Sulfamethoxazole and uti

Don't ever take this drug. I was hesitant when I saw the list of side effects. But my UTI was so bad and I didn't want to go back to the doctor for him to prescribe something else. Why he did not give me the same antibiotic that I had last winter with my previous UTI I have no idea. I had a 5 day dose. It went fine. Everything went downhill the evening of my last morning dose which was 10/24/09. Today is 10/26. The chills and aches immediately kicked in big time. I went right to bed with 2 Tylenol. It broke several hours later. Then the sweats began the next morning. Then the chills again last night. They are still here this morning. Because i am so cold I am sleeping in layers of flannel which is accentuating the horrid rash on my chest, neck, and back. The heat seems to be bringing it out. The doctor's office said I could take an OTC allergy pill but that will make me sleepy and I want to keep alert during this crisis. So I am going back to the doctor this afternoon for him to take a look at me. I may give him a piece of my mind for prescribing this crap to people. On my long list of side effects from my pharmacy is the phone number to report side effects to the FDA. It is 1-800-FDA-1088. We suffering patients need to unite against this demon drug so it is eventually pulled off the market. I was given Sulfameth/Trimetrhoprim 800/160 tabs for 5 days, twice daily, for an UTI. My pill bottle also says MFG AMNEAL - Generic for Septra DS tablets. No refills. Who want want to? Good luck to all the suffers of this doomed drug. I had to lose a day from work today and probably will do so tomorrow. And I have to somehow get myself back to the doctor today to hopefully get some relief. And living alone makes it even scarier. Something has to be done about this drug.

A few months ago I was diagnosed with a UTI and was prescribed Sulfamethoxazole (1 pill twice a day for 10 days). After a few days, my UTI was cured, but I continued to use the medication as I was instructed by my doctor and pharmacist. I had no side effects or allergic reaction for the entire period. However, on day 11 I noticed a small splotchy red rash on the right side of my body near my armpit. The next day the rash had spread to my legs, stomach and other side of my body. It was not raised and did not itch, so it didn't worry me. My boyfriends suggested that it might be a reaction to the medication, but the rash did not appear until at least 24 hours after taking my last pill. Five days ago, I became worried that I had contracted another UTI, so yesterday I visited the doctor again (a different one). She asked if I was allergic to any medications and I told her that I wasn't aware if I was. I did not think about the rash from a few months ago because I did not believe it was related to sulfamethoxazole. So she wrote me another prescription for the medication, but this time I was instructed to take 1 pill twice a day for 3 days. I took one pill around 4 PM yesterday and within 30 mins my entire body began to tingle and itch slightly. 2.5 hours later my face was bright red and severely hot and puffy. My eyes were as red and puffy as my face. Around 9 PM I began to chill and shake severely and I took Excedrin for a mild, dull headache. I took a warm shower, but I felt extremely fatigued and became nauseated simply from standing. So I got out with intentions of vomiting, but when I sat down in my bathroom floor I no longer felt nauseated. But my shaking became even more severe. I was cold, but also I was nervous and anxious because I felt mentally unstable. I have never battled depression, but I felt a slight bit of depression last night. I was very irritable and short tempered, which is very unlike me. My skin became so sensitive that I could not even stand feeling my boyfriend's breath on my shoulder. My body began to ache, specifically my ankle and knee joints, and it hurt to walk. I woke up around 2:30 AM with a fever of 100.4, so I took two Tylenol and the fever broke quickly, but I did not feel much better. This morning I feel a little better with no fever, but I still have slight chills and my whole body is red and itchy. Yesterday evening was a nightmare.

Our twelve year old daughter had a severe UTI and was prescribed sulfa. After nine days she developed a hive like rash, temperature of 101, very lethargic, mildly confused and no appetite. We took her to her pediatrician who immediately took her off sulfa and directed us to give her plenty of fluids, rest, and benadryl. We are still going through this with our daughter and will post any new side effects if we experience any.

I started taking this medicine for a UTI I'm allergic to penicillin and I see that this is in this medicine, that's real great. Well the first night I took it, I was so tired all I wanted to do is sleep, I had the worst headache ever which made me moody and my neck and back just ached. On the second day I woke up and it felt like needles going through my feet they were swollen and itchy and red, i knew right then to quit taking the medicine and yet it spread to my hands and it was the same thing! Still have had a headache 24/7 since i started the medicine. It doesn't help! Look at all the other reviews! Don't take this medicine you take medicine to help you not make more problems!

I will never take this medicine again!

I have been taking Sulfameth/Trimeth for a presumed UTI/kidney infection. I was given a 2 per day regimen for 30 days. I am almost half way through and cannot take it anymore. I have experienced nausea, hot flashes (and I am man!), sleeplessness, photosensitivity and now my whole chest cavity and stomach feel raw and inflamed. I do not the diarrhea that others complain about, but I am taking a potent probiotic. The nausea and raw stomach subside when I eat, but that only lasts for a couple of hours max.

I took Sulfameth/Trimethoprim 800/160 for a UTI and it hasn't treated my infection....I consistently going to the restroom and the pain still emerges....my doctor says to continue to take them but I'm feeling like I shouldn't....I have two more left and more pain....

I was prescribed sulfamethoxazole for a uti and I experienced nausea, dehydration, severe headache, vomiting, rash. The headache was the worst and after 5 days all these symptoms presented. Quit taking the drug on the 5th day, but ten days later I still have a persistent and severe headache that even Tylenol nor Advil can make it go away.

I was given 6 pills to take, 2 a day for three days for a UTI. On day 2 I start to itch on my legs and in between my fingers by the end of the day I had a rash in the most private areas and was itching pretty much all over. Lotion or no other moisturizer helped to calm this burning, itching rash. I called the pharmacist on day 3 and he told me to call my doctor immediately and not to finish the medicine because I was having a severe allergic reaction. I called the after hours number because this happened over the weekend. The nurse on call also told me not to finish the last dose and to take Benadryl, 2 pills every 6 hours and to sit in a tub of baking soda to help relieve some of the itching. Well, this didn't help because there was a high dosage of the medicine in my system I was still in excruciating pain. I ended up at the doctors office bleeding from my genitals all because of this medicine. Not only did I have an allergic reaction but I developed a yeast infection also. It took a little over a week for it to clear my system, the Sulfamethoxazole. Thank God I don't have scars from the rash, the blessing stopped and things are pretty normal now.
If you're taking this medication and having symptoms that are out of the norm or some of what I mentioned don't continue to take it. Call your doctor IMMEDIATELY!!!!

I started this medication 6 days ago for a UTI, and just this afternoon started developing a nasty rash. It has now spread to my whole body. The rash is not raised, and only a little bit itchy. I have a sore throat, dizziness, swollen glands, and feel like I am in a fog. I also have severe pain in my left shoulder and neck... the funny thing is that when the shoulder pain started a few days ago it was in my right side. My eyes are bloodshot, which I realized when someone asked me if I had been crying. I only have 1 dose left, but will throw the bottle away and never take this medication again.

taking this medication for uti. supposed to take it for 2 weeks along with Flomax.. this is my 4th day and i have had nausea, and stomach pain since the second dose. So far it has not helped with the uti but my Dr. says it may take 4 or 5 days..

If I had gone online first I never would of taken this medication. I too needed to be treated for UTI and was given this. I became constipated for 2 1/2 days and on the 3rd day at night I started to itch uncontrollably. Next day, I am covered in hives/rash all over the body. All red little pimples and parts of my body/face burn. It seems it is all over the internet but the pharmacist gave it to me casually anyways.

I was prescribed this drug for a UTI. I've been on it for 6 days already (10 day treatment) and thankfully have not experienced the severe side effects that some people on this site have. I noticed that a few of the entries mentioned that people with penicillin allergies shouldn't be put on this. I'm surprised that my doctor put me on it in that case, but I haven't really had any allergic reactions to it.

However, I have had a few minor side effects. A couple days ago, I had a horrible headache. As for anxiety/depression, I was suffering from that anyway due to real life circumstances so it's impossible for me to tell whether or not the pill had any effect on it (I don't think so, because I feel fine now). As for ongoing side effects, I have actually felt extremely gassy lately, and I know it has nothing to do with my diet. The first day on this pill was fine, but after that I started experiencing this problem. I also had some diarrhea when I first started on it.

Well, I'm done with this pill in four more days. The good news is that it COMPLETELY cured my UTI and I definitely feel much better than I did when I was running to the bathroom every five minutes.

I took this medication for 7 days two tablets each day for UTI. After the first day I became extremely tired, I couldn't do anything, and I had a very bad headache. Then my muscles started to ache, and then the glands around my neck started to hurt. Then I had panics on some nights and night sweats. Now after a week and a half I still have the neck pain, and some pain in my muscles in my legs and hands.
Does any one know how long this is going to last?

My experience is HORRIBLE!

Never again!

I too was prescribed this for a UTI and by day 2 thought i was going to die. I went back to the doctor, still having the fever and body aches and the UTI wasn't going away so they gave me more!

Flu-like symptoms persisted. I had one anxiety attack and have missed out on a lot of work for this!
The rash i developed is driving me crazy! ( i thought i had stayed in the tanning bed to long and was burnt!) but after reading all these posts I know that I'm not crazy. Never again ! (worst abdominal pain ever!) headache, nausea,...all of these symptoms for 10 days now!

Screw sulfa drugs!

I have been taking this medication for 6 days for a UTI. I feel like crap and haven't been able to work. Thank goodness I don't have hives or anything else. But my stomachs is cramping really bad and I have been acting like an evil $%#@&, I also have the worst stiff neck. Anyways I was extremely nauseated and felt like I was pregnant but I have a prescription for pot and it seems to help the majority of the side effects. Massive amounts of water will take away the anxiety. I am going to wean myself slowly starting tomorrow and I will never take this drug again.

My doctor prescribed me this medication (3 days/2x a day) to treat a minor UTI. It did its job but now i have a horribly itchy rash on my feet and lower calves. Furthermore, I was already struggling with an eating disorder before I started this medication, and now it is way worse. It completely took away any appetite i had before

Well, I am on night three of my 7 day course, which I am taking for a UTI I didn't even know I had, and I have been going absolutely nuts the last few days. I was supposed to leave an hour ago to drive to California from Florida (It's 4:55 a.m.), but I am now having to put it off a whole day because I have been shaking, getting hot/cold spells, dry mouth, hands and feet sweating, nausea, gas, dizziness and just generally feeling yucky. I have not had a panic attack in almost 5 years - and I certainly never had one that lasted this long. But no matter what, I have always prided myself on being able to fall asleep. Tonight, I feel a bit bullied by this drug. I slept only two hours tonight, and still don't feel as though I can go back to sleep.

oh my gosh, thank God for this site. for the past 3 days i thought i going CRAZY. i had no idea that a pill for a uti could cause these kind of symtoms. i've had nausea, exhaustion (but i can't sleep), depression, and the worst panic attack i have ever had. i've taken the pill for 3 days. the first day it seemed to help. it made very tired but i thought i was just tired bc i had been so sick. the second day i was even more tired and very depressed but i still didn't think it was the drug. today i woke up and felt fine until i took the pill. i started feeling extreme anxiety and started to panic over everything. i've had panic attacks before so i still didn't think about what was really causing it. i tried to calm myself down bc i didn't want to go back to the hospital for the 2nd time in 3 days, but it wasn't like any panic attack i've had before. usually they go away pretty quick but this one lasted the whole day. it wasn't until i tried to go to sleep tonight and felt so extremely depressed and worried that i decided to look up the side effects of this pill. seeing this has calmed me down so much. i wish someone would have warned me of the effects, but i guess i'll know not to take it again! cranberry juice and water from here on out i guess.

My 8 year old daughter had to take the liquid form of this medication for a UTI..2 tsp/twice a day for 10 days. On the 5th day she had a high fever, so I gave her liquid ibuprofin. Then she started throwing the antibiotic up and she was getting fevers up 105. The ibuprofin would only get her down to 100/101 range. She then started to complain about her neck hurting, so I was thinking meningitis! She was thirsty all the time and said it felt weird to swallow. After 4 days, I finally found 3 websites regarding side affects, including this one. I'm definitely not giving her any more of this antibiotic. Her UTI however seemed to be gone in 3 days.

I was prescribed a sulfameth drug for a severe UTI which entailed terrible abdominal pain & blood in urine. I took it for 2 days and started feeling better. The third day, I was hit with a severe allergic reaction, which after reading some of the side effects, I realize now that i should have gone to the er or called 911. It started with a terrible headache, then vomiting. That night my fever shot up to 104 degrees!!! But, I was freezing. I was shaking uncontrollably, confused, joints aching, you name it. I thought I may have had a migrane and ended up falling asleep and never took any of the medicine on day three. On day four, I woke up feeling MUCH better, and noticed red blotches all over my hands. The second I saw this, I knew it was an allergic reaction. I went and showed the pharmacist and told him about what had happened, and he said, yes, it seemed that way to him too. He said to call my doctor and let them know I had a reaction. When I did that, all they said was they would put it in my chart. I was not even offered an alternative to it considering I still probly had a UTI. I think they did this because now that I have researched it quite a bit, I have learned that people who are allergic to penicillin are more likely to experience a reaction to sulfa drugs. And, yes...I am, and have always been extremely allergic to penicillin. I believe this was overlooked when I was prescribed with the sulfameth.

oh i forgot the dizziness , blurred eye vision, i kinda felt drunk , bad gas with pain , bloated , tummy hurt a little the first couple of days and had panic attacks the last couple days took it for a total of five . cleared up my uti though. ugh.

I have been taking this medicine for a UTI for a few days and today all of the sudden I had an uncontrollable need to pee every few minutes. When I did there was a burning sensation and the immediate need to pee again. So I looked up the medication and saw online that you are supposed to drink a whole glass of water with each pill. I started chugging water and the burning and need to pee went away after and hour or so. Very strange, but maybe it will help someone else.

I was prescribed this medicine for a UTI. Later that night I noticed that I itched uncontrollably. I never broke out, I just itched. The next day, I felt shaky, restless and just out of it and plus the itching. I immediately stopped taking the medicine and the next day, the backs of my upper legs hurt very badly, and it hurts to walk or run. I have to use support to get up or down for anything. I am 17 years old and very scared about this. But I would not recommend this medicine for anyone.

I was recently prescribed this medication for a UTI. I have taken this medicine a few times before. Honestly, I have NOT experienced any side effects from it. It always successfully clears up whatever issue I have that it was prescribed for without incident. If you experience any of the side effects everyone else here seems to be having, I would suggest talking to your doctor and switching to a different medication. Allergic reactions are quite common to this medicine. When you take it, you should hardly notice anything at all besides that your symptoms are improving. Any other reaction should be dealt with immediately. Don't go cold turkey though! Just talk to your doctor and find another option.

I started taking sulfameth on Monday (so 4 days ago). I noticed right after I started taking it that the nausea I felt from the UTI was not going away, my mouth started to get dry, I've had a minor headache constantly since starting it and when I got up in the morning (a couple of hours after taking the pill) I was very shaky and it wouldn't stop until I had eaten something. Then, last night, my blood sugar dropped. I got incredibly nauseated, dizzy, I felt like I was going to faint, I started shaking, I felt panicked and it did not subside until a candy was shoved into my mouth. It also felt like my tongue was a little swollen. Based on what I've seen, this med should be recalled.

I had a stye/ staff infection in my right eye. It was swollen and severely hurting me. Well, my doctor put me on sulfameth and a eyedrop antibiotic. I don't mind taking the eye drops, but these pills are making me feel horrible. I am on 1 pill twice daily for 10 days. I asked the doctor and the pharmacist if this stuff causes constipation and they both said no. Well, I haven't been able to use the bathroom well since I started it. My muscles twitch, my eyes are sensitive to the sunlight, I can't go to sleep easily, I've been itching up a storm, and I have headaches. I want to just stop the medication but if I do then I will never get rid of this infection in my eye. I figured I'd stop the meds in the middle of the week. I hate feeling bloated and constipated. Has anyone else had the constipation effect?

My mom has bypass surgery Dec 06 for blocked arteries and was priscribed sulsameth for uti yesterday 8/9/07. Her blood pressure that was 120/65 with altase and lopresor shot to over 200+ and she is was hospitalized the same day she took the meds. She has numbness in her hand and is now being evaluated for stroke. The medical profession are idiots ... they should have know that this sulsameth would interfere with her bp meds ... now they are running tests to FIND OUT what caused her increased BP and possible mini stroke......!

I began taking this drug for a uti yesterday. After taking my fourth dose, I began experiencing a severe headache, nausea, cramping, uncontrollable shaking, complete loss of appetite, and the inevitable panic attack. My panic attack ended about 6 hours later. I was crying uncontrollably for atleast 2 of those hours. It was incredibly bizarre and like nothing I have ever experienced before. It is now 10pm, 8 hours since the last time I took the medicine and my mind is still racing and unsettled, but at least I don't feel as if I am not part of my body anymore. I would not recommend this medicine to anyone.

Is it possible to have a reaction after only one pill??? I took my first dose of this for a UTI today and when I showered tonight I noticed large, quarter size red welts from the top of my breasts down to the tops of my legs. It freaked me out so I started looking it up on the internet, when my husband recommended i check the side effects of this medication. Any thoughts?

I was given this drug for a UTI and have had problems with my scalp itching, dry mouth and throat and now I have a rash inside my mouth and on my tongue.

Oh my gosh, thank goodness I just took the my last pill after 10 days/twice a day after being prescribed for a UTI. Haven't been able to sleep with restless legs, itching ALL over (thought about a yeast infection, too) - even my ear lobes! My eyes ache.. have waves of nausea.. and have felt tired (especially frustrating when you can't sleep). I hate this stuff.. will never take it again!

Oh my God! The itching is horrible! I woke up and my eyes crossed from the severity. I could not even go to work. After taking Sufameth/trimethoprim for 2 days (2 pills/da) for a UTI, my scalp started to itch. I scratched all day with a pencil...to no avail. Later that day, the vaginal and rectal itch was unmerciful. Vagisil maximum COULD NOT TOUCH it. I scheduled a gyne appointment because I thought, maybe I was developing something else...yeast infection. But there were no other signs. My husband suggested it could be an allergic reaction to the medicine. My nurse suggested I take an antihistimine like Benadryl. That provided some relief. Now I see similar postings on the web about severe itching. Thank goodness I only have one more pill of this 3 day treatment.

After only taking one dose for a UTI my blood pressure went from 117/74 to 140/110 with a resting heart rate of 120. I could not sleep and my legs kept shaking. I felt very anxious and nervous. My doctor knows that I have problems with my nerves, and then decided to give me this stuff? Can't wait until they open so I can give them a call.

I'm glad I read this site and I can suspect the medication instead of something else being wrong with me.

I not sure exactly if it is the medication, but I was prescribed it for a UTI and for the first 5 days I was fine, but near the end of the sixth day I started having head tremors out of no where. I first associated them with me being tired, but they continued and began to frigten me. It is now the third day with the tremors and I have officially taken myself off the meds. If anyone knows, please let me know.

I was prescribed sulfameth/trimothoprim for a UTI. I've been on it for two days and it gives me this crazy headache that i can't seem to shake off...

I was prescribed Sulfameth/trimethoprim for a UTI and Nystin powder for yeast infection. I am on my 6th day and to day I woke up with blood on the bed from my catherter. I am also on coumadin. These two meds do not work well together. My doctor said not to go to PT today, cut out the next three days of coumadin, and finish the anitbiotics. I also had severe nausea when Ifirst started on antibiotics. I was told to take them on a full stomach. This has worked for me.

I am taking it for a UTI and I have broke out in a horrible rash from this or the Phenozpyridine that goes with it that turns your urine bright yellow. The rash is worst on my thighs and gets worse with heat. It is also a VERY painful rash that is spreading all the way from my face to the bottoms of my feet. At this point I can hardly walk between the thigh rash and feet rash.

I was treated with this drug for a UTI. My UTI was gone within 2 days however; I am experiencing the worst upper gastric pains and cramping of my life. I also felt slightly disoriented and short of breath. I thought I may be having a heartattack until I read these other posts. I think I learned that I can no longer tell the Dr. I am not allergic to anything..no more sulfur based antibiotics for me. I am no longer going to continue the 5 day script.

I was taking sulfameth/trimethoprim for a UTI and it gave me a bad yeast infection 2 days later. I have to take it for 7 days 2X a day. I have mild itching and dryness. Can't wait to get of sulfameth/trimethoprim. I have 4 more pills left.

I was prescribed Sulfameth/Trimthoprim 800/160 by an ER Dr for UTI and took for 10 days as directed. I the drug did make me nausiated but if it was going to help my infection I thought I could indure that. It cleared up the infrection ok but within a week I broke out in a TERRIBLE rash from head to toe. I have never itched so badly in all of my life! I had no idea what it was and used every over the counter remedy until I was able to see my doctor who told me it was a delayed allergic reaction to the sulfur drug and gave me a steriod shot and a histamine pill to take. It has been the worse for me and I will NEVER take a sulfur drug again in my life especially this one.

I am a 42 y/o woman rxed sulfameth far a UTI. I just completed my 5 day rx. From day one I had diarrhea, and stomach upset, but for the past 2 days I have heartburn which was rivaled only by the hearburn when at the end of my pregnancy with twins. It burns when I eat, and when I don't. I have gas, and the burps. And today I have begun to have joint pain in my jaw, throat, and in my chest if I take a deep breath. The strange thing is I have taken Bactrim in the past with no ill effects. Is the generic really that different...or am I just old! Hopefully the side effects will subside now that I have completed my course of meds. (it also made my chronic eczema worse...but just about anything can trigger that)

I am soooo glad i looked up this website because all the side effects i was experiencing i thought were just me. i mean i was prescribed sulfameth for a UTI and my doctor told me it might just give me a slight rash-but it turns out that i got an EXTREME headache like someone was bashing me in the head with a sledgehammer, i was very nauseated and vomited up blood.(Mydoctor told me it was because i took ibuprofen-i took it to stop the ridiculous headache i had for TWO DAYS!-she said it caused stomach bleeding) also, i experienced restlessness, i was uncontrollably anxious, appetite loss, dizziness, and uncontrollable sweating. i would wake up and feel like i just got out of the shower! i don't think im going to take this medicine anymore because im suppossed to be on it for 3 more days but i DONT THINK SO!!! i thank all of you for showing me this useful information.

I started taken sulfameth on Wednesday for a UTI. By Thursday evening all my joints were aching and had chills. During the night I had to get up and the calves of my legs had like cramps and aches, hard to the touch. I called my doctor after the 4th pill and my medication was changed. It has been 3 days and I still have aches. Last night I had terrible sweats, my pillow so wet I could smell the wet feathers! Apparently it takes a few days to wear off. I have never had such a reaction to a drug. At first I thought it was something else undescribable.

I am currently taking Sulfameth/trimethoprim to treat a UTI. I am prescribed one pill in the morning and one again at night. I have been taking Sulafmeth/trimethoprim for only 1 day but after ingesting the evening pill I had to leave work because I felt very VERY tired and somewhat dizzy. I had a "floaty" feeling and felt as though i was going to fall asleep. I'm scared to have to take them again tomorrow!

I have taken this drug for the full 5 days but only because my uti was so accute and I wasnt able to start a new drug. it has been awful. Tremours and shakes in hands and legs, nausea, aches in bones and muscles throughout my body, so bad one night I thought I had flu..and I mean real flu which i had 6 years ago. Sweats and chills also. Even today, the last day, my back is aching and so is my neck. I have been told that this drug is prescribed because it is cheap. i will never take it again. I dont know how long these side effects last.

I was prescribed Sulfameth because of a UTI. After the first two days of taking it, I got constipated afterwards. It's been 5 days since I haven't been able to poop! Then I began to get nauseas and began to throw up. It was horrible. I can't wait until I take the last pill!

Shaking....
I have had severe shaking as a side effect to this drug, given to me for UTI. My head and entire body shakes! I get dizzy as well. The shaking is not listed anywhere on the side effects list either. But, I found it here on this site. I haven't taken the dose this morning and still am shaking... apparently I have the med built up in my system...
Also I just feel generally horrible and I didn't before... I have this strange discharge (which is listed as a side effect and to stop taking it)... my stomach is sick... and I don't know why anyone would take this medication!!!!

I'm getting treated for a UTI, and I was given sulfameth/Trimethoprim. From the second day I started taking it, I just had these major headaches. Now two days untill the medicine is done, I broke out into a rash around my neck, arms, and face.

i have a UTI and the first couple days i've taken it i seemed to have horrible headaches... and really bad dry mouth...

I had been prescribed sulfameth/trimethoprim 800/160 tabs twice a day for seven days for a UTI. Immediately they made me feel small waves of nausea and I have a terrible back ache. I've also had a bad headache a couple of days and for some reason I find it difficult to fall asleep at night. I've also had an overall crappy feeling and just want to lay in bed all day. I have also had some serious chills a couple of days too. I only have 3 days left of my prescription, hopefully I don't develop anything worse.