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

• Mor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "Bactrim was the WORST medicine in the world! I was prescribed Bactrim for 10 days and only took it for 6. Every day something new was wrong. Days 4 & 5 were the worst. I was extremely sensitive to light and had vivid suicidal thoughts and became extremely depressed. All I wanted to do was sit at home and cry. Day 6 I decided to stop Bactrim because my severe headaches began to worsen and I became extremely dehydrated. The medication urges you to drink “plenty” of water, but I drank 6 bottles of water in 3 hrs and was reaching for #7-that’s MORE than “plenty” if you ask me. I don’t recommend!!☠️"

• spa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2015

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "Knocked UTI symptoms out effectively after the first 24 hours. However, the side effects were not pleasant and were very noticeable: headache, nausea, dizziness, light-headedness, weakness, sweating, dry mouth, excessive thirst, tiredness. I'm on day 3 and have asked the doc to switch me to something else so I can function better at home and work. Trying Cipro. Be sure to drink water constantly when on Bactrim DS."

• Uns...
• June 22, 2015

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Infection "Was prescribed this almost 2 years ago for a skin infection but quit taking it after 3 days because of severe anxiety, indigestion, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, and who knows what else. At the time, I was dealing with panic attacks, so when my current doctor prescribed it last week, I decided, since I was feeling better, to give it one last effort. Days 1-2 were good. Skin was clearing, and other than being tired, I had no side effects. By day 3, I got a headache that was relentless, I was shaky, couldn't sleep at night but couldn't stay awake during the day, diarrhea started, and I quit the medicine at my doctor's advice. It's been over 48 hours since my last dose, and I still feel like crap. My neck hurts, and I'm still feeling incredibly anxious."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "I've never had such a severe negative reaction to a medication as I did for sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim. I became nauseous after the second dose. After 3 days, on Saturday, I called the prescribing practice Dr. on call. I reported severe nausea, with stomach pain, weakness, fatigue, and headache. He stated I had not yet received a therapeutic dose and to continue taking the medication. After 6 doses, I returned to the prescribing Dr., barely able to function. The Dr. advised to discontinue use and noted on my chart that I had a bad reaction. It's been about 36 hours since my last dose, and I'm still very sick: stomach pains, nausea, headache, fatigue. I'm so debilitated I can do nothing but lay on the couch. This is a horrible drug for me and others. Use extreme caution."

• Tin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2022

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "Went to the emergency room after feeling like I needed to urinate constantly and having extreme tenderness in the lower abdomen. No pain with urination. Was started on Bactrim on Monday evening. 1 pill 2x daily. As of Wednesday morning, my discomfort alleviated significantly. I've had very few side effects, headache seemed to be the most prevalent and was fixed with 800 mg ibuprofen. I would definitely recommend taking it after eating and drinking large amounts of water. I'm not disappointed in this medicine at all."

• Rho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2016

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "Started this med yesterday for the first time. Immediately noticed how strong it is! Prevented vomiting by only taking on a full stomach. Drinking a lot of water will help with the headaches, as dehydration will cause this too. I don't recommend taking too late at night because of insomnia."

• Anonymous
• July 9, 2011

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Skin Infection "I am taking Bactrim for a minor staph infection on my leg. It is going away quickly. I am just experiencing fatigue and headaches. The headaches are probably due to dehydration because I am a runner too. I felt better after I drank more water with the medicine. Also, I am experiencing a slight decrease in appetite."

• Ter...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2017

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Skin Infection "I have been taking Bactrim DS for an infection in my toe from a pedicure. It's been 4 days of not feeling human. I'm terribly exhausted. It feels like trying to stay awake after taking NyQuil. After day 2, I started getting bad headaches. I'm only on it for seven days, so I'm going to suffer through it, but the side effects are almost unbearable."

• Dan...
• September 15, 2019

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Skin Infection "I had an ingrown toenail, so my podiatrist removed it and put me on cephalexin for a week. After taking all of them, my toe was still infected. She put me on Bactrim to be taken twice a day for 10 days. Twenty-four hours after my first dose, my mood completely changed. I was depressed and miserable. Day 2, I was spinning, it was impossible to function for daily tasks, and I had no appetite. Day 3, I had a full-blown panic attack, then extreme anxiety, and following that, several heart palpitations. Day 6, I had a rash across my midsection. I stopped taking them that day and called my podiatrist, as my toe still wasn't getting better. She advised I stop and see her later on that day. She wound up removing another piece of nail that had been left behind. When I told her all of the symptoms, she said that I'm allergic. As a person who suffers from food allergies, this terrified me. After a week, the nausea, headache, and spinning started to lighten up, but it took around two months to get back to my normal routine. And to think... these symptoms are NORMAL for this medication."

• Cas...
• August 9, 2017

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim 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."

• Sba...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2019

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

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

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "Took Bactrim DS for a UTI, two doses daily for three days. Did the trick. No major side effects, maybe a slight headache and a little lightheaded a couple of times. However, not awful and most likely from my sinuses. I am normally sensitive to meds and was afraid after reviews, but no problems. I would take it again."

• Dre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2019

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed Bactrim for my UTI, 2 times a day for 3 days. The first day I have a lot of confusion. By the second day, I was having horrible headaches, loss of appetite, and a stiff neck. Now I’m terrified to take my last dose tonight. To my knowledge, it appears the medication is working, however, I don’t intend to ever take it again. I hope the side effects will stop once I finish my dosage. I would look around before trying this one."

• Ado...
• November 13, 2015

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Skin Infection "I was diagnosed with a MRSA impetigo skin infection and was prescribed the Bactrim DS as well as Bactroban ointment, therefore, I cannot know which helped the most, but it did work 95%. I still have a pink area, and the original cut that started this all is still slightly visible. This oral med made me feel horrible. Every day, after the third day, I was nauseous about an hour after taking it, and several times had to take Zofran 8 mg, which did help. My stomach was a roller coaster, and the headaches were really bad. I have daily chronic headache, which is daily migraines. But I get C spine nerve ablations, which allows me to be 90% migraine-free for about 1 year. During the 10 days, the migraines came back and with a vengeance. Glad to be done."

• S S...
• April 12, 2017

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Infection "I have been taking Bactrim for a total of 3 days. I have awful headaches, the shakes, spiky fevers, tightness in my chest, and can barely keep my eyes open from exhaustion. I have 7 days left of treatment, and I'm not sure I'm going to finish it. I feel worse with the medication than I did with the infection. Granted, it has reduced swelling and pain at the infection site. So I guess it's doing one thing right."

• Ano...
• December 27, 2015

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "Was on Cipro for a week but no relief, so my doctor switched me to this drug. Felt relief within 72 hours. I had extreme nausea and a headache the first day I took this drug, but then I started to take it with meals, and I haven't had those side effects."

• Hsh...
• November 24, 2015

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim 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."

• Are...
• March 8, 2017

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Kidney Infections "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 nowhere, 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 to look up the side effects to that, and sure enough, everything was listed."

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

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim 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."

• Nic...
• September 1, 2015

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Skin Infection "Not sure that the medication did much, as my abscess burst the night I started the antibiotics. All I know is that by the 3rd and 4th day of antibiotics, I was feeling generally unwell, had a headache, and awful nausea."

• Rak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2017

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "This antibiotic worked quickly to clear up UTI. However, I had extreme gas and constant headache. Severe chest pain so bad that I went to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. Would not take again."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 3, 2015

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Skin Infection "I have been having skin infections on my breasts off and on for 6 years. Ever since I developed mastitis when I was breastfeeding. I've been given Bactrim DS each time and advised to use Neosporin cream, not ointment. I'm not sure if it works all that great. It does take care of the red, rashy-looking inflammation surrounding the 'boil'/'blister', but does not seem to even really touch the actual blister itself. Without medication, it will take 3 - 4 weeks or so to heal, with meds it takes 2 weeks. I think it has a lot to do with the healing of the red rash part... so I continue to take it. The only side effect I have noticed is an almost unquenchable thirst. But no nausea, insomnia, or headaches for me."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2015

For Bacterial Skin Infection "I had to take this for a boil, and it healed the boil and made it go down and kind of get a scab over it, but the side effects are crazy. You have diarrhea, your head hurts all the time, and I'm so tired all the time. I was prescribed the medicine for 7 days to take twice a day. Overall, the medicine did its job but had side effects."

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

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim 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."

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

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Urinary Tract Infection "I did experience some of the side effects associated with this medication: headaches and asthma flare-up (manageable). The benefit of the antibiotic far outweighs the side effects of the medication. I would definitely use it again if ever prescribed."