Bactrim and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Nik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2021

For Bacterial Infection "No!!! Do not take this medicine. I was at the hospital a week ago for a severe UTI. They prescribed me Bactrim. They wanted me to take it twice daily for 10 days. I made it to day 6 and tonight I feel so bad. My legs are tingling, my tongue feels tingly, and my mouth is super dry. I’m having bad stomach cramps and my ears hurt. This is all from this medicine. I’ve been having severe headaches, nausea, and my anxiety is so bad. Please be very aware of taking this medicine."

• Can...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "Gave me severe anxiety. I felt like I was psychotic. Panic attack where I could barely even talk, eyes were bugging out. I am not a mentally ill person in any way and I have never felt this way before in my life the way this pill made me feel. I almost didn’t know it was the drug until I checked this website and read that everyone and their mothers have experienced severe anxiety caused by this pill. Doctor told me it doesn’t cause anxiety to continue taking it today, so it looks like I won’t be listening to them after reading a webpage full of people with complaints of severe anxiety and panic. I also definitely felt like I was losing myself/my mind without knowing why, as someone has mentioned here before. It’s tricky because physically I have not had issues with this pill. I was not sick from it, so I thought everything was going well, but it really messed with my brain. Do not take this."

• Use...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 19, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Was given Bactrim for my UTI. Read online reviews and was terrified of taking it, especially since I had a severe allergic reaction to Cipro years ago. Literally nothing happened. Some mild stomach issues, a small headache here and there, and tons of anxiety (my own doing) but it went pretty well. Symptoms of UTI went away in a day or less. Don't read reviews...you don't know other people's bodies and what conditions they have that contribute to their side effects."

• Wow...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was on this drug for only 2 days until I had the worst stomach pains ever, like it knocked the wind out of me. I had severe diarrhea with mucus and blood that lasted for weeks after discontinued use. It has been a month and I still have nausea with severe abdominal pains, headaches, anxiety, light sensitivity, white bumps on my gums. I’m scared that my organs are damaged, which I am currently being tested for. I have never had any of these symptoms before and was perfectly healthy! I am young too. This drug RUINED my life. I would rate this drug in the negatives if I could. Should not be allowed to be prescribed!"

• Lau...
• January 8, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed Bactrim for a UTI. I felt fine the first day. By day 2, I experienced horrible symptoms or side effects. I was having severe anxiety, nausea, increased heart rate, and shaking in my body. I called my doctor, and she said to continue taking it, but after reading all of these reviews, I've decided to stop taking the antibiotics. It's so scary to see so many other women going through the same thing!"

• Vga...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Had not read side effects, so did not realize what I felt was caused by the med. My first day on Bactrim, I had side effects of feeling achy and depressed. By day 3, I was shaking, shivering, anxious, and insomnia. By day 5, nausea, dizziness, 100 heart rate, very low blood pressure, extreme anxiety. Pain everywhere, pain in my kidneys, very dehydrated, painful muscle spasms. Day 6, was going to go to the emergency room when I realized it could be the Bactrim and read side effects. Find it difficult to believe a doctor would give this to anyone. It was horrible."

• Vga...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Had not read side effects, so did not realize what I felt was caused by the med. My first day on Bactrim, I had side effects of feeling achy and depressed. By day 3, I was shaking, shivering, anxious, and insomnia. By day 5, nausea, dizziness, 100 heart rate, very low blood pressure, extreme anxiety. Pain everywhere, pain in my kidneys, very dehydrated, painful muscle spasms. Day 6, was going to go to the emergency room when I realized it could be the Bactrim and read side effects. Find it difficult to believe a doctor would give this to anyone. It was horrible."

• Kd0...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2020

For Bacterial Infection "I took Bactrim for a gum infection. It got rid of the infection, and I felt better fast, however, it gave me anxiety and a panic attack. If I had to take it, I would, but if there are other options, I would recommend going with one of those. I also had a pounding heart and leg pain."

• Anonymous
• October 9, 2009

For Urinary Tract Infection "I never had an allergic reaction until I took this medication. Now I learned the hard way I'm allergic to sulfa drugs. After one dose, I had a lot of serious side effects: high fever, intense stomach pain, insomnia, hallucinations, anxiety, non-stop chills/shaking, vomiting, and rash. Needless to say, I ended up in the hospital for 3 days. I think that you need to be careful when taking the drug and be aware of all the serious side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "This drug is terrible! Run if the doctor prescribes this. Day 1, I had a headache and aches to my kidneys. Like I could literally feel the pain in my kidneys! I felt bloated, vomiting, fever of 101, pain in my kidneys, jittery, and chills. Please, please don't take it. The ratio of the ones that had no symptoms to the ones who did is a big difference! I took it for 2 days, then threw the rest down the toilet. The ONLY good thing was I took 1 dose, and the next day felt relief... but still... eff this stuff!"

• Sin...
• September 13, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed Bactrim DS for a UTI. I drank a full glass of water with every dose and continued to drink large amounts of water throughout the day. I also made sure to take this on a full stomach. I’m a healthy 26-year-old female and this is my first UTI. After taking Bactrim for 24 hours, I experienced severe side effects. I had debilitating kidney pain and lower back pain, severe gas, foamy explosive diarrhea, bloating, racing heart rate, severe anxiety (almost to the point of paranoia), and brain fog. I could not even hold a simple conversation. I felt like I was dying. After reading many reviews online, I discovered these same side effects have affected so many others while taking Bactrim. Once the drug was out of my system and I discontinued use, these side effects subsided. This antibiotic may work for some, but be aware of the possible severe side effects when you are assessing the risk of taking Bactrim."

• ema...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "My anxiety and mental health were under control until I got a mild UTI and was prescribed Bactrim. My heart rate skyrocketed for days, it induced panic attacks. I had no idea what was happening to me until I looked up the reviews and realized I was reacting to the Bactrim. My heart rate reached 130 bpm at one point, and I went to the doctor to have my heart checked. I took 4 doses and will never take this again. It ruined my life. Two weeks later, I’m still recovering from the anxiety it caused. I am angry this medication was prescribed to me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2020

For Bacterial Infection "I am 30. I recently had a vasectomy, which caused an infection while healing. Doctor prescribed Bactrim. I noticed after my nightly dosage, I would constantly wake up like I previously would when having an anxiety attack. I thought it was just due to outside stress, but after reading this page, I see it may have been increased by this medication. I wish I would have known sooner. Bactrim helped with my ailments but also made me use the last of my emergency Xanax in the process."

• Kit...
• May 10, 2014

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed Bactrim and felt worse right away. After reading the side effects, I told myself that what I was feeling was normal. I took the prescribed dosage (2 per day) for 5 days, feeling even worse on the 5th day - shaky, diarrhea, headache, nervousness, unable to sleep. Then, after some research, I discovered that there also were interaction side effects with my blood pressure medications."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 29, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Never again. It has been only 2 days. I'm already dizzy, fatigued, anxiety-ridden, and it's 2 a.m., and my heart won't stop racing! I've had the jitters all day and very unpleasant heart palpitations that feel like my heart is going to explode. Also, I can't sleep."

• JDK...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 7, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "Okay, here is my story..... I'm 3 days in, and after the first dose, I felt amazing. The next day, even better. Today, not so good, I have had sweats at least thrice and stomach pains with burping constantly. My tongue is actually peeling. I have had no appetite throughout the course of 3 days thus far!!! I'm stopping it in fear of something even worse happening!! I cannot take my daily runs on this medication. Anxiety is high, and my mouth hurts!!! I had sepsis 21 months ago, which started with a UTI, and several antibiotics do not agree with me!!! I will update as time goes on. Right now, I want my mouth to stop hurting!!! I would be very cautious if you are prescribed this medication!!"

• Ana...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "This is my first and last time I will ever take it. Now, firstly, some people have good experiences with this med, so it's all up to your body. My body said no. The headaches are bad, the rapid heartbeat scared me, and the restlessness was awful, and it made me jittery/nervous. I took the whole dose. You will not know how your body will react to this med until you try it. I have a friend that took it, and she was fine and swore by it, her body makeup is different than mine."

• Ana...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "This is my first and last time I will ever take it. Now, firstly, some people have good experiences with this med, so it's all up to your body. My body said no. The headaches are bad, the rapid heartbeat scared me, and the restlessness was awful, and it made me jittery/nervous. I took the whole dose. You will not know how your body will react to this med until you try it. I have a friend that took it, and she was fine and swore by it, her body makeup is different than mine."

• Bek...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Cured my UTI but gave me insomnia, anxiety, swollen lymph nodes, headache, muscle and joint pain all over my body, and pins/needles feeling all over my body. Ended up going to the hospital for the side effects. So I would not, in any circumstance, recommend this antibiotic."

• Jam...
• June 28, 2017

For Bacterial Infection "I'm currently 15 months out from taking 2 pills of Bactrim, and it was the worst side effects of my life. It started with uncontrollable anxiety and depression. I didn't feel connected with reality, and I felt very confused. By the second night, I was unable to sleep, and that is still plaguing me. I shook the anxiety and depression within a few weeks, but my sleep didn't become bearable for about 7 months, and then it was still terrible. To this day, I have poor quality sleep, confusion, and occasionally onset insomnia. Avoid this drug. I also had a similar reaction to Levoquin. It gets better, just ridiculously slowly. Others recover within days."

• Suz...
• September 15, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "I went to urgent care for unbearable pain from a UTI, and they put me on Bactrim. This made me feel awful. Lots of anxiety and panic attacks, and constantly feeling dizzy like the room was spinning and like I was going to fall down and pass out. Felt very shaky on day 5. Also experienced neck pain and pain in my lower back. Also experienced headaches. It cleared up the UTI but had horrible side effects. I’m someone who also has neurological Lyme disease, so the left side of my jaw just goes into spasm when I have a flare-up, which is another painful condition I live with, and I’ve taken many other antibiotics for Lyme and for sinus issues, but I’ve never experienced symptoms like this."

• Joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "Started taking Cipro for a bladder infection but had some bad side effects in the tendon in my right hand. Went back to the Dr. and he gave me Bactrim (Septra). I took it for 3 days in total before I had to stop. The symptoms literally made me feel like I was dying. I had a really foggy head, headaches, dizziness, I almost passed out one day. I got zero sleep the whole time I was on it. My joints hurt in the night, my skin got really itchy and developed a rash, I also developed extreme anxiety and I felt like I was having a heart attack with the palpitations. I was close to panic attack, that's when I said enough is enough. I've never had a reaction like that and I have trouble remembering those days. It was a blur of pain and confusion."

• Cap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Horrible, horrible medication. I was put on a 7-day course of Bactrim for a fairly mild UTI by local urgent care, and the day after starting my dosage, I experienced SEVERE heightened anxiety, panic attacks, low fever, back tension and pain, uncontrollable shaking, and insomnia. Some hallucinations and nausea as well. After day three, I couldn’t take it any longer and stopped taking it— most of the severe symptoms went away within 24 hours, but it’s been almost 3 days since quitting, and my muscle pain and anxiety are still far worse than they were before taking Bactrim."

• Anonymous
• September 23, 2011

For Bacterial Infection "I have only had this medicine twice. The first time was without reaction. The second time, however, I did experience trembling, weakness, especially in my legs, anxiety, and an itchy rash on my forearms. Not pleasant at all!"

• Gui...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2019

For Prostatitis "This stuff should be out of the market. I took it for 3.5 days and got almost all side effects of it. The worst is anxiety, which you cannot get rid of/reverse until the last drop of Bactrim leaves your body, not talking about kidney and lung damage, plus super muscle pains. Drink a lot of water and quit it once you notice that this drug is not for you. Just thankful that I am alive..."