Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim side effects

So I took one pill at around 10am and a couple minutes later, I felt a headache coming on so I took a 1 hr nap. When I woke up, my head is throbbing and my eyes were bloodshot. About another hour later, I was shivering. I had a sweater an sweatpants on, 2 blankets and a heater and was still shivering. The headache was worse and I had a slight fever. Later I felt numbness on my fingers which later turned into muscle cramps all over my arms and legs. I had to position them a certain way just so the pain could be bearable. I took several pain killers and none worked. By 8pm, the pain was just horrible. I couldn't fall asleep, I was just hurting everywhere. The next morning at around 6am, I took more painkillers and this time they started working and I fell asleep. I woke up at 10am and the pain was gone. My eyes are still bloodshot but my body no longer hurts. It literally took 24 hrs for the side effects to wear off. I just can't understand how one pill can do this to someone and still have it on the market!

After taking one pill, I had the following side effects. My doctor said they are not due to the medication, but after reading everyone's experience, I know it is!

I was prescribed sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim for 10 days, for a cyst that wouldn't go away. I took the first dose in the morning with breakfast. By the afternoon, I noticed my eyes were bloodshot. On my way home from work, I noticed that my actual eyeballs "hurt" and I could feel a headache coming on. Because it only hurt in my eye region and I thought I felt sinus pressure, I believed it was also due to nose blowing. I called the Dr. and he said,"No, those wouldn't be side effects from the meds." At that point, I too felt like a hypochondriac. I took an additional pill as prescribed that evening, and this morning I STILL feel horrible. (and I drake tons of water throughout the process) After reading the other testimonies, I KNOW it is this medication. I WILL NOT be taking another pill. Ya know, we trust doctor's to help us and make us well...I know everyone's body's are different, but this is unreal. I've gone to the same doctor for probably 10 yrs, and unfortunately, this is something that will make me change physicians. I for one, do not have time to be someones lab rat...and that's what this feels like. I hope my testimony helps someone else. Everyone listed here helped me. Thank you so much.

I to experienced an allergic reaction but not to the sulfa-based compounds but to the filler used. Everyone, please review all seemingly allergic reactions when taking any drugs as the reaction may be from the filler ingredients.

I was prescribed Sulfamethoxazole on Mon. evening for a kidney infection. After taking it for 4 days, I developed a bad pain on the left side of my neck. Later on that day had a bad muscle cramp right below the inside of my groin. About 15 min. later had another one on the back side of my left thigh. Had me crying and couldn't straighten my leg. Figure it is the medication and stopped taking it. The next day, today, my leg muscles are sore and I feel like crap.I also developed a headache on the 3rd day.

I was giving sulfamethoxazole for a UTI on Thursday night 6/25/09. on the 3rd day using this med. i started getting headaches and stomach pains. On Sat. July 4th i work up with 102 fever and red bumps all over my body. went to the er and i still had the UTI, not now i has a bad rash all over my body and i can't even go back to work until it clears up.

I've been debating on taking this medicine for 2 days already, and I'm flat out refusing. My doctor said that I was being a hypochondriac and that Aspirin has worse effects. If they really give us this med to get more business, that's just sick. I refuse. Don't feed deer in the forest and fall and have the top of your foot cut.-boo. :(

I was prescribed this medicine for 10 days due to a cyst like skin infection on my inner thigh. On day 5 My right eye on the left side was very bloodshot. Not sure if its related as I had pink eye a couple weeks ago and thought it was gone. I also have gout and take allopurinol which sometimes causes my eyes to get bloodshot for extended periods. On day 9 I had a headache (throbbing behind my eyes), slight fatigue and that night it felt like I might be getting the flu (aches, nose passageway closing a little). Today has been the worst, still not sure if its related to the meds as this has been the season of the swine flu as well. I have positional vertigo which makes me dizzy sometimes, I've been free of dizziness from the vertigo for 3 years and just started again tonight. My teeth have been sensitive to cold all day too and even though it was 98 degrees outside and 77 in the house I was freezing. Feel a little bit of heart flutters as well. I did miss one dose on day 8. I probably didn't drink enough water with the prescription either. Lastly, I've been a bit stressed from work and an upcoming trip so take these "side effects" with a grain of salt. Either that or my body is week from all the other problems I have. Thankfully I haven't been itchy as others describe.

After, being given medicine for a procedure I had last week. I started to get nausea and headaches. The meds where to be taken for 30 days. I had told the people at the surgical care that I had a sensitive stomach. But I guess they did not listened I rather have an infection instead of taking this. My bones ache and stopped take meds 2 days ago and still feel bad. I had cold chills and feel hot the next and spent the whole day throwing up until 3pm and now I feel exhausted and a little down. I will never ever take this meds again. This meds so many side affects they should have an alternative drug to take.

for everyone who developed a rash, how long did it take to go away? i was on sulfa for three days and now i have little red bumps that kind of look like small pimples all over my ankles and feet and my arms and hands...is this a normal side effect? i am so freaked out that it will be permanent...i stopped taking the meds.

also, i had such bad nausea i couldn't move and could not eat anything

Was prescribed Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim 3 days ago for a bacterial skin infection. At the same time, I also had an apparent allergic reaction going on (unknown source, had never had one before) where my arms were both covered with hives/welts. So my skin was peeling and hive covered BEFORE even starting the meds, which is making the evaluating of the drug side effects a bit trickier. So far, the skin seems to be improving but the hives/rash has not improved, despite taking prescribed allergy meds during the same time. So this could be the current source of the rash, but I can't tell.
On the plus side, have not had any stomach upset (I took all doses w/ food) or other GI symptoms other than increased frequency in BMs. I only seemed to get a headache after not drinking water for a couple of hours. If online sources are to be believed, the "sulfa" portion of this is the culprit behind the worst side effects, AND food may interfere with absorption/effectiveness. Based on that, I'm planning on taking my remaining doses w/ food since the skin infection is already clearing up after 2 days and I've got 10 days to go. Hoping to avoid the reactions folks described here where they starting rashes late in the treatment cycle.

I have experienced nausea with this medicine and I don't know if its normal but my teeth are aching extremely bad, they feel really sensitive. I know antibiotics are bad for your teeth, but I don't know if that's the cause. I have also experienced headaches and slight itching, but no rash thank God!

bad headaches, body extremely hot and continual sweating, I was prescribed this for ten days after a bad reaction to a wasp sting I feel even worse now! I've taken 7 days and am going to stop them.

My husband was prescribed sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. After taking the medicine for 9 days, he broke out with red bumps (rash) on both of arms, and he complained about being itchy. Now he has them on his legs as well. I did some research and found out this website. After reading some of the side effects I am pretty sure that his rash is due to taking the medicine. He will follow up with the doctor just to make sure. I'm glas I found this website. Thanks!!!

I had been on Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim for ten days when i had my allergic reaction- i went out for a run Saturday evening and about thirty minutes after my return i started breaking out into unbelievable hives and excruciating itching at this point it was only on my arms and i put some anti-itch gel on it to get better went to bed and woke up around 2 am with my lip completely swollen out i then took benadryl which controlled the itchiness- going into Sunday the hives got so bad i could hardly move my hands and then the hives spread to my feet which made it literally unbearable to walk- i have never experienced anything like this! I felt like a cripple i was hardly able to move- luckily i had a packet of steroids previously prescribed to me started taking them and immediately started to feel better i woke up Monday morning around five am and the hives had almost vanished- then when i got up to go to work on the drive in the hives were back and stronger than ever it was horrible i was driving in traffic watching my arms and hands swell in size and itching unbelievably out of control- managed to get some benadryl in my system and another steroid- made it to work- throat started closing in on me started wheesing couldn't catch my breath- ended up in the emergency room- this has been the craziest thing that has ever happened to me! The ER doctor told me that 40-60% of the population is allergic to this antibiotic- YET ITS STILL ON THE MARKET!!!!! I seriously thought at time i might die- this was the most excruciating experience i've had- and if i lapse the time i need to take my steroid the hives come back soo fast-The doctor said it can take a week for my body to metabolize the antibiotic out of my system- the lesson i learned here always do your own research on any medicine the doctor gives you to take- just bc they prescribe it doesn't always mean its the best i mean up to 60% of the population is allergic to this- had i known this i would have asked for a different antibiotic! In my case i think that it took my body so long to have its allergic reaction due to the fact when i went on the antibiotic to fight an ear infection i was also prescribed a steroid and i believe the steroid was fighting off my reaction and keeping it at bay until i ran out of that....Also anyone having this reaction DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN OR IBUPROFEN/ADVIL THIS MAKES THE REACTION WORSE- IT IS REALLY BEST TO JUST TAKE ALEVE!!

itch, rash,vomiting,runs,10 days still itchy

ok so i have been taking this medicine for a week now due to a uti and it is my 7th day on it and i broke out in a terrible rash that has spread to my torso and arms! i am not sure if it is from the medicine but may be this can help someone out there!

Prescribed a 3 day course for a UTI. I was fine the first day and a half but have developed a terrible, blinding headache now and some mild shortness of breath. This is my last day and only have one pill left so will finish but won't take again due to this headache. UTI cleared right up.

I was diagnosed with strep throat about 1 week ago and at first the doctors tried to kill me! They had prescribed amoxicillin--I am allergic to anything with "cillin" in it, and before heading home, I caught the mistake. The doctor apologized profusely, and then prescribed me erythromycin. Upon taking this drug, my face became swollen, and my eyes were itchy and red and my throat stung and my ears burned like fire! I returned to the doctor's office, and he was like, "oh, well, you're allergic to this, too! I'll give you some Bactrim. It helps for UTI's". I don't have an UTI, but I was desperate for anything to stop the burning pain. After taking Bactrim(sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim) for two days, my throat felt much better and the ear pain was gone, but I had a horrible rash on my chest, arms, back, and face. My eyes became itchy and puffy, and after day six of the treatment, I stopped taking my medicine. I couldn't take the rash or the itchy eyes anymore. Something strange happened: I felt just great! My skin had cleared, and no more itchy, puffy eyes! Now, two days later, I wake up to another sore throat AND itchy, puffy eyes. I do not have insurance, and any treatment I receive comes straight from out my own pocket. Could this stuff be silently killing me? Please someone help me with this strange dilemma

I was wrongly prescribed for a chest infection and came out in a severe rash. Had to go to hospital as it became very bad and itchy. I am now on antihistamine .. never had anything like it ever.. hope this helps. The doctor at the hospital said that it is only usually given to the elderly for urinary tract infections,, so I think I shall be changing my doctor .BEWARE.. .

I am taking sulfameth/trimethoprim and after one week started breaking out in a strange measle-like rash too. this is my first night with the rash, and its not itchy yet but something is definitely wrong. hope this helps the next person.

I was prescribed this for a UTI. I took ONE pill at 7 PM and by 8PM I was vomiting profusely and having diarrhea at the same time. I had a horrible headache and body aches, chills and probably a fever. Day two I feel exhausted and still have a horrible head ache. Unfortunately it is a holiday week end and I must wait to talk to the doctor until Tuesday about the UTI.

I had strep throat, they gave me erthromicine- sorry about the spelling- I took it for two days, the worst two days of my life- I threw up constantly, couldn't sleep and gas like you wouldn't believe. Went back to doctor got sulfameth /trimethoprim. Have been taking it for 9 days, twice a day, almost done with the perscription and broke out in a huge rash. My internal temp is very hot but I get the chills and my throat muscles hurt now. Not like strep on the inside but when I turn my head- this sucks!