Bactrim side effects

I was prescribed Bactrim for an ear infection. A few days after taking it my lymph nodes in my neck became terribly painful and swollen. On the 8th day of the meds I have developed a rash on my arms, chest and face. I returned to the doctor today. He said that the rash is just a heat rash, and that the lymph nodes are just infected and prescribed another antibiotic! I spoke to my mother and sister and they are both very allergic to Sulpher based antibiotics. It looks like I am too. Glad that I read the post. I will never take that med again. I am nervous to stop the med at day 11 when I was prescribed for 14 days but I can't take these side effects any longer.

I was prescribed Bactrim for UTI and took two pills. Yesterday morning I woke up with a rash on my upper back and forearms, and had headaches off and on all day. I also had some slight kidney pain, especially on my right side. I took that day's dose anyway, even though I was sure it was the Bactrim causing it. I woke up this morning and the rash had spread all down my torso and arms, front and back, and I am still having headaches. I also had a hard time sleeping last night, not because I was itching, but was restless. I have stopped taking the Bactrim and the doctor wants to prescribe a different antibiotic. I don't think I will take them unless the UTI comes back later.

I was put on bactrim for uti. I was fine until the 3rd day were i began experiencing flu-like symptoms. The 4th day i got worse and that night i developed a fever of 103 i couldn't look up or side to side because of the pain. I woke up that night drenched in my sweat and when i woke up that morning i now have hive from head to toe that seem to be getting worse even with benadryl. I'm feeling extremely depressed and don't know what to do. I would never wish this on my worst enemy.

Hi everybody. I just happened to stumble upon this website. Today is my birthday and I'm home because of a new medication regime to counter act my terrible side effect from Bactrim. Last Saturday I went to the Emergency Room and found out I had a bladder infection, so the Doc prescribes this crap to me. I thought I was having a heat rash from being out in the sun too long (oh by the way, exposure to sun for a longtime is a big NO NO when on Bactrim). It started on a Sunday afternoon, fine little clustered prickly bumps all over my chest. THEN it began to spread on my back. THEN to my FACE! My shoulders, upper arms, forearms, back of my hands, thighs and knees....etc,etc, LOL EXCEPT for my pubic area, thank God! All of this progressed from Sunday night and finally ended up all over my body by Wednesday. The itching was unbearable. I tried everything from the Caladryl, Benedryl, Cortaid, Dermaplast, and absolutely nothing relieved me for more than 10 minutes. I finally went back to the ER when I realized I wasn't getting any better from my intial infection, because now I was running a temp of 100.3 degrees AND my lymph nodes in my groin had swollen to the size of walnuts. Talk about painful! After all that time taking that "poison." Okay, after for hours of waiting in the Lobby, being stared at while scratching and suffering the whole time, I finally went back into ED only to receive my first and most PAINFUL cortisone shot ever in the history of mankind., which did nothing for me but make my leg go numb. I also received Zantac (an acid reflux/heartburn med, I mean, WTF) and some Hydrocortisone pills? or something of that nature and I was on my way with four new prescriptions. Methylprednisolone (steroids! can we say weight gain and hirsutism) Hydroxyzine for itching (works a little, but still itching like hell), Ciprofloxacin I guess to knock out the rest of my infection, and Cimetidine aka Tagamet, which I don't know why heartburn medication is prescribed for me for a rash. Oh well, thats about it. All I've been able to do since is sleep, take meds, sleep, wake up, take meds etc. No new side effects..yet. What an ordeal, from taking one med for one problem to taking 4 new ones for this horrible rash. If you're ever in the southeastern region of N.C. don't ever go to South Eastern Regional Medical Center unless you feel as you're about to die (which if you do go, hell, you might just finish killing you) Sorry this was so long, but this was a very traumatic experience for me.

Wow ... reading all of these stories makes me feel a little better about my situation. On April 21 I was prescribed Bactrim for an infected cyst and just in case it was MRSA , the doctor thought Bactrim was the best way to go. Early on I had a few headaches and body aches and a nightly dose of Tylenol took care of that.On day 6 while at work I was overcome by the worst body aches I have ever felt. I left work early and laid down immediately and started to wonder if this is what it feels like to die. Naturally , my first Day 6 pill was the last one I took. I went to work the next day , still feeling crappy but able to work. I thought I was in the clear after stopping the Bactrim , but that was premature. The next morning I couldn't get out of bed , so I took the day off and tried to recover . Later that evening I noticed my skin felt really strange my face felt puffed out. Looking in the mirror I didn't recognize the person looking back at me. My face was sunburn red and completely swollen . Looking closely i could see the redness was a million little red dots grouped together to make my entire face , neck , chest and shoulders red. Interestingly the rash has only itched a little. At the E.R. that night the doctors were confused because of the lack of itching and because the rash did not go away immediately after a few doses of steroids. Another side effect , which is becoming the worst out of all of them is my mouth is extremely sensitive and raw feeling ... my throat is also very sore. Eating food is almost impossible , even soup. When I brush my teeth it feels like I've never brushed them before , when I chew food it feels like I've never eaten before. Tonight's dinner is probably the 6th meal that I haven't been able to finish. What I find most interesting with myself and a lot of the people posting on here is how long into the treatment that these side effects occur. My rash started over 2 days after I stopped taking Bactrim.

I was prescribed bactrim on April 8th for a UTI they gave me one pill while I was there and i went straight to the pharmacy to get my prescription. With in the first two hours of taking the pill I got nauseous. I just assumed it was because on top of the UTI I also had what I think was just a bug. I was already having a fever before I went to the doctor. I felt nauseous before but this time I felt like I was about to puke I just assumed it was from moving around too much. Over the next few days I would get the same sick feeling within hours of taking the pill. On the 11th I started noticing itching and I was turning yellow. On the 12th I went to the ER where they decided to test me for hepatitis because of all the symptoms I was having. The doctor also said shes never heard of it affecting the liver but she took me off the pill. By the 13th my palms were itching. The skin around my eyes was red, really dry and peeling. I was told I don't have hep but I'm allergic to Bactrim and it was affecting my liver. My eyes have cleared up but today I still have really dry skin and some areas are peeling really badly. The skin on the palms of my hands and on my feet peeled off like a glove. I have random spots all over my body that are extremely dry and peeling. My skin feels really grainy even after the piece that peeled off. Oh yeah also while I was on the pill I would get a tightness in my chest almost like I couldn't breathe.

I forgot to mention that I also had dry, flaky skin patches and the palms of my hands & sides of my fingers itched like crazy for days and days. They would have large red patches, and wearing jewelry would make it worse. Sometimes the patches would have some hives, sometimes they didn't. But the one thing that stands out in my mind is the itchy hands- it was really strange but I noticed some other people had the same symptom.

I have been having recurring UTIs and I had taken Cipro which did not clear up the first infection. My doctor prescribed Bactrim and wanted me on it for two weeks.

During the first week, I would feel dizzy for 2-3 hours after taking a dose. I had body aches as well, but thought I was getting the flu.

At the beginning of the second week, I broke out in hives. I have very sensitive skin and figured I had touched something that irritated my skin. I took benadryl and the symptoms went away.

The next day I broke out again, this time worse, and I noticed I had hives all over my body including on my feet and on my head- (which alarmed me, because I now realized it was coming from something inside). I thought it was something I ate. I took benadryl when I got home from work and they went away.

The day after that, I broke out again, and a co-worker mentioned that she had an allergic reaction from Bactrim and I should check online. Her reaction was dizziness and feeling sick to her stomach, but I looked anyway. When I saw that hives a side effect I called my doctor. They told me to stop taking the Bactrim and that I was allergic to it.

It will be a week tomorrow that I stopped taking Bactrim, and I still have hives everywhere. Last night, my entire back was covered with a red sunburn-looking rash with long snake-like hives. My boyfriend says the hives look like worms under my skin.

I would suggest to anyone that has any kind of reaction (dizziness, headache, body ache, rash, hives, etc.) to call their doctor ASAP. I should have know to call when they were making me dizzy in the first week, but sometimes you don't realize what is going on until you have severe symptoms. Doctors should tell people about the possible side effects when they prescribe this stuff.

i grew up with many differently bladder problems. and almost every time when i was younger i was given bactrim for a uti or kidney infection. well eventually i was put on this medication so much i became immune to it so they stopped giving it to me for like ten years to see if i could continue using it. since that ten years has passed every time i now take bactrim i have a very strange side effect that i have never in a million years experienced before. after bactrim is in my system for about 24hrs i develop a rash. i know what your thinking normal but no not really. this rash like "burn" only shows up in my pubic area on the right side toward the top of where my pubic hair grows. and it itches like crazy. but whenever i go to itch it then it burns so badly it brings tears to my eyes it hurts. this "mark" only shows up in that spot. they have finally come to the conclusion that i am allergic to sulfa drugs. but even with that being said why doesn't the rash spread any where else. it is kinda embarrassing that it only shows up in that spot. now i'm concerned the ob-gyn wants me to get the gardasil injections and i was reading the ingredients in the vaccine and it contains hydroxyphosphate sulfate which i am concerned may be a sulfa drug which means i might not be able to have that vaccine.

Update after a few minutes. The doctor from ER is not in town and its easter and the other doctor is not working. The lady in ER said i might be allergic to bactrim and just not to take it til i see my doctor. she said ill be fine. But i feel on fire!!! my head jurts my eyes are poping my back is numb, i am twitching and my throwt is getting worse i can barely breathe. what the hell? what the hell do i do? I am panicking =((
oh yeah and my lips are red like red lipstick and really burned and dry peeling off. i am going crazy

Oh my God, a few days ago i went to ER at 3:30 in the morning cause i felt like i was gonna die and my leg hurt. of course they didn't care to check my leg, but they said i have UTI so i am on Bactrim right now. the first two days were fine, but now i feel as if i'm gonna die seriously. I feel like i have high fever (i don't have a thermometer) my eyes feel as if they're gonna burst out of my skull and my throwt is dry and just dry. my body is ackeing and i feel dizzy. Does anyone know if you can die from bactrim>? should i finish taking the doses given to me to take the UTI away? what do i do? my husband is already frustrated with my ackying but i seriously feel pain. any advice?

My 4 yr old daughter took 1 dose of BACTRIM Tuesday night by Wednesday morning she looked like I had forgotten her in the sun. Her entire body was severely red from head to toe she was swollen all over her face, nose, lips,eyes ears hands and feet. Her eyes were so bloodshot and she complained of her throat being sore, couldn't see and her eyes hurting. We took her to our local ER where they stabilized her and then transferred her a hour away to a pedaratic trama center @ Levine's Children Hospital. She was diagnoised with a mild Steven Johnson's disease. Her fever went up to 102 and the heat from her skin and the SJD blistered her face to where she looked sunburn. Luckily the doctor that prescribed this RX to us new exactly what needed to be done and said no more sulfa drugs ever!! She is fine today but things could have been much worse for us.

I was diagnosed with pneumonia in Nov 2008. When I was released from the hospital, my doctor prescribed bactrim (2pills 3x daily).
After a short time I had noticed body aches and my legs and joints felt as if I had been hit with a bat.
The primary side effect was a rash like skin irritation all over my body.
What started as itchy red marks, began to dry up and my skin was flaky and hard (back, arms, chest, legs, stomach, neck, face and ears).
I was admitted back into the hospital.
The rash and itchiness cleared up. Yet, now my body is full discolored with dark blotches where the rash was (back, arms, chest, legs, stomach, neck and face).
I'm totally humiliated when I'm in public because the discoloration is clearly visible and it looks as if I have a disease.
In addition to that, I can't even wear most of my wardrobe anymore because I hate to expose my skin.
Looking at my before pics is a sad reminder that I've been scared for the rest of my life.
I've consulted an attorney who quickly told me that I had no legal recourse.

I just got bactrim prescribed to me when I had to go to the emergency room a few nights ago for an extremely high fever. They found it was a UTI and Kidney Infection. I started taking bactrim Wednesday morning and almost right away I started developing a headache. About an hour after it had begun, it turned into the most painful, throbbing headache I have ever experienced in my life. It does not go away at all. I have literally had it since Wednesday, all day, all night. Finally I called my doctor today and they said they had "no idea" why I was experiencing these problems. I told them that it started almost immediately after starting to take this medication and I was simply told that "antibiotics don't cause headaches". I beg to differ!!! I'm on day three, four more to go. I honestly can't stand this. It's interfering with my whole life. I would avoid this antibiotic if possible.

vaginal ulcers. mouth ulcers. red red eyes with ulcers and numbness of left arm. also sores in throat

Hey all. I started on Bactrim for pneumonia yesterday, which brings me up to 4 doses as of today. After the first pill I noticed my lips were turning red and felt like burning and hurt quite a bit, but I had no idea it was from this med. After the second dose, I noticed a pounding headache and neck pain and stiffness starting. It feels like my head is just going to explode when I cough now. After dose 4 my tongue is swollen with a burning feeling also. So I started to catch on and looked it up online only to find several websites full of people who have had similar, and many other, side effects. Needless to say, I will never take Bactrim EVER AGAIN! I'd rather deal with the pneumonia!! Now my concern is how long will it be before these side effects go away? I've heard some scary stuff about permanent effects! :-/

I am prone to getting uti's. I usally take cipro with no side effects and goes away with in 2 days. I went to a different dr. this time and she prescribed my bactrim. I cant believe this drug is still on the market. The first day i was fine, the second day i woke up with a major headache. I ignored cause at the time i didn't know it was from this medication. As the days went on the headache was still there and nothing seem to help it. I stared becoming dizzy all the time. On the third or forth day i became violently ill. Fever, chills, throwing up, dizzy, my entire body was sore and could not get rid of this headache. It last for about a week. When i went back to see the doctor. She told me it wasn't from the drug. I KNOW IT WAS!!! It wasn't until my husband did some research on this drug and found out i was having a allergic reaction to the bactrim. I will never take this medication again and believe it should be taken off the market.

After 8 days of taking bactrim I woke up to bad hives all over my body! The itching was soooooo bad. I was scratching myself bloody. I took benadryl and it did not help. My doc gave me prescription antihistamines and it took about 4-5 days.

I got a positive culture back for bacterial vaginosis which is quite common, and was prescribed bactrim DS (was given septra ds which is the same thing). that are only 160 mg tabs for 10 days 2 times a day. I was fine for about 3 days, on the 4th day I had decreased energy, pain in my left calf, and I was very irritable and felt nauseated and dizzy after taking the pill, I also felt cramping in my lower back and sides. On the 5th day, I had the same symptoms, on the 6th day I started to have stiffness in my neck, and I was nauseated and came close to vomiting. On what would be the 7th day my neck was stiff but wasn't worrying me too much not enough to make me think something was wrong, and I went to the doctor to find out if I was pregnant or not and sure enough I am! So I asked her then, could I be having an allergic reaction to the bactrim? My nurse said no, its probably related to my pregnancy. Now, I've been pregnant before and NEVER have I experienced neck pain at 4 weeks pregnant.. And most people will say "irritability, nausea, pregnancy related!" This is irregular. because when I don't take it, I am perfectly fine. after I got home the pain got progressively worse as the night went on. So I didn't take the evening dose. I went into the doctor on what would be the 8th day with so much neck pain I could hardly drive myself there, they told me nothing was wrong and told them I am positive that I am having a reaction to the bactrim. they said its probably just a cold. That if i were to have a reaction it would have been only in the first few days. They told me to continue use with the bactrim and relieve the pain with Tylenol, cold/hot compresses yadda yadda. Mind YOU as they are saying I can not move my neck even to look at the doctor to my right. I had to ask him to move in front of me, so I could see him! I know my body. While having it out of my system for the short time, i took Tylenol and felt amazing, i could turn my head, was making enchiladas! but since I took the morning dose, by the evening I was in agony. The pain is predominantly on the left side on the back of my neck, from the nape and base of my skull spreading down to my shoulders and back. It has also spread to behind my ears and on the left side of my skull. the Right side is not nearly as painful, I'm wondering if it might have something to do with being left handed. And I know I shouldn't have continued using that antibiotic, but I did. Doctors orders aren't always good orders. NOW I AM IN SO MUCH PAIN... I took it again this morning, thinking "my doctor would only prescribe this if he thought the risk of the side effects is worth the cure." And its gotten much worse. nothing has helped. I can only take Tylenol every 4-6 hours, and it only lasts about one hour if even that. I am exhausted, and the pain when i woke up made me nauseated, trust me I KNOW what morning sickness feels like. I was dizzy and nauseated from the sheer pain, and I have been so restless from the pain. I'm done using it, and I will tell my doctor that I refuse to use antibiotics in the future as well. I'm really upset, I know my body. I know what I am feeling, and it literally feels like there is an attack on my neck from the bactrim, and its spreading.

I am glad i found this site, i just wanted to add my little bit of info for now. I have been taking Two pills a day at 800mg of bactrim for a total of 8 days so far. Because i HATE antibiotics and try my hardest to let me body work out infections and such i avoided going to the doctor for tonsillitis( i used to get it a TON when i was growing up) and noticed i had pus covered "zits" that were very HOT and raised which i researched and thought were a staph infection after reading about them online. So i ended up at the doctor, being scolded for not spending my money on their BS antibiotics.... and still ended up with a prescription. Which i had no bad reaction to until last night when i noticed my skin was hot and hives on my elbows. I put some antibiotic ointment on (thought it was bug bites from camping) and went to bed. Today my skin is still hot, i can see the start of a rash on my neck and i feel it everywhere on my arms and neck/chest. So far it has not been too bad but i think it may also have to do with the fact that i have been eating yogurt like crazy! I chose to eat activa and another similar brand that are supposed to be helpful for your digestion but not only that i was more concerned with not getting a yeast infection which i have found to be common when taking antibiotics. So I am not sure if the cultures in the yogurt are what are helping me so much but it's just a suggestion. hopefully my side affects won't get worse and as soon as 14 days is up I'm back to avoiding antibiotics all together again!

My 17 year old son was diagnosed with MRSA after getting an injury on his knee from playing basketball.After the first does he had a loss of appetite, fatigue, nauseous and severe headache. By the third day he got a fever, chills, neck stiffness and a feeling of doom. We went to the ER because his blood had not been cultured and we were afraid of sepsis in the blood. The ER doctor said it was most likely viral and sent him home. The next night he had a fever of 103, sore throat, trouble swallowing, sun burnt look, swollen eyes and cracked swollen lips.The next day we went to the urgent care and they tested him for mono, strep and the flu...(all negative). He felt awful and was so tired and feverish. The next morning he woke up with a severe rash and itching all over his body and his skin looked like it was scalded. His blood culture came back negative for bacteria and his wound has healed. I have taken him off of this drug Bactrim. This is his first day. His rash is better and his fever was down for a little while. It is 101 tonight and he just feel so tired and achy. I know it will take time for this to get out of his system. Meanwhile he is missing school and is getting depressed because he feels like he will never get better. If someone told me that fever and chills were a side effect from this drug I would not have been so worried that he could die of a blood infection. Ask lots of questions or google this site before taking a new drug.

I am a 47-year old male; I was prescribed Bactrim for MRSA; after taking the prescription for just two days; My head felt as if it would explode (later told by doctor I had hives on the "inside of me"; I felt like I could not get my breath; my heart was racing; I broke out in hives - large red itchy splotches all over my body; pain in my abdomen; the inside of my mouth felt burnt and sore; eventually my lips felt burnt and began to blister and erupt; my penis glans began to blister and erupt; I thought I was dying of some sort of flesh-eating disease. 4-days after my last taken dose and I still am having these side effects.

I was prescribed Bactrim DS for what was either a spider bite or cellulitis. I have been taking it for 8 days out of the 10 I was told to take it. I will not be taking anymore of this horrible stuff! Just a s few hours ago, I took the last pill. My arms are now covered in bright red spots. And my eyes are red and itchy. I have NEVER had an allergic reaction to ANY medication before, so I didn't think I would have one to this. I hear it is the sulfer that people are allergic to. If you are prescribed this stuff and you aren't sure if you are allergic, I strongly suggest you not take it.

possible dysphagia difficulty swallowing.
acid reflux.

I was prescribed Bactrim 500mg.twice a day. I felt better for 2 days and now feel worse than before. My stomach is all screwed up and my neck is so sore. A weird deep in the tissue sore, dizzy, cold and no appetite and very tired. Waiting now to have the doctor switch me to something else. M.

I took Bactrim for 2 weeks to cure a staph infection. After 12 days I started to notice a bad stiff neck, but thought nothing of it due to being up all night with a new baby...figured I was just tired and uncomfy and it would go away. The next day, on top of the stiff neck, I noticed that the joints where my toes connect to my feet were cramped up and my right knee was cramped and swollen. I hadn't banged my knee into anything or stepped funny and couldn't figure out why this was happening. A day later my wrist cramped up and added to my misery. A night later I woke up to the baby crying and realized I couldn't turn my hands and my fingers were curled in towards my palms and I couldn't straighten them. My hubby cared for the baby for the night and we figured it would go away. A few hours later it was the same, so we went to the ER. They ran tons of bloodwork checking for lymes disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and infection. They said my CED rate was high which meant I had inflammation, and the only thing that made any sense was an allergic reaction to the bactrim. They prescribed prednisone, loritabs for pain, and ibuprofen. A week later, I can move my fingers, but the cramping is still lingering around and Im praying it will go away soon.

I was put on Bactrim for a UTI and was fine for the first couple pills but then developed flu like systems,headache,fever,painful joints throwing up and felt like crap. Then after a week of feeling like crap i had a red rash from head to toe front and back and stinging and itching at the same time. I am currently taking Benadryl to help with the rash and itch.

Hello all, I am feeling the bactrim pain. I came in for a staph infection which turned out to be the pesky MSRA. I have been taking 2 800mg tablets/day for about 5 days until I went back for a check up. My dosage was then doubled and to be continued for another 10 days. Also I was given 8 tablets of 150MG Cleocin because the staph wasn't clearing. All seems fine until about the 10th day of the continuation. I started tingling, iching from the ears then later noticed a rash developing down my arms, and back and chest. Now it is everywhere, even on more severely my legs and knees. Seems also folliculitis(infected hair follicles) are popping up with the hellish itchy red spotty rash that is everywhere. I went to the doctor for the rash today(day 2=much worse than day 1). The Doctor said it was an allergic reaction to the Bactrim. I remembered already asking the doctor from the last visit about 10 days earlier if i should be concerned with any allergic reactions. He laughed and said 'why". Well, this time I was give 10 more days of 4 dosages 300MG of Cleocin for the staph and steroid shot for the rash. Also I have this nose stuff for the staph to put in my nostrils twice/day for 5 days to help kill the staph which resides in my nose. OMG, i itch. I really appreciate all the information given here. It is somewhat comforting. I had just taken some benadryl from reading this forum in hopes of combating the rash. Finally, I can't sleep and just want to cut off all my skin.
Take care all and have a happy life.

I have taken Bactrim on a few different occasions, all with the same bad reaction.

I am very prone to getting UTIs, especially after sex. It has been like this for years. One of the first times I got a UTI, I was prescribed Bactrim. There were not really any other side effects except for a small area, about the size of 2 quarters, on the side of my stomach, right below my rib, that turned reddish and itched. I told my doctor about it and he dismissed it, saying it couldn't be bactrim as the cause, he's never heard of it, etc. When I was done with the antibiotic, the "rash" or red area faded slowly, but left a grey mark in it's place that has not gone away in 5 years now and counting. It is PERMANENT DAMAGE from this medication.

I was younger, so I never cared to write down the medication name... later on, I had another UTI and was given Bactrim again. Somewhere during treatment I felt myself itching the same area, I lifted my shirt, and there it was, inflamed again.... again I didn't list it as one of my allergy medications and was prescribed it at least a 3rd time... with the same occurring.

I know for a fact that it was bactrim causing it. It is obvious that the 3 times I took it, the same mark that was caused by bactrim to begin with.. turns red during ingestion of the medication. I do not know why it stays localized to one area and does not spread, I don't know what kind of organs it might have been affecting in that area.. I wish I had a clue because I am very curious...

But bactrim has left a permanent scar on my body, and not only outside, but god knows what it has done inside that has caused this to surface out.

I am a 52 yr old woman who was rushed by ambulance to the hospital on Sunday 4, 2009. I awaken with a horrible ripping pain in my lower left side and back. It reminded me of labor pain although it was worse because I knew I wasn't about to have a baby. I could barely walk and the pain kept me bent over, and burning in agony. After being x-rayed and diagnosed I was told I had a very tiny kidney stone, along with a UTI. I was told they could manage my pain better if they kept me overnight, with hopes I'd pass the tiny stone by urinating in a little strainer cup, to catch the stone. I've not seen the stone yet, and this is the 3rd day. Anyway, I awaken in the hospital after being knocked out by pain medication, with an excruciating headache, as if someone was putting pressure on my neck and back of head. I also noticed a big red rash on my forehead. The nurse gave me benadryl, and continued my doses of Bactrim, and Flomax. When I was released the next day I was given a prescription to fill, Bactrim 2X 3 day therapy, Flomax, and Vicodin. Recovering at home I've had an excrutiating headache the entire 3 days.. I had nausea, felt chills, had no appetite, and felt dizzy and as if I'd throw up every time I got up. I ran a low grade fever of 100*. After reading this site I know that it had to be the Bactrim that caused all those horrendous side effects.This is the fourth day since I was diagnosed and I still have a UTI, and will be calling my doctor in the morning, thanks to post like these.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

this past week has been a living nightmare...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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