Bactrim DS and Headaches: What Users Say

• A-T...
• June 6, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was scared to take this because I read about people having horrifying side effects. I'm taking the generic form of Bactrim DS 2x a day for 7 days. On day 5, the only side effects I've noticed are mild gas and a headache. If you're skimming these reviews looking for reasons to be scared, just remember that most of these bad reviews are from people who are probably: A) Allergic to the medicine. B) Not drinking enough water. C) Using alcohol and non-prescription drugs which you are not supposed to do while on Bactrim. D) Not taking it with food. Take the medicine with food and a good probiotic, and it will help minimize your side effects. Drink LOTS of water and stay out of the sun while on this medicine! Not soda, not coffee, WATER."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "Take a breath. If you're speeding through all of these experiences, you're probably looking for potential side effects and reactions of other people. I know because I'm just like you. I can tell you the first day I took Bactrim, I had a horrible migraine. The worst I've had in months. But guess what? I also didn't drink coffee that day after having a constant intake for weeks. I had other problems like chills, but wait, I got this medicine for an infection! So many symptoms people experience are likely a result of other things. My UTI went away. I drank lots of water and milk with it. Other than experiencing a few more headaches and a bit of tiredness, I was fine."

• Lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "This Bactrim stuff is awful! Taking for a UTI. I am used to taking Cipro, but have stopped due to the nasty side effects of that one. Have been taking the Bactrim for the UTIs instead. Every time I take this stuff, I feel weak and dizzy, my head hurts so bad, and I get antsy and stir crazy. I don't want to eat or sleep, and the nausea can be overwhelming. This stuff makes me feel like I am going to fade away and die. Once the medication wears off, I feel much better, but then it's time to take another dose, and it starts all over again. Ugh! It gets rid of the painful infection, but I just feel so awful while I am on this stuff."

• Gea...
• January 10, 2017

For Bacterial Skin Infection "This is my second time taking this medication, both times it was prescribed for an alleged spider bite. The first time I took it, I stopped before finishing because the side effects were terrible. I experienced headache, dizziness, flu symptoms, and flushing. The second time I took it, I had the same experience, so I drank 2 liters of water and symptoms subsided tremendously. This is a double antibiotic, so it is imperative that you drink a very large amount of water when taking it, otherwise, the medication is concentrated in your system, and the side effects will be unbearable."

• Anonymous
• April 5, 2013

For Urinary Tract Infection "Had a 7-day prescription of Bactrim DS. The first two days, I had a headache. By the 3rd day, I started feeling nausea, which turned into nausea, dizziness, and constant fatigue. I've been off the medicine for 36 hours and still feel extremely exhausted, dizzy, and a little queasy at times."

• Dai...
• February 24, 2020

For Bacterial Infection "I read the reviews, but I really wished I would’ve listened. It seems like it’s helping cure my staph infection, but the side effects aren’t worth it. Maybe the medication was too strong of a dose, but I had to take 800 mg/160 mg 2x a day for 10 days. I’m writing my review as I’m taking this medication, it’s making my heart race, it’s making me dizzy and lightheaded, jittery, messing with my stomach, confused, and headaches are off the wall. I’m drinking plenty of water and eating plenty of food. I’m also breastfeeding, and it seems like it’s making my son sick. He was fine until I started taking it, and now he’s vomiting, very fussy, has low fevers, and is sleeping on and off all day. We’re not around people too much, so it’s highly unlikely he got sick from somewhere else. I stopped taking it after the third day. I had to call an ambulance because I was home alone with my baby and I felt so off, and my heart was racing all day."

• Cam...
• September 6, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "Took sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim for a minor testicular infection. I got very sick. It caused chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache, and sharp pains all over my body. The doctor told me it was in my head, and I kept taking it. I eventually ended up in the hospital and was so sick I could barely sleep. It’s been a month since I took this drug, and while some of the problems are gone, I still have very bad muscle weakness, cramping in my legs, and sharp pains that feel like nerve damage. I’ve seen many doctors all agree that Bactrim did something to my system. I urge you to not take this drug. I haven’t had any response from my doctor since I called with all my symptoms. It has gotten so severe I’m starting to think my life might never be the same, and I was completely healthy, a 21-year-old before this. DO NOT TAKE THIS."

• Sco...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2020

For Bacterial Infection "Started on this sulfate antibiotic, Bactrim, 2 days ago for an infected sebaceous cyst. Several hours after taking the first pill, I developed a 102° fever, splitting headache, muscle aches... I thought I was coming down with the flu. The second day, the same thing happened... fever, muscle aches, severe headache again. Took some Tylenol and crawled into bed for the entire afternoon. I’m not going to take tonight’s pill and call the doctor in the morning for a different antibiotic. I’ve never had reactions like this to any antibiotics I have taken in the past."

• Sco...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2020

For Bacterial Infection "Started on this sulfate antibiotic, Bactrim, 2 days ago for an infected sebaceous cyst. Several hours after taking the first pill, I developed a 102° fever, splitting headache, muscle aches... I thought I was coming down with the flu. The second day, the same thing happened... fever, muscle aches, severe headache again. Took some Tylenol and crawled into bed for the entire afternoon. I’m not going to take tonight’s pill and call the doctor in the morning for a different antibiotic. I’ve never had reactions like this to any antibiotics I have taken in the past."

• non...
• April 13, 2012

For Urinary Tract Infection "I also had similar experiences and side effects like lethargy, shaking, confusion slightly, severe fatigue, headaches, aches, and pains, but kept taking the medicine anyway because the pain of a urinary tract infection is much, much worse. I'd rather suffer for a short time with these symptoms than suffer with a bladder infection."

• Anonymous
• December 23, 2009

For Urinary Tract Infection "I've just taken my 3rd pill, and every time I take it, I feel extremely lousy. Terrible headaches, dizziness, blurry vision, shaky nervousness, some difficulty breathing, beginning to itch. I don't like this at all the way I feel. Just before I need to take the next dose, I'm feeling my old normal self, and then I take the Bactrim and, boom, I go downhill again. Told my doctor I quit, it's ruining the quality of my life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2012

For Urinary Tract Infection "I have been on Bactrim DS for 7 days. After day 3, I began to notice a severe headache about 4 hours after taking the Bactrim. Now on day 7, I have not only had a headache, but light-headedness/nausea. With only 3 days left, I am going to continue the medicine. My urinary tract infection symptoms have improved finally after 5 days."

• Lyn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Have taken Bactrim for frequent UTIs in the past with no side effects. Last night I took the first dose of Bactrim DS for yet another UTI; within 10 min, my vaginal area and lips were itching. Took antihistamine and went to bed. This morning my lower lip is very swollen/red, eyes are bloodshot, and have a round red rash on my upper arm. As the morning continued, I felt major flu-like symptoms: chills, fatigue, muscle/joint pain, headache - like death warmed over. Took aspirin for the pain and went to bed until the intense cold feeling left. The symptoms have abated except for the swollen lip, itchy eyes, and red rash. No idea why I had a reaction this time but will discuss it with my doctor. UTIs are bad enough without then getting very ill from the medication."

• Poo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "Took Bactrim for a UTI for 7 days. On the 6th day, had chills and body aches. Literally could not get off the couch. Went to the doctor and was negative for the flu, and the UTI was gone. Got worse (headache, severe body aches, nausea, diarrhea, no appetite-honestly the worst I've EVER felt) and ended up in the ER for fluids. Stopped taking it 2 days ago and am still feeling effects. Be careful-wished I had stopped taking it at the first sign of stomach discomfort. Glad it's a reliable drug for some, but for me, it was horrid."

• Bat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2020

For Bacterial Skin Infection "I have MRSA from a piercing and was put on Bactrim (2 in the morning, 2 in the evening) 4 days ago. After 2 days on it, I took myself to the hospital. I have never felt this horrible, I swear I feel like it's going to be the end of me. It started out with a bad headache, no appetite, a little dizzy. Right now, I'm sitting on the bathroom floor waiting to throw up, I didn't sleep for even a minute last night even though I was exhausted. I can't stop shivering and shaking, I'm so hot but not running a fever-unbelievable headache. My doctor said this is the only medicine that will help MRSA, and I'm dumbfounded. Is this medication even worth it? I don't know if these feelings are the medication working or not."

• Meg...
• September 2, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "No health insurance. Went to the ER for UTI and was prescribed Bactrim. UTI symptoms quickly subsided (didn't disappear completely but like 90% better), so that was nice. Then the Bactrim symptoms started. Oh man. I had a different set of symptoms every day. First, it was tingly hands and severe fatigue. Then I had a full-blown panic attack (depression and anxiety can be made worse by Bactrim apparently, so I tried to keep reminding myself of that). Last couple of days, I've had headaches and bad nausea. I'm on day 6 of my 7-day course now--gonna try my best to make it through the whole course, but wow, it's tough. I just hope these symptoms clear up once my pills are gone. It got its job done but made me miserable in the process!"

• Anonymous
• April 18, 2011

For Bacterial Skin Infection "I found that within a day of taking Bactrim, the infection got better, which was GREAT because I had had it for a while. I experienced a few side effects: dizziness, lack of energy, insomnia if I took the pill a few hours before bed (I found to overcome this, I took the pill just before going to sleep), and headaches, but they seemed to dissipate after 2-3 days."

• Pis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "Worst thing ever. I feel like I’m anchored to the floor, headache, feel as though my face is on fire, and it’s not helping the UTI. The kicker? Called the doctor and was told these are normal side effects and not an allergy. Never again."

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2012

For Acne "I have been taking this medicine for a week, and my pimples are significantly smaller, which is a plus because I've had severe acne for 3 years now. The only problem is that it gives me insomnia, sweats, headaches in the mornings, stomach sickness, and nausea. The side effects are brutal, and I'm considering finding another solution. This is the third acne medicine I've tried and has helped the most, but also affected me the most negatively."

• y12...
• March 17, 2015

For Urinary Tract Infection "It's my 4th day on Bactrim, and it has not been great. I feel better from the overall symptoms, but I've been fatigued and super groggy, and for the first day, I had a horrible headache. I keep feeling my heart pounding in my head and ears, but I agree with pretty much everyone else on here, the symptoms from the cure are better than the symptoms of my bladder/kidney infection. I've got 6 more days... Is it effective? Yes. Is it an enjoyable experience? No."

• Mag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed this drug for a bladder infection. Took it Thursday night. I was fine all day Friday. I have an Apple Watch, so I did notice my heart rate was higher, but I was busy at work, so I didn’t really pay attention until day 3. I felt better as far as the bladder infection. But I had the worst headache and anxiety, and my pulse was 134, normally like 84. I was very anxious, called my doctor, and was told to stop taking it. I stopped, and today, the next day, my pulse is back to normal, and the headache is gone. It helped clear up my infection... I mean, besides the heart racing, it did its job."

• Hea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was put on Bactrim for a UTI. This did not work for me after 5 doses, 800 mg. I felt like I had just had a baby, I was so very sore. Nauseous, tired, headache (possibly from not sleeping well on it). Amoxicillin always worked for me, I wish my doctor would listen to me. I know my body."

• Bir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2015

For Urinary Tract Infection "I got my first UTI 5 days ago but thought it was just a yeast infection. So I used yeast infection medicine until my lower abdomen hurt so bad and it was impossible to urinate, even though I had the constant urge to go. I was miserable. Went to ER Sunday evening around 6 and was sent home with Bactrim DS and Pyridium. Within hours I could urinate better and within 12 hours I had no abdominal pain and could urinate just fine and completely empty my bladder. And that was after just 1 dose. I'm so grateful for this antibiotic and think it's wonderful. I did get a slight headache, but it was definitely worth it."

• spa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2015

For Urinary Tract Infection "Knocked UTI symptoms out effectively after the first 24 hours. However, the side effects were not pleasant and were very noticeable: headache, nausea, dizziness, light-headedness, weakness, sweating, dry mouth, excessive thirst, tiredness. I'm on day 3 and have asked the doc to switch me to something else so I can function better at home and work. Trying Cipro. Be sure to drink water constantly when on Bactrim DS."

• Rho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "Started this med yesterday for the first time. Immediately noticed how strong it is! Prevented vomiting by only taking on a full stomach. Drinking a lot of water will help with the headaches, as dehydration will cause this too. I don't recommend taking too late at night because of insomnia."