will not continue to use this medication and I intend to contact my physician to request another course of prescription therapy.

Keep in mind that everyone's reaction to any medication is unique and some of the stories people have written on this site are extreme and unusual cases. Don't rush yourself to the emergency room just because you're taking Bactrim and you read about someone else's serious side effects -- all medicines affect people differently and you might experience minor side effects, if any at all. Call your doctor with any questions and get a second opinion if needed.

This drug is absolute poison and should be banned from US markets. I have increased fever decreased urination rash on face and neck a cough. My doctor who prescribed me this poison examined me today an ruled out an adverse reaction. I guess as with most MDs his overwhelming arrogance wouldn't allow him to make an error by giving me this absolute poison in a pill. This poison should be evaluated by the FDA and some sort of screening should be done to see if you are allergic to this miserable drug. After reading all of these stories I am truly disgusted that the poison is so frivolously prescribed. We are test subjects ginnea pigs lab rats. Let's shoot from the hip and see if it works. I am pissed off!

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/default.htm

Go to this website to list your adverse reactions to the FDA. If they get enough data, they may pull this medication from the market.

I had taken Bactrim in the past without a problem. My daughter, however, has a history of rashes associated with Sulfa drug use. I didn't say anything to the doctor that gave it to me for a sinus infection. With in 5 days of taking it, I came down first with some pain in my neck. We were on vacation and sleeping in a new bed, so I dismissed it. By the end of the week, I had a fever going up to 103. The following day, my neck pain was so bad, that I had ice on my lymph nodes. The day after that I had broken out in a rash so bad that it looked like I had a terrible sunburn. My skin was even hot to the touch. By this time, I had realized it was from the medicine, and stopped taking it. The rash isn't as red, but it did spread out to my arms, legs, and torso. I called my doctor when I got home, and he just said to take an over the counter antihistamine, but I was not referred anywhere else. After doing research on the internet and carefully reviewing the warnings from CVS (where I picked up the medicine) I believe that I have Stephens-Johnson Syndrome caused by Bactrim. This is actually listed on the warnings, but not what the symptoms are of this illness. It has been more than a week, and I still have the rash, although not as bad as it was last week.

Have had a horrible reaction to Bactrim. Started with loss of appetite, body aches and headaches within a week of taking Bactrim. Progressed into fever and the chills by a week and a half but just thought I had the flu. After taking Bactrim for 13 days I started breaking out with hives on my face, neck and chest which later spread to my arms and legs. I was diagnosed with an allergic reaction to Bactrim, pumped full of iv fluids, steroids and anti-histamines once they figured out what was going on. I had a fever of 101-102 for over 4 days. I was dehydrated and had a low white blood cell count. I'll be taking oral steroids and anti-histamines for 5-6 days. Such a horrible experience, I'll be glad when I won't be on any more of these medications!

I was recently diagnosed with MRSA and cellulitis. The doctors prescribed me Bactrim, taking two 500 mg pill twice daily for two weeks. I went back to the hospital today due to fever, swollen/ painful lymph nodes in my arm. They decided to change my medication which I was instructed to start tomorrow and continue Bactrim until the switch. Now my body is itching all over and is extremely sore.

I was prescribed Bactrim DS to treat an ORSA Staph infection following some vein surgery in my right leg. The original prescription was 1 pill 2xday with a refill after 7 days if needed. Since the infection did not seem to be responding very well and I had not developed any side effects (at day 7) I told my Dr. I was going to refill it. I continued to take it another 4-5 days when I then developed bumps and a slight rash on both of my lower legs. I went to the Dr. (my primary physician - not the vascular surgeon - who had originally prescribed the Bactrim) and was told it didn't "appear" to be an allergic reaction to the medication since it wasn't on my torso. Within two days the rash had intensified and spread all over my legs. Then within another 3 days it spread to my arms. The itching is relentless and varies between raw, searing, burning pain and plain old itch. Last night I cried myself to sleep for lack of any way to relieve it. The newest side effects are nagging pain in my right knee ( I've never had any joint pains before) and a feeling of tightness in my chest. I'll be calling my Dr. back tomorrow, if only to find out just how long I can expect this joy to last.

I will never, ever, take Bactrim or any related medications again.

Someday, some genius research scientist will invent a test to determine an individual's tolerance to this drug - BEFORE they take it and develop side effects.

THis website has been a tremendous help for me. Two days after I was prescribed 500 mgs of Bactrim twice daily, I started feeling really odd. First the achiness, then my left leg began to swell. I am not taking the meds anymore, but am now so fatigued, and sore, I feel as though I have had the flu for a week. I honestly do believe that it also has a negative effect on the liver. Just from the almost constant ache , I have on my right side. I just want to sleep all the time. I have not taken the meds for two days, and yet, the effects remain. Beware of this nasty medication. I don't know why the FDA allows its distribution!!

This drug fools you as it doesn't always start to give you the stranger side effects until days later.
I took 3 days worth and my eyes got hot but I never thought it was the Bactrim. 3 days the fever, sore neck & joints started. I took it until day 8 and my muscles were so weak I couldn't walk, get out of bed, type on the computer.....I stopped it but I wish I had known how toxic this stuff was.
I still have the muscle weakness and can't do anything and it's over 6 weeks. My doctor says I have to wait it out. I'm so depressed

My husband was taking coumadin and then developed an infection. He was ordered Bactrim D.S twice a day and by the third day he was bleeding in his brain. He had to have bilateral subdural crainiotimies twice to flush out all the blood in his head. He almost died. He now has severe headaches and some short term memory loss.