Side Effects Of Bactrim (Page 11) (Top voted first)

I need to know of any side effects that may occur while taking this medication.

REPLY

REPORT

I was given Bactrim for a UTI in November 2016. On day 2 my entire lower half of my body became numb. And I mean all of it including the female parts. I was convinced I had MS, Lou Gehrig disease, or even piraformis nerve entrapment. I looked them all up and never in a million years thought it was related to the antibiotic, never even crossed my mind. Nothing made sense that was happening to me. I had to hold onto walls to walk and the nerve and numbness pain was unbelievable. I had no insurance so really never got checked out. When my mom randomly said her friend had a terrible reaction to this drug I started reading. I put it all together and all of my symptoms are because of this. It is now February and I have 80% of feeling back. But still not in female area or left foot but am hopeful I will continue to improve but takes a LONG time. This is the worst experience I have ever gone thru in my life. And, I HAD taken this drug before so you never know.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Hi Michelle. Same here – healthy very fit guy here and I feel so broken. It started with a case of hemataspermia back in the middle of November 2016. I went to my GP and he said it would go away on its own but just I case it was an infection he prescribed Bactrim, asking me if I was allergic to Sulfa meds. I had never taken Sulfa, only Amoxicillin, which I did fine on so I rolled the dice and figured everything would be fine. Boy, was I wrong. I so wish I could have gone back in time and researched this before taking it. I remember going on a bike ride that first day and noticing how weak my legs were. I thought okay, that’s probably the antibiotics and wasn’t too concerned. Then I started to feel a strange pain in my pleural area (upper chest) then numbness in my feet and hands at night when I was sleeping, then I got a sore on my lip and then got flu like symptoms. Then I sat down and I did some research and learned about peripheral neuropathy and how that was one of the side effects of Bactrim and immediately stopped taking it. That was probably 5 days into taking it twice a day. The chest pain continued and I thought it was my heart and went back to the GP and he checked me and said I was fine – probably just under a lot of stress. After that it was just one odd symptom after another until now. numbness/tingling hands and feet, the electric shock feeling you also get (occasionally), weakness in muscles, cramping muscles and toes, overall decrease of sensation over my whole body, numb face and eyes that feel weird, constipation, sometimes a tight chest, strange stinging pains in random places on occasion, like an insect is biting me, then there are the brain issues, like dizziness, delayed speech and not able to come up with the right words, feeling really tired all of a sudden when I’m taking to someone, and now I have a strange stiff neck that comes and goes throughout the day. All these symptoms varied and some days they were gone and they then come back. In the mean time I switched insurance and now have another doctor who referred me to a neurologist. He did extensive blood work, I got a brain MRI, which ruled out MS, lupus, and lyme. I’m going to get an x-ray of my spine next. After that I don’t know. I think I’m just going to conclude it’s the Bactrim and wait patiently like you and others are. I’m eating really heathy clean foods, with lots of greens and antioxidants which seems to helping. I’ll try the Lions Mane, thanks. This whole thing is just a living nightmare!!! I read up on the well-known fluoroquinolone toxicity and read that for those that are sensitive to FQs are also sensitive to Sulfonamides. It’s known that the Sulfonamides can cause similar reactions in rare cases. Apparently they aren’t that rare. If you do a Google search on Bactrim and Briandeer there is a site that’s has a lot of horror stories of this dangerous drug – not that we need more horror stories. I just wish Doctors would do a better job explaining the risks! No way i hell would I have taken if if my GP would have mentioned that there was a slim chance of this happening!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Wayne,
Its been over 4 months now. still dealing with numbness, but more like loss of sensation, some itching now which is new, the dizzyness is VERY slowly getting better. I describe the dizzyness like a low level fatigue.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Let us know your progress. Yes it has been so unexpectedly devastating for me. I hope I can get back to 100% some day - im staying positive... I was so fit and healthy until this happened. Bactrim should be treated like the Fluoroquinolones and given a black box label to be used for really life threatening situations. One can't argue the fact that it has been very successful for countless people with serious infections. I just wish doctors were more aware of the potential risks and educating patients when prescribing it. I certainly wouldn't have taken it had I known of them.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

One other thing I forgot to mention, the itching I think is caused by the nerves coming back.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Matt, Yes, immediately stop taking it if you notice anything out of the ordinary for you. This drug has some very bad and unpredictable side effects. Hopefully they reverse quickly. It's good that you listened to what your body was telling you.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Hello yes, I did actually break out in Hives after stopping my prescription.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

My son was prescribed Bactrim ds for MILD acne that had responded well to multiple antibiotics (the dermatologist said he changes antibiotics every 3 months to prevent resistance -- I've come to learn this is an outdated methodology). My son took his first dose on Jan 10, 2017 and came home sick on Feb. 2, 2017. Immediately stopped the Bactrim, he was hospitalized and in ICU for a week with DRESS syndrome (as systemic drug reaction that occurs with Bactrim and anti-convulsant meds). It is now April 21, 2017 and he is still sick. He's had to take high doses of steroids for months and now he has a rash all over his body and his hair is falling out. I've been told I can't sue the dr. who prescribed because it was a drug reaction. This makes no sense when every dermatologist I talk to tells me it should never have been prescribed for his condition. So sad for my poor 15 year old boy who missed 4 weeks of school and has been through so much with no end in sight!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Your welcome.. Just remember even with supplements go slowly.. When I was deficient I couldn't take full dose at first... To get the best results for RLS and sleep take the magnesium with a small dose of vitamin C... Siberian ginseng is awesome too.. I make my own blends and if you need any advice just ask..... Always here.... Yes Kurt is knowledgeable... I've had systemic Candida all my life and i'm turning stage 4 adrenal insufficiency so i've been on the bike so to speak a long time... I'm in good health now but sadly they gave me intravenous antibiotics which i thought was just fluids.... Feeling great today.... Stay well and know there will be and end to it... Purely cause and effect....

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Please check out "The great lymphatic system by Dr Robert Morse" on YouTube.. For all of you who want to truly understand why you are reacting to this drug and how to go forward and heal yourselves for good.... I challenge anybody to come back to me and not see the truth in this video, which is one of hundreds for you to view... God bless...

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Hi all, I have a question for any of you that have experienced phototoxicity from using Bactrim. I was on it for 4 days and stops when I had a severe allergic reaction to being in sunlight. Got symptoms of a bad sunburn including sun damage spots, and a sort of hives on the neck. It worsened to the point where I had to go to the ER because my body was shutting down: IV, steroids saved me. I have been off the Bactrim for 3 days and am really nervous about going outside at all (I am fair skinned and live in a high altitude area - Colorado Springs CO), and it's still summer. Any advice on how long I need to sit this out before going out in the sunshine is appreciated. I know every case is different, but would be interested in hearing your stories. Thanks.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Kurt (# 421)

I will chime and tell you what I did to get over it. It took about 3-4 months to get over 95 percent of the symptoms. Some days I still feel a little off and lethargic. About a week after finishing Bactrim I had a dull buzzing headache, blurred vision, severe anxiety and depression.

I basically treated it like the Bactrim had wrecked my gut biome. I did some research online as to what would help restore my gut biome. I followed the following protocol for sixty days.

Every day - 1 tbs psyllium husk, 1 tps acacia fiber, 1 tbs inulin, and I then alternated modified citrus pectin and glucomannan, 1 prescript assist and 1 VSL #3, 1 serving amazing grass green powder.

In addition to this, I got over my fear of having a cardiac arrest, even (anxiety) and started taking some boxing classes. As for diet, I was eating two large raw salads a day. Kale, beets, peppers, onions, tomatoes, three types of sprouts, oregano, s*** tons of garlic (my wife hated me for this), broccoli, cauliflower, whatever I could find that was raw. The dressing was a good olive oil and Bragg's apple cider vinegar. Eventually, the headaches went away, the anxiety went away, the vision became normal and I feel pretty good again.

Now, as everybody on here. I have zero way to prove it was the Bactrim that caused my symptoms. BUT.... it was the only thing that was changed in life prior to having the symptoms. I think restoring the gut biome, eating the raw salads, and sweating profusely through the boxing classes "cured" me. But, there were times I wondered if this is how I would feel the rest of my life. So I get peoples concerns.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I hate bactrim. Got prescribed it for a uti. Felt fine the first night and my fever even went down. The next night I felt horrible. Ringing in ears. Dry eye. Dry mouth. Stabbing and burning pains all over. Couldn't sleep.

I read up about Stevens Johnson syndrome and it freaked me out. I stopped taking it after 5 pills but I'm scared. Its a 5 days since i stopped taking it and im still having effects. My skin is doing weird things. I now have a blister that popped up on my left foot, and eczema on both feet. Little yellow bruises are popping up even though I haven't injured myself.

My eyes are still irritated and I still get random pains all over my skin.

I'm taking benadryl. I managed to get a prescription for prednisone in case I get a terrible rash or something. I just wish I never took this horrible med.

I'm now on macrobid which I've taken before without incident but now I'm even scared of that.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Kurt (# 423)

Eye problems was my first symptom, along with ear ringing. My eyes were blurry, dry, irritated. They're still irritated enough that I can't wear my contact lenses but I'm hoping will get better. I've been off the bactrim 6 days now and still feeling weird

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I was given Bactrim DS over 2 months ago and I broke out with the blistering rash all over my body again and the blisters in my mouth 2 months later is this normal. The dermatologist says it can take up to 6 months.Does anyone have any advice for me this is the worst thing I think I have ever experienced and I have had some major surgeries.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

My mother a type 1 diabetic was given bactrim for a minor urinary infection. By the next day she had become somewhat delusional, no hives or rash. By the next day she was non functional, sugar at 600, and went into seizure the likes of which I had never seen. The hospital thought perhaps it was a stroke, intubated her with the wrong size tube, paralyzing her vocal chords. She was hospitalized for 4 months,trached for 21/2 years. She had lost her sense of smell and nose runs constantly. I was told recently that that was an effect of the allergic reaction, not the trach as I had thought.I've read that type 2 diabetics should not take bactrim but hadn't found info on difficulties with type 1 and was told this was a reaction sulphur.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Get this I have pneumonia so they put me on the generic for Bactrim (I can take Bactrim with no side affects but for reason last night in bed I experienced bearded dragon coming out of my dresser drawer clothes,crawling down to a bag of clothes .Cat jumped off the bed ran to it.Started eating it, turned on the light, the cats on the bed.How weird is that???????????

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

BACTRIM swollen tongue for 1 month yesterday. Did Prednisone 4 weeks ago. I'm a light smoker and light cocktail drinker. Has anyone had the swollen tongue issue and if so PLEASE let me know - how long it lasted.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Ginger, just read that you started Bactrim in 8/12. Are you still having problems? I've read alot of these notes but can't find anyone who had a swollen tongue. Hoping you're better, Regards, Sugar

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Sugar, sure hope the tongue problem goes away soon. It must be sensitive and swells with the spicy food.
Jackie...I feel your pain. When I went to the ER with my bad rash, I burned like fire too..felt like a bad sunburn. Plus it itched like crazy. It took a little over a week for the sunburn rash to mostly go away, however I still have splotchy forearms and to me it looks almost like it did with the rash. I think the steroid shot I was given in the ER really helped, but it still takes time to get out of your system. UOTWJ

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I am curious if anyone else has had any of these side effects from taking bactrim. My mouth is so swollen with blisters ...

177 REPLIES

Hi. I've been meaning to post for a couple of weeks. In early January I was diagnosed with a staph infection and pre...

5 REPLIES

I had strep throat, therefore the docter proscribed me the bactrim ds 800 - 160 , he said take 2 a day , for 10 days and...

3 REPLIES

Took bactrim for l-1/2 days. Blood sugar plummetted, severe GI problems, anxiety through the roof! Immediately stopped t...

2 REPLIES

My husband was prescribed this pill for a staph infection. He has dementia and has had total confusion, craziness, sleep...

5 REPLIES

I had a stem cell transplant almost 4 years ago. I have been on bactrim, diflucan, tacrolimus and valtrex for 4 years. I...

1 REPLY

my baby is going to drink syrup Valparin 200 for 24 months. if any side effects there ? i m afrad and anxious , lack of ...

6 REPLIES

oblong pill with horizontal cut in the middle KU119 ## my blood pressure seem to be dropping 62-67,70 during day and i h...

3 REPLIES

I am considering going on this drug. I am interested in the side effects that people have had on it. Thanks. ## Here'...

3 REPLIES

what would happen if i was out in the sun for a couple of days? whats the side effects to that? ## Doxycycline is an ant...

1 REPLY