Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim DS side effects

My son was given this medication for MRSA staph infection, in addition to Rifampin 300mg, and other medication he has had before. This is his 4th outbreak so they were trying to get aggressive with this treatment.

Yesterday, Day 4 (although he hadn't been taking his medication faithfully as he should have been) he developed a rash on the side of his tummy. Then today, it started spreading sporadically on his back, his knees are red & swollen, and his hands feel swollen to him as well. Since both these medications are new to us, and it's a Sunday, I'm having him stop both the SULFAM / TRIMETH, and the Rifmpkin until I can speak with a doctor tomorrow.

Looks like other people have had similar, and worse side effects such as his.

My symptoms aren't as bad as the other two entries but thought it worth letting others know about.
On my 4th pill I started feeling like I was swollen (although I didn't appear to be swollen)--it's a feeling like I am trying to bust through my skin. Although, I don't have a visible rash, my skin feels completely raw (dry and tightly stretched)--it's severly aggitated and itches like mad. I want to scratch my ankles out (it's worse around my feet, legs and face). I called my doctor to see how badly I need to finish out the dosage and am just waiting for her to call back. She prescribed 14 pills for 7 days. The UTI symptoms are gone but I don't want to take the chance of the infection still being there and becoming worse (i.e. turning into a bladder infection--I don't really know if that's possible but I am paranoid about it), but I don't know if I can stand this intense itching for another 4-8 pills either.

I was prescribed Sulfamethoxazole-TMP tablets for a severe UTI that I developed. I was given 10 tablets total--and instructed to take two per day. Within an hour of taking the first tablet, my UTI felt much better, however, the rest of me felt horrible! I got nausea, dizziness, extreme confusion and depression, and stiffness and pain in my neck and shoulders. I continued the medication anyway, b/c I never had sulfur or ANY medicinal allergies. I had difficulty sleeping the next few nights, I would wake up in the middle of the night for no reason. The soreness of my neck and shoulders then extended to my butt and thighs. I can't describe how uncomfortable this was. I was sitting at work literally writhing in pain from what I felt in my legs. (and I blamed it on my poor desk chair!!) This happened on day three of five. Also, while at work I had an "episode" if you will, where I became extremely confused and disoriented, and nearly had a panic attack. It felt like the world was crashing down on me!! It only lasted for 15 minutes or so, but I will not forget the way I felt. All the while, my UTI symptoms were getting better and better. I was completely unable to have a bowel movement...sorry for this information...but it will start to make you worry if you can't poo for 5 days!! Day four of five is what I like to call "The Enlightenment". I was getting in the shower, still dizzy as hell, and noticed that I was very itchy. I looked at my lower back and I was covered in red, itchy bumps. I was say they looked like small mosquito bites, all in a cluster of about 8 on either side of my lower back. I realized then and there that this medication really was ravaging my body like I had feared. I found this site and others online which confirmed that I wasn't crazy...just poisoned. Later that day I was resting on my couch and looked in the mirror and saw that my entire face was covered in a red rash. (and I got a horrific headache) The worst part is you don't really look outwardly sick or anything...you just feel terrible. Everyone I told was very nonchalant about it..."Oh just take some Benadryl". I've lost my faith in the FDA. I stopped this medication one pill shy of my last dose. I am terrified of the possible lasting effects and will never take this drug again!! PLEASE!! NEVER TAKE THIS MEDICATION!! YOU WILL REGRET IT!!

I was prescribed the medicine sulfameth/trimethoprim for a UTI and 1 hour after taking it, I began to itch and noticed red bruises appearing on my arm and back. I also had palpatations. My lips and face began to swell really bad with blisters on my lips and around them. My lips were burning and itching very badly.I also had sores in mouth. I had really bad abdominal pain and difficult breathing.. The next day, I had even more swelling on lips and face and more bruises,vaganal irratations,rashes, severe headache,itching all over body,tongue swelling, throat irratations, bruising continuing all over. I couldn't sleep and was very tired. It has been a week and I am still having some itching, my lips are peeling and still feel very tight as well as bumps on lips and around.The itching and burning on my lips lasted about 5 days as well as most other symptoms. with some lasting longer and all this with taking just 1 pill. After taking this I read so much on this drug and had I read it first, I would have never taken it. I had a reaction to SMZ once and told my doctor that I was allergic to sulfur type drugs and the doctor and pharmacy overlooked it and I was given this anyway. This reaction was much worse than the first. I read so many comments that really helped me and thought maybe I could help someone else. This site is very good.