Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Smi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2018

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Skin Infection "Eczema on fingers of both hands became infected after several months of me failing to control the eczema on my own. Doc prescribed Bactrim DS twice a day for ten days. Worked very quickly, and my fingers looked 90% healed after two days, but unfortunately, I had to discontinue Bactrim after I had severe anxiety, insomnia, severe tension headaches, hand trembling, neck muscle soreness, and heart palpitations. I made it 4 days before I decided to switch to something else. Had side effects not been as severe, this would have been a 10/10 for me for how quickly it fixed my skin. No diarrhea, nausea, or GI issues for me."

• Meg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 27, 2021

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "TLDR; This drug can be a nightmare. I finally went to the doctor for my mild UTI. Water just wouldn't kick it. After my first dose, I was immediately thankful that I had gotten it. To my surprise, after taking the first dose, it seemed my infection had spread to my bladder. That night was awful: bladder spasms and private area burning like fire. Before I took the medication, I only had slight burning with urination. The next day I pushed water like crazy and thought I was getting better. The meds made me speedy. I was in a fog but was getting things done. I felt very sickly. I thought, again, that it was a good thing I got the antibiotics because my infection must be super severe to make me this ill. That night, I got very short of breath and my heart was pounding. I thought I may have caught COVID. I tried to sleep. Through the night I was awake with awful thoughts of death and severe anxiety. The next morning, I woke with my heart pounding and severe anxiety. I felt like death still."

• MTa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 19, 2019

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed Bactrim for a bladder infection/UTI. Took only 1 pill and felt jittery and lightheaded about 30 minutes after taking. Then began to feel slightly itchy and by the nighttime my skin felt like it was burning, along with a splitting headache, shooting pain in my neck, and insomnia, unable to sleep, complete brain fog and anxiety. Just from one dose, I didn't take any more and 5 days later still having a splitting headache and random pains throughout my body. I would not recommend and ask the doctor for an alternative to Bactrim."

• MTa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 19, 2019

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed Bactrim for a bladder infection/UTI. Took only 1 pill and felt jittery and lightheaded about 30 minutes after taking. Then began to feel slightly itchy and by the nighttime my skin felt like it was burning, along with a splitting headache, shooting pain in my neck, and insomnia, unable to sleep, complete brain fog and anxiety. Just from one dose, I didn't take any more and 5 days later still having a splitting headache and random pains throughout my body. I would not recommend and ask the doctor for an alternative to Bactrim."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2020

For Bacterial Infection "I started this medication sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim five days ago for a urinary tract infection. It was a three-day dose. I finished it two days ago, but have felt very weak, anxious, and bad headaches. I'm not sure if this is normal now that I have finished the medicine."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2021

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed Bactrim 800/160 mg for 5 days, 2 times a day. Day 1, no problem, just lost appetite. Day 2, no appetite, kidney pain, hands got shaky, and was very anxious. I considered stopping the prescription. Day 3 (5th pill), within an hour of taking it, my heart rate got up to 176, and I was gasping for air. I called 911 because it's just myself and my 2 young children here. Paramedics ruled it as a panic attack. Never had this problem, so I know it's from the medication. Absolutely will never take this again. I'm currently still on day 5, so if anything else crazy happens, I'll update. I wish these didn't continue releasing medication for 12 hours... The anxious feelings are still coming in waves. Trying to drink a lot of water to flush this poison out of my system. Currently having no more UTI symptoms, so I think it cleared the infection. Giving it a 3 because it did what it was supposed to, quickly, but definitely NOT worth the side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2022

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Prostatitis "I took Bactrim DS 960 mg for suspected acute prostatitis. I was told to take it for 28 days (56 pills). Within two days, and increasing each day, I experienced extreme anxiety, depression, unending panic, insomnia (I didn’t sleep for three days), chills, hot flashes, mild fever, genital pain, out-of-body experience, and other severe negative symptoms. Eventually, I connected the symptoms to Bactrim, stopped the pill, and saw immediate improvement after 24 hours—not full, but much better. Later I was fine. This drug was a terrible experience; I would never take it again for any reason."

• e6a...
• November 29, 2015

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "Only took the medication for 5 days, had read about it online after being prescribed it and got really worried at all the awful side effects. I experienced nausea and headaches and slight itchiness while on it and was glad to finally get off of it. It is my 3rd day off of it and the itching has gotten worse and all over now. I only have a few tiny reddish bumps, though, and I am experiencing anxiety on and off randomly and just feel weird and have also caught a cold (sore throat/cough). Will never take this medication ever again and I severely advise against it."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 8, 2017

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "The first day, I experienced some nausea. Now? I have a sore in my mouth that popped up out of nowhere, and one side of my bottom lip is swollen. I'm so sick that I can't eat anything and have zero appetite. I keep getting the shakes and chills that weren't there before starting it. I suffer from anxiety, and anxiety is a common side effect of this medication - so now my anxiety is through the roof, and it's also caused severe insomnia. I'm constipated, have terrible muscle spasms and cramps in my legs. I've never had an issue with a sulfa drug before, but after this, I will definitely not take one ever again. It's not worth the side effects/allergic reaction."

• Sta...
• September 13, 2019

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Skin Infection "I was diagnosed with cellulitis in my elbow. The doctor gave me a shot of Bactrim in my bum and sent me home with a prescription for Bactrim 2 times a day. I took it for 4 days, and I developed severe anxiety, chills, overheating, ringing in my ears, and a full-body rash. I was told to stop taking it, and then they gave me prednisone, which made me depressed and full of rage. This medication is awful."

• lem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 8, 2018

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Skin Infection "Worst part of this was the size of the pill. Had to buy a pill cutter. Otherwise, it did make me a little moody and anxious, but I did not have any other major symptoms. Took for 7 days for staph infection on skin."

• kkh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2018

For Bacterial Infection "I've been taking this for a UTI, and I believe it's helping with that, but honestly, all the side effects are taking over to the point where my UTI is the last thing I'm thinking about. Major nausea, I have to lay in bed all day. It always feels like I could vomit. It's made my anxiety so bad. I keep having panic attacks at night, and it has kept me up all night thinking. My nausea has been the worst at night, too, so really not getting much sleep. Really not worth it."

• Lea...
• October 30, 2015

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "So, I wanted to review this drug because I've been on five antibiotic treatments within the last month and a half for the craziest UTI I've ever experienced in my life. Landed in the ER for fevers and pain, and the worst was the mental confusion. Anyways, during this time, I've been on IV antibiotics, Z-Pak, as well as Keflex, which gave me horrible anxiety and extreme photosensitivity. When I tried Levaquin, it sent me to the ER. Then finally Bactrim DS was prescribed. After taking it the first night, I did have some trouble sleeping, but after two doses of the medication, I did adjust. I have been taking probiotics with these meds. It's helped overall. Side effects I noted: vivid dreams, fatigue, and constipation were the main three."

• Tel...
• January 29, 2015

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Sinusitis "I took this for four and a half days. I experienced complete appetite loss, nausea, fatigue, abdominal pain, and anxiety. I had blood work done before I took the Bactrim, and when I got my results back, it turned out I didn't have a bacterial infection at all. All that for nothing. I still haven't completely recovered my appetite, and it has been almost a week since my last dose."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2024

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Skin Infection "Took the double dose for 5 days (twice daily). Minor side effects I didn't feel great but treated my condition very quickly. Keep in mind, before the invention of antibiotics, the life expectancy for men was 47, and for women was 49. It is estimated that antibiotics have saved between 75-200 million lives. If it were not for antibiotics, 75% of our ancestors would have succumbed to infection, making our very existence unlikely. I'm not here to say a small percentage of people do not suffer severe side effects, or that a vast majority of people do not suffer some side effects. However, antibiotics kill infections that, without treatment, could be life-threatening. For me, a short course of a medication that will cure an infection with some side effects that can be managed is a no-brainer. Side effects for me were anxiety and heartburn. Nothing I couldn't handle."

• Bac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2022

For Bacterial Infection "I had to stop taking it after 5 days. I hadn't had panic attacks in years, and I do take Zoloft for them. I appreciate reading others' experiences because I really thought I was losing my mind. I haven't had any for 4 days and still feel a little off. Now I'm probably fretting over how I feel... which isn't good if you're prone to panic!"

• Ale...
• February 15, 2018

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Skin Infection "Absolutely the worst medication I've ever been on, and I've been on a lot. If an alternative is offered, take the alternative. Intense thirst, super awful anxiety (borderline paranoia), stomachaches and heartburn out the wazoo, night sweats, rash, dizziness, joint pain, loss of appetite were my symptoms (amongst others). Doc switched me to clindamycin. Not a single side effect! Symptoms gradually got better after dropping Bactrim."

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2016

For Bacterial Infection "I had an abscess. I got the generic type of Bactrim, sulfamethoxazole. I only took 3 pills total, in two days, each followed by moderate cramps and diarrhea. The second night after taking the 3rd pill, my lips and throat became swollen and had purple patches on them. The skin is thin and near splitting. I have white, patchy, slimy stuff in the back of my throat, which is thrush. My joints hurt, I have waves of chills that come on and can't get warm. It hurts to swallow, my tongue is swollen and sore also. The worst, however, is my mental state, feeling massive anxiety and temper swings at nearly nothing. I sort of had an outburst on my daughter and wife, and I feel terrible about it. I won't take this again. Now I'm taking Benadryl to reduce swelling."

• jen...
• February 14, 2018

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "I've taken this medication for both skin infections and (most recently) for a UTI. And it has now sent me to the hospital...for mental health. EXTREME anxiety, to say the least. Pain in my sides, chest, shortness of breath, tremors all over my body. Felt like I was dying. Insisted doctors check my liver and kidneys for shutdown. Didn't eat a meal for a week (did try to at least eat a yogurt or two, but that's all I could stomach). I was hospital-free for over a year...which is also the last time I took this med. If you have ANY history of mental health issues, AVOID THIS DRUG!! I gave it a 2 because it DID clear up the infections. But was NOT worth the hospital copays, loss of work, etc!"

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2021

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Skin Infection "I had a facial abscess lanced at urgent care and prescribed Bactrim in case it was MRSA. I took it for about 8 days twice daily and lost my appetite, got headaches, and felt anxious and depressed. I continued to get cystic acne behind my ears, mostly the ear by the abscess that was drained, so the dermatologist PA told me to take Bactrim for another month, once a day. I took it another 12 days until I began having knee joint pain and achiness in my legs like I've got the flu. Oh, I was also getting the chills. I've been off it 3 days and still having very bad leg pain that's caused me to have a panic attack and extreme mood swings and depression. I know it's from this antibiotic... I'm praying that the pain goes away as it is debilitating and I was a healthy 30-year-old prior to this."

• AF1...
• November 12, 2017

For Bacterial Infection "Was given this after going to the doctor. 1st dose felt nauseous, chills, hot flashes, stomach pain, migraine in the center of my head that won't go away. Was able to nap a few hours. 2nd dose same symptoms plus no longer able to sleep, anxiety, can't focus, sweats, buzzing in my head, no appetite, funny taste in my mouth, muscles hurt, feel sick, thirsty. 3rd through 6th doses no changes in side effects, but these also occurred: tongue swollen, don't feel like myself, seeing flashing lights when I close my eyes, fever, runny nose, stiff neck, confusion, vertigo. The original problem went away but came back around the time for each dose. Masks the initial problem. Don't know if it's working. Feel like I'm dying."

• Hat...
• June 6, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "I'm currently on day 4 of these meds, and I'm not liking the side effects. I feel anxious, hot flashes, and nauseous. My UTI cleared right up after a day, thank goodness, but these side effects are torture, and I want to stop this drug so bad. Should I or shouldn't I? Is there any way to lessen the side effects?"

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

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim 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."

• Jil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 23, 2018

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "I will never take this drug again. I was on 180 mg for 3 days to fight off a UTI. By the second day of taking it, my heart rate started to increase for no reason, I was very jittery, nauseous, and couldn't sleep. I managed to get the full 3-day treatment in to get rid of the infection, but I will never take it again. I've been off the drug for 5 days now and still have a slightly elevated heart rate. Went to the doctor to make sure everything was okay - everything came back good, the doctor just said some people react this way to the drug."

• ald...
• November 20, 2013

For Urinary Tract Infection "After I got home and had taken about 4 of these, I had loss of appetite and had a headache. I looked at the papers from the pharmacy, and I saw it said sulfamethoxazole! I called my doctor in a panic since it is listed in my allergies. I haven't had an allergic reaction, but my dad's and mom's side have. I finished out the antibiotic and have been fine. I did notice on Monday, which was my last dose, that I was feeling really queasy and had a headache. But no hives. Also, this did some weird things while on it. I felt sick and wasn't hungry, plus it gave me a little anxiety. I will go back in a few days to make sure it is all cleared up. I took it for five days, twice a day. I do, however, feel tons better."