Bactrim and stomach

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 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 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 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 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?

My husband had a cyst on his face. His primary doctor gave him Bactrim. The first week was fine, but then he got really sick and had to to go the ER. He was doubled over in agony, screaming, nausea. He was admitted. They scoped his stomach, CAT scan, X-rays. He got better ('cause he stopped it while in the hospital). They discharged him with a script for MORE Bactrim. He took it and ended up back in the hospital!

He has thrown it all out. He had chills, aches, he moved like a 90 year old man. He was very sick to his stomach with agonizing stomach and abdominal pain. He's still moving really slow and feels terrible. He says he can't taste anything sweet, either. We hope that resolves soon.

Hello all,
I'm in the same boat but near the end.... I was given Bactrim for a UTI. I woke up after 2 days with horrible aches in my joints and muscles. I was immediately taken off the Bactrim and put on Doxycycline. I was then put on Prednisone for the aches (which helped). I developed blisters and a rash after a few days. My aches went away after about two weeks but now I have itchy, sore and peeling feet, buttocks, mouth, and genitals. Stomach upset as well. I have been tested for everything (STDs, Lyme Disease, West Nile, etc, etc) and everything has come back negative. I was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome from the allergic reaction I had to the Bactrim. It has been 3 weeks since the first dose and I am finally starting to feel better (except for the insane itching). Good luck to everyone. Never again!

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

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 !

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 started taking Bactrim last Monday evening. When I started to have tightens in the chest and feeling very tired on Thursday evening, I didn't contribute it to the medicine. I went to bed and woke up at 2:30 am because of the chest discomfort. I didn't take my Thursday evening and Friday morning dosages because I felt yucky. By Friday morning, my chest was tight and under my left arm ached. I called my doctor's office and told the receptionist that my chest was hurting and I needed to come in on Monday and that I stopped taking Bactrim. Yes told me that I shouldn't have stopped. So I took another pill on Friday evening. I forgot to take one on Saturday morning because I didn't eat breakfast at home and I didn't take the medicine with me. Started retaking them on Saturday night. Within one to two hours of taking the pill, I started to itch. I still didn't know what was wrong. I finally went to bed and I woke up at 3:30 am itching like crazy. Now I noticed I had red bumps and splotches all over my body (legs, arms, back, stomach, chest, and etc). I have been itching since Saturday night and it is now Monday night. I went to the doctor today and I was told that I should stop taking Bactrim.

I will never take this again.