Bactrim and bladder infection

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!!!

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.

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

Wierd. I have taken Bactrim before and had no incicent - that I can recall. Well, today I was diagnosed with Bladder infection - took 1st dose of bactrim and about twenty minutes later (as i'm walking into a restaurant), everything starts going haywire. First wicked itching, flushing of the skin - then eyes turn BLOOD red, face swells, tongue starts feeling fat and hurts - heart is pounding. I freak out - and throw some money on the table for a glass of tea - that I didn't drink - Husband rushes me back to clinic - as we both think I am having aniphilactic reaction. Terrified. Never experienced anything like it - my face swole up on the way - horrible. Wanted to scratch my skin off. Palms of hands, feet everything feels like its "asleep" and has needle like sensations. They ask if my airway is tightening (!) not yet? They give me a "steroid" shot (generic term I guess), and a Zyrtec. I start calming down on the way home - itching subsides and then chest pains begin - now I think i'm having a heart attack. I don't know if the trembling is from Bactrim or terror. I crawl into bed and start bawling - cuz I feel like I almost died. It scared the shit out of me. Husband paces and wrings hands. Now, hours later - I have sweats, fatigue (dramatic day), and heartrate is still elevated. Left tonsil hurts when I swallow. Yikes.