Bactrim and pills

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

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

Thanks guys!

I 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 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!

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 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.

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.

Hi everyone! I am a 20yr old female who went to the ER with a seriously infected bug bite that had a red streak leaving the bite. The ER doctor told me it was a staph infection and I was very lucky to have come in when I did. He gave me Bactrim for 10days, twice a day. First things first BACTRIM DID heal my staph infection beautifully! BUT On day 8 around my P.M. pill I realized that my thighs were COVERED in a red rash that didn't itch and did not have any kind of bump to it.. In panic because of what I had just gone through with having a staph infection I ran to my mother who looked online and we found this site.. I agree with ALL of you who say this drug should be taken off the market and also before I take any drug ever again I will be looking at this site and to people like you who apparently care more than the doctors do. On day 8 I NOT ONLY had the rash (which by day 9.. today has spread everywhere but my face and hands pretty much, developed some bump and itch) I have the worst stiff neck and swollen glands!!! Behind my eyes KILLS to look in any direction or strong light.. I am always tired and have weak arms and legs... Tomorrow is my last day on the pill and Wed I will be seeing my regular doc for a routine check up... Note as well that yes I have been able to sleep but since the very first night on Bactrim I have been having very weird and very realistic dreams!.. I'm sorry if this is scattered in thought but I just want to put out there what I have as well to help just like most of you helped me.. and saved me from a complete panic attack.. also watch for signs of depression.. I used to take pills for depression and scary enough my mother since I have been on Bactrim has been saying shes seeing signs of my depression returning.... DRINK TONS OF WATER & SLEEP AS MUCH AS YOU CAN... If you are on the last few days of the medicine stick it out and bitch like hell to your doctors.. maybe if enough of us to we can get this crazp off the market

Other what seems to be common side effects: Along with the rash, swollen glands, stiff neck (mostly on the right side), fever, chills, always tired and weak, EXTENDED period.. sorry ladies!, funny stomach feeling where it doesn't hurt but it does not feel good, starving or nauseated by the idea of food, gass (gross), and the funny dreams. This stuff is HORRIBLE and I cannot wait for day 10 to be over and done with so I can get back to normal.. Good luck to everyone else!... Also I have to pee a ton!!!

I'm very very VERY sorry to all of those who lost loved ones because of a medicine.. that should never happen and I truly am so sorry.

I am so glad to have found this site. I took 3 Bactrim pills for a urinary tract infection. After the 2nd pill I should have stopped, because I thought I was feeling oddly and wondered if it was from the drug. I talked to my mother and sister who have frequent UTI's and who take Bactrim, and they said they had no side effects from it whatsoever. I figured it was in my head then that I was feeling bad, and decided to take another dose (My 3rd). I experienced tingly, crawling feelings in my legs. Cramps and pain in my stomach, major gas and acid reflux, lower ab pain, right side pain, and low back pain. In addition, I felt out of my own body, everything seemed very bright to my eyes in an unusual way, I saw stars when I looked to the left or right and shadows, I also felt sick to my stomach or starved depending. I noticed a slightly sore throat and last night a terrible headache at the base of my neck and up the back of my head. Today I have a very sore and swollen tendon in my right side. My stomach remains bubbly and gassy and I still have some headache pain and leg pain. I also experienced rapid heartbeat to the point of just about hyperventilating. I stopped the drug immediately. It's been 2 days since I've taken any Bactrim and I still feel horrible. I can't wait until this crap is out of my system!! I am drinking tons of water and resting as much as I can. I will take Cranberry Tablets Supplements every day from now on to ward off UTI in the future, and NEVER EVER take Bactrim again. I would NOT recommend this drug to ANYONE. The side effects are horrible and all this from just 3 pills! I cannot imagine having taken more.

Good luck and good health to all who have been in this position! It stinks.

My Dr. put me on Bactrim for a UTI infection. The first couple of days it seemed to work really well taking care of my UTI, and I did was i was told take all the meds which was 2 pills for 5 days. Well, I was suppose to start my cycle about the same time I started taking the Bactrim, 11 days later Iam still waiting to start . I feel awful. My stomach is swollen,my back, ribs, upper and lower abdomin. I have weak feeling muscles and chills at times. I called my Doctor and all he said was yeah, that can be a side effect sometimes. Well , i sure wish he would have informed me, I would have never taken it. I sure never will again. All he said was he was sorry for my discomfort didnt ask me to come in for a exam or anything. I guess i just have to let it get out of my system. I dont have heath insurance and it was expensive enough going in for the initial problem.

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 !