Bactrim and headaches

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...

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.

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 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.

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 came down with a severe UTI-you ladies know---the kind that makes you teeth hurt !! I went to the doctor-he prescribed Bactrim-2x a day for 7 days-Into the 2nd day-I had no idea what was going on ! I had the most excruciating heartburn & bloat & headaches--And on the 6th day-yet still !
I don't think I will finish the last day as I want to get this LOVELY drug out of my system--And here's the truth ...I don't know if it actually cured this UTI !!! I don't go as frequent & thank god the bad pain is gone--but I still have a slight feel of uncomfortableness & burning---So , back to the Doctor I go after I went through of week of wondering what was happening to me !!!

I was prescribed batrium for a cyst that a had. The first day I started talking it my eyes started to turn blood shot red and with a little bit of swelling around my whole face. Then more things came like itching on my legs and the bottom of my feet, dizzy, headaches, and feeling so sick to my stomach that I even throw up. This is the fourth day of it, I am going to stop talking it to see if the swelling on my face is going to go down.

This drug made me terribly ill and I will refuse to take it if it is ever prescribed again. I had to take 3 a day during which I became so ill that I cut the dosage down to 1/2 pill which I found I could tolerate. I had a UTI which became MRSA. I'd rather have MRSA. I could have been depressed or had headaches. I was so nauseated, I wouldn't know.

Was prescribed generic for Bactrim (10 days) for UTI and started to get headaches almost immediately. Along with neck discomfort, constipation, eyes sensitive to light, mild nausea, unusual dreaming and aches in the mid-section. Wanted to stop taking but the docs said to finish it all, but after seeing this site im stopping 3 days short.
Now I wish i would have treated it at home with natural and safe methods. I have come to not trust all of these medications. Please don't take it if it can be helped!

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

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

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

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

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

I started Bactrim for a UTI and felt horrible the whole time. Sick to my stomach, trouble breathing, headaches, loss of appetite. Once I asked my husband to call 911 because I almost passed out. But then I said, wait, let me settle down. I did that and continue with the medication thinking it was the UTI. Then I went to urgent care because I was suffering from a yeast infection from the Bactrim too. The 9th day on Bactrim I got worse, I started to break out in hives. By the 10th day I rush to urgent care covered head to toe in hives with trouble breathing and bumps on my tongue and mouth and throat. The doctor said, you're are having an allergic reaction to the Bactrim. He gave me a shot of cortisone and Prednisone l for the inflammation. My stomach is swollen, my body aches, I still have a terrible yeast infection and read that if you have fungal and are taking Prednisone, that's not good either. So I am at odds because my breathing is labored and I am hoping the Prednisone works and I can make it another day or else, I will go to the emergency tonight. This is no fun....I sent this list of complaints to the FDA's attention today. I hope they listen and look at this page seriously and all those who continue to write.

I have been taking bactrim for 3 days for a UTI. I have felt lousy. In the afternoon I feel extremely lethargic, as if I have been injected with lead. I also have headaches. I will stop it now.

My side effects were bothering me so bad that I had to stop taking it. I got extreme nausea, blinding headaches, and could not sleep while on it.

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?

Took it for 30 days for prostate infection. Fixed it, but then like an idiot I took Nyquil for a cold/flu which caused enlargement of prostate and subsequently backwash of urine which infected prostate again. Then took Cipro for two weeks, then Flomax to shrink prostate for 1 month. Infection came back. Starting on Bactrim for another 30 days.
When taking Bactrim for first two weeks only had dry-mouth. When I refilled at different Walgreens (this one in Marietta, GA) I immediately got bad headaches. These only lasted a day or two, then back to dry mouth.
Please note: was taking sulfameth/trimethoprim, the GENERIC form of Bactrim.

after only taking bactrim for a few days I noticed that I got severe stomach pains, headaches, and loss of appetite. I couldn't sleep when I took the med because the pains in my stomach were so bad I had to throw up to feel a little relief