Bactrim and fever

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 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!!

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...

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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!!

Your website helped me know that I was not dying or crazy when I was prescribed to Bactrim. I went to an Urgent care facility to treat a UTI. I have had them in the past and figured it would be a quick fix. The prescribed Bactrim twice per day for 7 days. After the first day I developed a sore throat. After the second day my body began to ache a bit. After the third day, I almost collapsed from faintness. I stopped taking the medication because of how it was making me feel and since I saw NUMEROUS online complaints (like this site) on how awful the medication was. I though I would feel better after stopping the medication but it only got worse. That is when I developed a fever with severe flu like symptoms and also vaginal sores. I was confined to my bed for two days and this was two days after I stopped the medication. After day three of no medication I began to feel better. Today (day 5 of no medication) I went to see my PCP( which is an internal medicine doctor who I should have just went to to begin with). He said I would be fine and I am allergic to Sulpha drugs. He also stated that mosts UTI's clear after three days of treatment. In addition he stated that most women have resistance and reactions to Bactrim and that Cipro would have been a better choice. Although Bactrim is a lot cheaper than Cipro. I would NEVER recommend Bactrim to anyone!!! I thought I was dying! I am getting tested for STD's incase that is why I have sores (highly doubtful) but I'll let you know.

Prescribed for UTI, 1 pill 2x day, actually Bactrim DS, which is 800/160 tabs. After 1 dose, next morning severe migraine with vomiting, nausea, chills, (I didn't take temp, but probably had a fever), loss of appetite, finally went to sleep for a few hours and was jarred awake by a bad dream (unusual for me) and couldn't go back to sleep thought I had drank to much caffeine. Had tight chest, but thought that was linked to my 130/90 BP...I thought I was having a heart attack. Followed by sleeplessness last night. Today, after 3 doses, I woke with a stiff neck and had a headache this morning which was made better by 2 Tylenol. Went to my GP to get on some BP meds. He must've thought I was crazy, but I wasn't leaving until I got something to make my chest feel better and theoretically lower my BP. I thought all these side effects were just me, but apparently not. I wish everyone the best in finding a better, safer treatment than this one.

I was given Bactrim at the ER where I was diagnosed with a staph infection. They gave me 800 mg twice a day for 7 days. On day 8 I returned to my regular GP because another boil had appeared. He said the dosage the ER had me on was not high enough. He doubled me to 3200 mg a day. After 4 days on this high dose I began to feel terrible, flu like symptoms, all of my lymph nodes were swollen and painful to the touch, especially the ones at the base of your neck/head. That night my eyes started itching like crazy and began to swell. I went back to the doctor she said it was allergies in my eyes and prescribed some expensive drops, told me I had a virus causing my body aches and fever, and lanced my other boil, she then put me on Doxycycline. That night I broke out in a terrible rash from head to toe that was itchy, then became more like a very painful sunburn. I thought I was allergic to the Doxycycline, so I called the doctor who switched me to Levaquin, wow,,,I sure have spent a lot of money on medicines to discover tonight on this forum that all of this was due to Bactrim. I will NEVER take it again as long as I live.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I'm taking the generic form of Bactrim ds 2 tabs every 12 hours , my stomach aches and i am having a fever of 100.9 - 102.0 after 5 days. It's done nothing for my swollen lymph node . I developed a boil behind my ear and had to have it lanced my lymph nodes are sore also .After 5 days the boil is still there however not as large. Is the dosage a lot,seems a lot to me ?

I took Bactrim for a urinary tract infection. After I had taken the Bactrim for two days I started having really bad hot flashes. Never have had them before. I was burning up constantly, all day. Sweating on my face and chest. Slight nausea and headaches. Some dry mouth. And just an all over feeling of being tired and not feeling well. I haven't read any postings yet about people feeling hot or running fever, but I really think this is the problem. After 3 days of constantly being hot and sweating, I felt like I was about to go crazy. So I have stopped taking it today. I hope it goes away quick, but I have read it can still take a few days for it to get out of your system. Has anyone else experienced the being hot from taking Bactrim?