Bactrim and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Mak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "A doctor sent me this antibiotic because I have often UTIs, and this would be the fourth that they try. This antibiotic makes me feel extremely weird, it gives me anxiety and makes me depressed. It also makes me extremely tired, like “high” and mentally disabled. I feel like this each time after I take it. It’s a very strange medication. I have issues with pernicious anemia as well, and it seems like this med makes it three times worse. I quit."

• DPR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2023

For Bacterial Infection "I have not had a good experience using Bactrim. The first day's dosage caused no side effects, however, by day 6, I had headaches, severe heartburn, nausea, chills, severe muscle weakness, depression, anxiety, and generally felt unwell. I took each dose with a full glass of water and a full stomach, as recommended. I am supposed to take this for 4 more days, but I will call my doctor for an alternative treatment."

• Tgl...
• November 14, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "Today was my first day taking it for a UTI, which I feel as if it went away. It’s only been about an hour, and I do not feel well at all. I’m dizzy and drowsy and everything. Cold sweats, it’s like my whole body is just weak. I can’t take it. It throws me into an anxiety attack. It’s like taking this medicine makes everything worse."

• Ran...
• June 27, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was given a 3-day prescription to treat a UTI. After taking the first dose, I noticed I felt a little anxious, but went to bed. I woke up about 3 hours later with a rapid heartbeat, mild nausea, cold sweat, restlessness. This continued for about 6 more hours. I was able to drink plenty of liquid to try to flush it out of me, which worked pretty well. Twelve hours later, I feel a lot more normal, but now tired from the experience. I won't take this again. This reaction was worse than my symptoms of the UTI."

• ASa...
• April 8, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "UTI - Bactrim for 7 days. Day 1 stomach discomfort. Day 2 UTI slight urgency but manageable, that night had an anxiety attack and heart palpitations. By day 4 exhausted, hardly able to do my daily work. I called my doctor on day 5, and she said this is normal - to just power through, and since I’m allergic to penicillin, I’m likely not allergic to Sulfa. That night had chills and a 100-degree fever. Day 6 I felt even worse (chills and fever) and developed hives. Was told I have a Sulfa allergy and to stop with the meds and start Macrobid. The next day with Bactrim leaving my system I developed a full body rash that made me look sunburned and had a 103-degree fever. The rash subsided 6 days after it started, and my other symptoms ended 3 days after I stopped the pills. Overall, one of the worst medical experiences of my adult life. Macrobid seemed to work, only symptom was head fog, which may have been from Bactrim. Giving Bactrim 2 stars because it seemed to clear the UTI."

• Mic...
• February 13, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "No, no, no! I’m almost through with the 10 days of taking Bactrim. This medication makes me extremely anxious, panicky, and jittery! My blood pressure is extremely high as well! And I already have panic/anxiety disorders and high blood pressure! It was literally driving me insane! I would not recommend it to anyone who has an anxiety disorder or high blood pressure! It also took forever to work! It's awful. Please research it carefully before taking it. Talk to your doctor!"

• Mic...
• February 13, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "No, no, no! I’m almost through with the 10 days of taking Bactrim. This medication makes me extremely anxious, panicky, and jittery! My blood pressure is extremely high as well! And I already have panic/anxiety disorders and high blood pressure! It was literally driving me insane! I would not recommend it to anyone who has an anxiety disorder or high blood pressure! It also took forever to work! It's awful. Please research it carefully before taking it. Talk to your doctor!"

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2022

For Bacterial Skin Infection "I was prescribed this for a boil. Do not take this drug if you're on an antidepressant. I took this Friday, and by Monday, I started to get extreme anxiety and depression, lightheaded, dizzy, nausea, stomach problems. I stopped taking it Monday morning, and today, Tuesday morning, I’m still feeling the effects, but they are lessening. Talk to the doctor about another antibiotic."

• Shi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2022

For Prostatitis "The first two-week course seemed to work, but symptoms came back a few days later, so I had to go back on it - it is helping again. Hopeful the relief will stick when I go off it in a few days. Middle of this second two-week course, I broke out in a mild case of hives and began to experience more pronounced side effects, including back pain, soreness, stiffness, and achiness, like a baby version of my experience after the Moderna vaccine, and increased anxiety. All of that is not fun, but it's manageable - nothing like the nightmare some on this board are describing - and there's no question that it's helped. The doctor says if I ever have to go on a similar antibiotic again, it should not be Bactrim because the hives suggest an allergy. (Note: also on Flomax.)"

• Ing...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2022

For Bacterial Infection "Folliculitis - had a bad ingrown hair that drained a bit after hot compress and exfoliating but wouldn’t completely resolve. After 8 wks, I decided antibiotics might be the solution. I had taken antibiotics for an ingrown hair once before about 20 years ago. I had no known allergies, and I’ve been on a lot of meds over the years for rosacea and cystic acne breakouts, including Accutane, Doxycycline, steroids, etc. A friend of mine had Bactrim, and I decided to try ONE pill - certain it would be fine. I was wrong. Within 30 minutes, I broke out in hives. I had 3 on my face, several on my arms and legs. The hives stopped after the initial breakout, and although I was worried, I was keen to just keep watch and not go to the ER. They finally went down about 24 hours later. I spent the night being very anxious/paranoid and feeling really off in general. I took two doses of Benadryl, and it’s now been 36 hours, and I feel fine, but it was scary. I am one of the unlucky 3% with a Sulfa Allergy."

• Ing...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2022

For Bacterial Infection "Folliculitis - had a bad ingrown hair that drained a bit after hot compress and exfoliating but wouldn’t completely resolve. After 8 wks, I decided antibiotics might be the solution. I had taken antibiotics for an ingrown hair once before about 20 years ago. I had no known allergies, and I’ve been on a lot of meds over the years for rosacea and cystic acne breakouts, including Accutane, Doxycycline, steroids, etc. A friend of mine had Bactrim, and I decided to try ONE pill - certain it would be fine. I was wrong. Within 30 minutes, I broke out in hives. I had 3 on my face, several on my arms and legs. The hives stopped after the initial breakout, and although I was worried, I was keen to just keep watch and not go to the ER. They finally went down about 24 hours later. I spent the night being very anxious/paranoid and feeling really off in general. I took two doses of Benadryl, and it’s now been 36 hours, and I feel fine, but it was scary. I am one of the unlucky 3% with a Sulfa Allergy."

• Cam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2022

For Bacterial Skin Infection "I had cellulitis on my face, which swelled up significantly. Having worked in healthcare as a nursing aide for several years, I knew the diagnosis before the physician confirmed it and realized antibiotics would be necessary. What I didn’t expect was a horrendous neuropsychiatric reaction to the medication. I was extremely nervous and could not sleep on day 3 and ended up having a severe anxiety attack. The episodic depression and odd behavior such as standing in one place without moving for hours was frightening. Thankfully, after 2 more hospital visits, I was put on a cephalosporin which eliminated the anxiety. My family physician has put this medication on my chart beside the penicillin allergy (anaphylaxis) and wrote “neuropsychiatric reaction.” Bactrim is by far the worst medication I’ve ever been on."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2021

For Bacterial Skin Infection "I am sharing my experience because I want others to know there is hope for recovering from the extremely rare and life-changing side effects that happened to me on Bactrim. I took it for 3 weeks for recurring acne cysts that kept forming behind my ear that started with an abscess being drained in front of my ear. The first week I felt okay, but by the 2nd, I could hardly eat and felt depressed and anxious. I quit taking it, and the cysts kept coming, so the dermatologist told me to keep taking it to clear up the infection. At 3 weeks, I woke up with knee joint pain, and a couple days later, I noticed my calves got very sore from doing normal things. I immediately quit the Bactrim, but it was too late. A week later, the pain was worse, and I was very scared. I had every blood test done, MRIs on my knee and calf, and everything was normal. I got worse as the months progressed, and finally, 6 months later, I began to feel better. I had to quit my amazing job and was in the most depressed state. I'm healthy and 31 female."

• sca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2021

For Prostatitis "I went to the doctor for prostatitis and was prescribed Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole). Some background, I have high-functioning anxiety and decided to write this review while I wait for my doctor to call me back about changing antibiotics. These other reviews are 100% accurate about severe anxiety (heart rate over 90 BPM 24/7), headaches, loss of appetite, and nausea... nothing better than throwing up stomach bile because you can't eat. I thought I had COVID but tested negative... On the bright side, after 3 days, my prostatitis went away, I guess it's a double-edged sword."

• 920...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2016

"Given a 7-day course. After 2 days, insomnia, anxiety. Complete loss of appetite, eating was a chore. Mild pain in kidney areas. After 5 days, vivid nightmares, difficulty falling asleep, and severe anxiety at night. After 6 days, stopped because of an anxiety attack and weak pulse, feelings of lightheadedness."

• 920...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2016

"Given a 7-day course. After 2 days, insomnia, anxiety. Complete loss of appetite, eating was a chore. Mild pain in kidney areas. After 5 days, vivid nightmares, difficulty falling asleep, and severe anxiety at night. After 6 days, stopped because of an anxiety attack and weak pulse, feelings of lightheadedness."

• Hor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "I’m on day 2 of using this medication, and I cannot finish it. The first time I took it, I was so weak, dizzy, confused, and my heart rate was through the roof. Even going up the stairs or getting up out of bed winded me, and I’m completely healthy. It was so bad I’d sleep all day just hoping the symptoms would go away, but I can’t take the side effects: the rapid heartbeat and feeling of constant anxiety. I have never felt this weak from medication. Also, it has given me a pounding aura headache that just makes me extremely dizzy and exhausted. I’m stopping this medication immediately and contacting my doctor, this is horrible. No one should ever experience this. UTI discomfort has subsided mildly, but either way, I will not continue this awful medication."

• Mem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2021

For Prostatitis "Was prescribed Bactrim 2x/day for 30 days for prostatitis symptoms. First day fine, but by the third day, throbbing neck pain that aspirin or Tylenol didn't take care of. No excessive leaning forward or sleeping on my stomach to crank the neck, so I believe it was from the drug. Little bit of nausea and anxiety at the same time. Hard to say if it did much for my prostate because by the time I started, I was 70% better from my initial doctor visit."

• KAT...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "Like many others who have shared their experience with this awful medicine, I had a horrific time with it. Horrible indigestion, headache, and anxiety like I’ve never had before. Never again!!!"