Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim and Chills: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• May 10, 2011

For Bacterial Infection "This medicine is working for me, but it makes me feel horrible. I've been shaking, have had a rapid heart rate, nausea, extremely thirsty, chills (no fever), dizziness, and cold hands and feet. I did find that taking probiotics helps. It doesn't take away everything, but it helps with the nausea. The only reason I continue to take it is because the doctor said this could be MRSA."

• Anonymous
• May 10, 2011

For Bacterial Infection "This medicine is working for me, but it makes me feel horrible. I've been shaking, have had a rapid heart rate, nausea, extremely thirsty, chills (no fever), dizziness, and cold hands and feet. I did find that taking probiotics helps. It doesn't take away everything, but it helps with the nausea. The only reason I continue to take it is because the doctor said this could be MRSA."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 3, 2015

For Urinary Tract Infection "Was prescribed Bactrim by a walk-in clinic. Should've known better. After 2 days, I experienced some awful side effects - chills, fevers, night sweats, insomnia, diarrhea, and migraines - for three days. I thought I was going to die. After I finished my prescription, I got this terrible head-to-toe rash that itches like crazy. My UTI is gone, but it was not worth the rash and three days of near death. Does anyone know what I can do for this rash?"

• Fin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 26, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "I had a UTI, usually, it goes away with OTC Azo and water, but this time I could not get rid of it. So I went to the ER. They gave me Bactrim: 2 a day for 5 days. I took the entire round of them, and nothing changed. The medicine itself made me sick as a dog. I could eat with it or not eat with it, and it didn't matter. I was still so nauseous. It gave me chills and made me dizzy as well. I wouldn't give this to my worst enemy!"

• Car...
• November 10, 2020

For Kidney Infections "If you are someone with any sort of stomach sensitivities, food sensitivities, IBS, etc., I strongly recommend you DO NOT use this antibiotic. I am someone with a very sensitive digestive system and am prone to stomach bugs. I had a really bad UTI that led to a kidney infection. My first course of antibiotics was gentle, but the infection returned after finishing the course. My doctor recommended Bactrim to get the infection off completely. I suppose it worked, because my urine sample came back normal. However, I could not finish the course because of extreme side effects: complete loss of appetite, constant vomiting, diarrhea, chills, shaking, panic attacks, the works. I will never take this antibiotic again. Now, almost a week later, I still can hardly eat and have constant abdominal pain."

• Sic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2020

For Bacterial Skin Infection "Had an abscess removed and was prescribed Bactrim. Could not stay awake and got more sick every time I took it. Had most of the symptoms they say to contact your doctor about. Called and was told unless I had a rash, there was no reason not to keep taking it. I could not function, had an extreme migraine, which I have never had before (sensitivity to light and sound). Upset stomach, trouble passing urine, leg pain, chills, fever, among others."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Took 3 days of Cipro - UTI symptoms continued. Put on Bactrim, and initially, the symptoms started improving. But by the 3rd day, I could no longer eat - the nausea was terrible. Chills. Exhausted but couldn’t sleep due to heart palpitations. Finally, started vomiting. Decided that the side effects far outweighed the benefits of this particular drug."

• Cas...
• August 9, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed Bactrim for a UTI, and after one dose, I immediately developed a splitting headache, followed later by weakness, body aches, chills, fever, slight nausea, cough, and sore throat. I feel as if I have the flu. I suppose the medication did do what it was supposed to do because the UTI feels as if it's almost completely gone (I'm sure it isn't, but at least it doesn't hurt). I will say I don't think the side effects are worth it. I'm in a lot of pain and discomfort, and I think I'll be going to the emergency room just to be on the safe side."

• Hsh...
• November 24, 2015

For Urinary Tract Infection "I'm currently taking Bactrim for a UTI. It relieved my symptoms rather quickly, however, the side effects are really bothering me. I've had the most painful migraines since taking it yesterday. I also have the chills and slight nausea. I won't take this medicine ever again once I finish it. The constant painful headaches are not worth it."

• Jol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "I had the worst experience with Bactrim. The first day, I had a 101.8 fever, chills, uncontrollable shaking, anxiety, rash, and fast heartbeat. The next day, I was extremely achy, nauseous, and could not eat anything the whole day. I stopped taking it after the second day, and my symptoms are getting better after a day, but I still feel cruddy and have a bad headache."

• Whi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 19, 2017

For Bacterial Infection "I had a bacterial infection and feeling ill, and the doctor prescribed Bactrim. I didn't think it was helping as my illness took a turn for the worst. I had fever, chills, muscle weakness and pain, stomach pain, and I couldn't get out of bed. I'd start to feel better after a few hours and thought it was finally working. Nope. I took my next dose of Bactrim and all the symptoms came back full strength, and I was severely ill again. I finally linked it to Bactrim and stopped taking it. My symptoms cleared up over the course of a few days. I learned my grandmother and mother have a severe sulfa allergy, and I found out the hard way I do too. Words just don't describe how sick I was on this medication."

• Hal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed this medication for a UTI. After 1 pill, I woke up feeling nauseous, nonstop vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, headaches, insomnia, dizziness, weakness, loss of appetite, fever, chills. I am currently on day 3 and will not be taking this anymore. I have zero improvements, which is to be expected after only 3 days. I was told to take 2 pills daily for 10 days. I can’t take the extreme side effects, and I don’t see why a doctor would prescribe this, with this many horrible side effects. I thought I had a stomach bug or food poisoning until I decided to look up the side effects and realized it’s the medicine. My kind was 800/160MG TB. I don’t recommend."

• joa...
• August 31, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed this for a rather mild UTI. I took it with a granola bar in the morning and was drinking tons of water. Within 2 hours, the migraine set in, then the nausea and what felt like menstrual cramping, then the body aches and chills, and what I thought was a fever but was really just all my skin becoming very hot. My face looked like it had a slight sunburn. I called the pharmacy, and they said this was not the drug but rather symptoms of my UTI. I was so sick that I left work and went to urgent care, they retested my urine, which now came back negative for everything, and they told me to immediately discontinue taking it. The symptoms lasted well into the evening, and the migraine followed me into the following day. I'm not sure if this was an allergic reaction or if I was just super sensitive to it, but it was one of the worst nights of my life. For reference, I am 5'2, 120 lbs, and was given 160 mg twice daily for 3 days, and I do have a somewhat sensitive stomach."

• Sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "I just took one 160 mg tab of Bactrim. This is the worst pill in history. I got a rash, headache, neck and back pain. Sore throat, bad. My whole body, muscles, and joints are in so much pain. Nausea. My husband has to get me food, put me in the tub to take a hot bath. I feel so weak, OMG. Fever of 101.5, which goes up and down still. Chills and lightheaded. The next day, I still have those symptoms. Gonna call my doc on Monday to give me a different pill. If there was a 0 rating, that's what I would give. Thought I was gonna die."

• who...
• March 30, 2014

For Bronchitis "Felt so sick to my stomach, laid in bed for 2 weeks. I experienced bloating, nausea, couldn't eat. Cramping was serious, I suffered from chills, fever, aches, and pains. Headache was also present, made me feel lightheaded also. Couldn't function."

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 8, 2019

For Bacterial Skin Infection "Prescribed Sulfatrim for skin infection. Took 1 pill and began to feel body aches and pains and felt chilled with fever and flu-like. Woke up in the morning drenched in sweat with severe pain in my side radiating to my tailbone. Couldn't sit, couldn't stand, and couldn't lie down. Agonizing pain in my joints. Took another pill as I did not realize it was the drug doing it. Felt like I might die. Went to the doctor in agony. Told to stop taking and given another antibiotic. Was too sick to take the other antibiotic and too afraid. After a few days, the pain subsided but missed a week of work because of it. Cannot imagine what other damage it did. Will never, ever take again. I thought I would die on this drug."

• red...
• September 4, 2011

For Urinary Tract Infection "Received a seven-day prescription for Bactrim, and on the 5th day, lost appetite, had terrible body aches, and extreme fatigue. On the 6th day, had a fever and chills too. Stopped the treatment on the 7th day. Then, on the evening of the 8th day, developed a rash all over my upper body and face. Pharmacist recommended Benadryl, which helped somewhat. Having a urinalysis in a week and surely hope it worked and cleared up my urinary tract infection."

• ind...
• February 7, 2011

For Urinary Tract Infection "Today was the first day I took this medication. Two hours after, I experienced joint pain, blurred vision, back pain, a headache, chills, fever, nausea, cough, and sore throat. This was in addition to my already severe urinary tract infection symptoms, which I was sent to the ER for the night before, including severe pain in the pelvis, achy back (kidneys). Although symptoms of a severe UTI can also be fever, pain in the flank (pain that runs along the back at about waist level), chills, and nausea, I believe the medication gave me the additional symptoms. I was fine all day long until around two hours after taking the pill. After about 3 hours, symptoms increasingly went away. I am not sure if the pills are working or if they wore off."

• BAa...
• June 8, 2016

For Acne "The dermatologist put me on Bactrim DS, to be taken twice a day with food. No side effects in the first few days and did a good job at clearing up my face. Currently, I am on the 9th day and experiencing severe side effects. Fever, chills, extreme joint pain, muscle weakness, and overall sluggishness. Also experiencing difficulty breathing, a tight chest, headache, and dizziness to the point of almost falling over, for no reason. The most severe of the side effects is the joint pain. Can hardly take a step on my right leg and cannot lift anything with my right arm. Bactrim does its job, however, at the expense of your health. Please do your research before starting this drug!"

• Cry...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2019

For Bacterial Skin Infection "I had an inflamed bug bite on my leg and was prescribed Bactrim. I ate and took the first and only dose that night at around 8 pm. Around 3ish in the morning, my head was throbbing, I was insanely warm with a 102-degree fever, meanwhile having chills at the same time. What bothered me the most is my hands swelled, were red, and I had intense itching. I'm still experiencing these symptoms, so I don't know when they will stop."

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

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."

• Mre...
• September 12, 2015

For Sinusitis "Started meds on Monday. My arms and legs hurt terribly Tuesday and Wednesday. The headache has been the worst I have ever had. Chills, sweating, nausea, impaired vision, insomnia. I called the doctor's office Wednesday afternoon, and the nurse told me to give it a few more days. Went to a different doctor on Saturday, and he said Bactrim is notorious for headaches and other adverse effects. Off of it now and have to wait 24 hours before I can start a new antibiotic. I'm praying this headache ends soon."

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

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

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."

• suz...
• January 25, 2012

For Sinusitis "I took Bactrim DS after the first antibiotic didn't work on my sinus infection. I started to feel better after 4 days, however, I developed joint pain in my hands and knees. I have arthritis from an autoimmune disease, but it's usually controlled very well by a maintenance medicine. On day 8, I noted lots of swollen glands in my neck and a slight temp. After I took my antibiotic that night, my fever shot up to 103, I was shaking, teeth chattering, with severe joint/muscle pain, my face looked sunburned, and my body was red/blotchy. I stopped the Bactrim, but the fever lasted 2-3 days, the arthritis was severe for about a week, and I still have fatigue. Good news is the ENT did recheck, and the infection is gone."