Skip to main content

Bactrim for Kidney Infections User Reviews

Bactrim has an average rating of 5.0 out of 10 from a total of 32 reviews for the treatment of Kidney Infections. 28% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 41% reported a negative experience.

Bactrim rating summary

5.0 average rating out of 10

32 ratings from 33 user reviews.

Compare all 64 medications used in the treatment of Kidney Infections.

10
19%
9
6%
8
3%
7
6%
6
3%
5
19%
4
3%
3
6%
2
9%
1
25%

Reviews for Bactrim

  • Lisaxx
  • November 24, 2015

"Please don't let anyone scare you into not taking this. If you're like me with new medicine, you go online and research every little side effect and review, and convince yourself not to take it. I was really scared to take this as I had bad reactions to Macrobid and Ciprofloxacin, and after reading these reviews, I just knew it was going to be the same way. I'm on day two, no side effects other than a little nausea and a headache. That's the worst of it. We'll see how it goes by day 7, but so far this has been the best antibiotic I've taken."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
69 Report
  • Reese...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 15, 2020

"Went to the ER on Friday, had the worst UTI infection ever, which had spread to my kidneys, and who only knows what other organs because the pain is absolutely unbearable! My 2nd day of Bactrim thus far, pain has subsided some but still there. Haven't had any side effects yet, I guess time will tell. I lost my mom last year to a very bad UTI infection, so for anyone that has one, please don't put off getting help."

5 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
34 Report
  • Linds...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 22, 2014

"Took this medicine for a horrible, horrible, HORRIBLE kidney infection. Worked within 2 days and cleared up all of my symptoms, which was such a relief. I was told to finish off the bottle by my doctor, and the next day I developed a horrible case of the hives. I stopped taking the medicine immediately, but the hives stuck around for another 3 days. What a miserable week! So, Bactrim worked wonders for my kidney infection, but little did I know I was severely allergic to it. Take with caution."

5 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
49 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Ashxl...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 16, 2017

"I was a bit of a moron and let a UTI go for too long. I had pain on and off for a few months in my back. Pee was cloudy, frequent urination... all that good stuff, but two days ago, I woke up and felt absolutely terrible. I was so nauseous, couldn’t eat anything, awful headache, chills, and the worst back pain I had ever felt. I went to the doctor, and she wrote this for me. I took two pills yesterday, and already today I feel a hundred times better. I don’t believe it is for everyone, obviously, due to the mixed reviews, and my mother had taken it before, and it had awful effects on her as well, but I do believe it’s worth trying because for me, it’s been wonderful. I couldn’t even bend over yesterday, and today all I have is slight dull pain in my back. Worked perfectly."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
36 Report
  • good...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 4, 2023

"I was prescribed Bactrim after 2 other antibiotics that did not knock out the infection. Honestly, after reading so many bad reviews I was reluctant to take Bactrim. However, my infection was one step from putting me in the hospital. Fast forward, I've been on it for almost 13 days. I felt immediately felt better after the second day. The infection is gone. I had no side effects at all. Nothing. It did suppress my appetite a tiny little bit...which I'm not complaining about! Lol. But it worked well for me. Don't forget to drink a lot of water."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
10 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • SarahES
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 30, 2015

"Really effective, but really terrible side effects. UTI and kidney infection both cleared up quickly, which I'm grateful for, and ultimately that's the point. But I had nausea and vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, joint aches, itchy skin, sore throat, loss of appetite... I felt way better with the infection than I did on the medication. But it's all temporary."

7 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
40 Report
  • Ckrus
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 6, 2018

"I went to the ER and was diagnosed with a severe kidney infection. I was prescribed Bactrim, 2 a day for 10 days. I’m on day 6, and I’ve felt some nausea, headaches, and mild body aches, and I’ve been very sleepy. BUT as far as the pain from my kidney and chills, etc., I feel A LOT better!! I didn’t have any allergic reactions."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
28 Report

More FAQ

  • annie
  • July 28, 2019

"Took 2 Bactrim daily for UTI after 3 prescriptions of Keflex with no change to the infection. Bactrim did cure the persistent UTI, but I ended up in the hospital, and tests showed my kidneys were not working. So, was an effective cure, but serious side effects. After 4 days in the hospital, kidneys are back to functioning."

5 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
25 Report
  • Danni
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 16, 2020

"I was prescribed this after having kidney surgery. I took one pill and felt fine. But the next day, I took a 2nd dose and within an hour I had the worst vertigo that I have ever experienced. Everything was spinning. Even when I laid down, if I moved even a little, I felt like the pillow was falling. Its been 24 hours, the vertigo passed but very tired and have a headache."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
19 Report
  • smj
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 3, 2020

"I was diagnosed with a Kidney infection and prescribed Bactrim twice a day for 5 days. I took my first pill in the evening, slept for twelve hours and took another one in the morning. I thought my body just needed the rest, but shortly after the second pill I slept most of the day. By the end of my experience I've had: fatigue, stomach pains, severe constipation, nausea, insomnia, and loss of appetite. My kidneys seemed to have improved but I couldn't even bring myself to take the final pill."

3 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
17 Report
  • Sarah
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 15, 2019

"I was prescribed Bactrim after a UTI turned into a kidney infection. The Bactrim wiped out enough of the infection so that I became functional again. However, I wrote this review to warn people prescribed this drug of the following: - I got severe back pain about a week into my 2 week course of Bactrim. It only happened one day and may have been caused by something else. - I was out in the sun for only a few hours in a tropical place while on Bactrim and got the worst sunburn of my life. I couldn't sleep for 2 nights because the pain and the itch was so bad. Take the warnings about photosensitivity seriously and stay out of the sun or you will be at risk of getting a severe sunburn (Do a computer search on this to see how bad it can get. No doctor properly warned me of this). - I got UTI symptoms again about a week after my 2 week course was done. I'm now on another antibiotic."

7 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
19 Report
  • Sbano
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 18, 2019

"Horrible medication. Vomiting, skin rash --headache-- joint pain. Can barely get off toilet knees hurt so bad Sore throat. I was ok until I took 1 pill. I'm worse from taking it. Should be classified as poison not medication."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
20 Report
  • TheBr...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 25, 2018

"I had sharp back pains and a 101 fever with nausea, and was put on levaquin for 7 days. I am soo sensitive to meds that I had to change to Bactrim after one day. Bactrim has been a dream!! I have had little to NO side effects which is huge. Pharmacist said drink PLENTY of water on this so I have been. Dry mouth/weird taste in mouth but no feeling weird or having stomach issues."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
21 Report
  • Sarah
  • December 6, 2017

"I was prescribed Bactrim for a kidney infection. I took two doses, 500 mgs each. After the first dose, I began to feel lousy. I assumed it was a side effect. The second dose almost killed me. I went to the ER, where I was stabilized enough to move me to ICU. Before I lost consciousness, my blood pressure was 35/27. I woke up 3 days later with a central line, severely swollen body, and my skin was bright red, like a severe sunburn. I spent 3 weeks in the hospital, with my blood pressure constantly plummeting. I apparently have a severe allergy."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
19 Report
  • Arey
  • March 8, 2017

"I had a UTI that went into a kidney infection, They put me on Bactrim, Didn't notice any side effects until a few days later, I started feeling depressed out of no where and it got worse from there, I ended up in the hospital with the worst headache of my life, I was shaking and throwing up I didn't even think it had anything to do with the Bactrim. The depression got so bad I ended up at the psychiatric hospital, I had no idea why I was feeling like this, it was by far the worst feeling in the world, When I came home and went to see my therapist and told her what was going on she immediately asked me what medicine they put me on and when I told her she said look up the side effects to that and sure enough everything was listed."

5 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
18 Report
  • Anonymous
  • June 6, 2015

"Rushed to the ER because of unbearable flank pain. Doctor noticed a large amount of white blood cells in the urine, and prescribed Bactrim. The first two days I felt okay, nothing really improved. By the fifth day the back pain disappeared but the urge to pee was still present. Sixth day I got a high fever, headaches, body aches, and a rash. Felt like crap! Stopped taking it and side effects subsided. I'm severely allergic to Bactrim. Was prescribed Cipro, it works great!"

Was this helpful?YesNo
17 Report
  • LSMR
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 20, 2019

"My Dr prescribed Bactrim for my kidney infection along with Steroids. I'm supposed to take Bactrim twice a day for 7 days. Being told I would feel better after two days. This is day 7 and if anything, I feel worse than before I started the Bactrim. I go back to the Dr on Monday. I'm terrified he will want to hospitalize me."

2 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
9 Report
  • Mashi
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 10, 2017

"I took Bactrim for a kidney and bladder infection. I used to not have any issues with the medication but now for some reason it makes me so sleepy I'm sleeping 90% of the time on it. I refuse to take it an more because I need to be able to function and with this med for some reason now I can't function right."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
11 Report
  • Allijo
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 9, 2018

"I was prescribed bactrim twice daily for a week for a suspected kidney infection. I only got through two and a half days of the medication before I stopped taking it because I was so tired I couldn’t function and my skin became sore in certain places. I was taking 3-4 naps a day and my muscles were so weak I had to sit to even brush my hair. I am 28 weeks pregnant and a mother to a 20 month old so there is no way I could get through a week of not being able to function. I couldn’t even hold my daughter without having to sit down."

2 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
9 Report
  • GoodV...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 16, 2022

"I was given Bactrim after going to the ER for a rapidly progressing UTI that was making its way to my kidneys (potentially from an infected kidney stone). I was doing okay with Bactrim until day 5-7, when I ran a fever of 101 for 72 hours straight. I went to urgent care on day 6 and asked if the fever might be caused by Bactrim. They said no and pushed that I finish the medication. HOWEVER, on day 8 (after the 7 day dose was complete) I broke out in a full body rash (face and lips included - legs the worst). Though Bactrim DID improve my kidney infection symptoms, I still have a UTI, and now am covered in a rash. If you do have a consistent fever with this medication, and feel like you have the flu (muscle tingling, joint pain, inflamed lymphnod), this could be an early sign of an allergic reaction! I wish I had stopped sooner when I knew something wasn’t right."

5 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
4 Report
  • marie...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 10, 2017

"I got sick the day after Christmas. Thought i was just having nausea, but it progressed to a very painful tummy and back so I went to the er with my husband a few days later. I had a kidney infection, so they put me on the generic for bactrim for 10 days. I felt no different till a few days in, and that's when I got some relief but also side effects such as persistant and constant nausea, and headaches. Wasn't too bad. Then I felt excited on my last day because I truly felt better (minus stomach cramps that I didn't think were serious at the time). But then less than 24 hours later I started feeling bad again with my back and tummy, so we went to the ER and they put me on the generic for macrobid. This is day one of that. We'll see how it g"

3 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
9 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 1, 2024

"Bactrim seems to work for me. I didn't know it caused vertigo. I found experience that, but it has alleviated my 8-9 out of 10 pain from a UTI/kidney infection. I am on day 7 of 7. I feel like I need it another 3 days. Not all of the symptoms are gone, and I still can't pee long. I think it's working. It's a good alternative because I am allergic to penicillin. Hopefully, I don't have a blocked system because of kidney stone."

8 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
1 Report
  • Jano
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 15, 2020

"Was prescribed B for a male kidney infection. Severe breakout in a very sensitive area, evidently I am experiencing a fixed drug eruption. Cleared the kidney infection in 24 hours but has since returned."

2 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
3 Report
  • Never...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 4, 2022

"So far I’ve taken 10 doses out of 14 and I got an unexplainable bruise. Had even worse kidney pain and trouble urinating make sure you drink even more water then you normally would, as it’s recommended with the meds. Aside from that it’s cleared up but now I’m having muscle and joint pain."

4 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
1 Report
  • Brown...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 13, 2022

"Went to ER 3 days ago with a UTI that spread to my kidneys. Was given Bactrim 2 a day for 14 days. I cannot sleep, constant nausea and last night I literally felt like I couldn’t breathe. Kidney infection is much better, but I’m not sure I can’t finish this prescription bc this med is no joke!"

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
1 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.

Learn more about Kidney Infections

Symptoms and treatments