Trimethoprim and Fatigue: What Users Say

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "Presented to Doctors for UTI. Was prescribed trimethoprim for 5 days. 300mg, one per day. I have never had such a horrible reaction to an antibiotic. I did think it was odd that the dose was so low and only 1 per day, and now I know why. Any higher and I probably would have been hospitalized! I had the worst, worst stomach cramps, nausea, wobbly legs, zero energy, couldn’t sleep at night, sweating on and off, horrible jaw clenching, tense body muscles (especially in the back of my neck) and very, very anxious. It’s easy to second guess yourself and think that these side effects are just in conjunction with the UTI but me, personally, know my body very, very well and these tablets just made me so sick and in my opinion the UTI was easier than taking these. Now that I’m 2 days off these pills I am creeping back to normality. My advice is don’t take them unless you want to risk the side effects."

• AMA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed Trimethoprim three days ago after being taken off nitrofurantoin due to an adverse reaction. I am coping, but the fatigue and nausea are the worst side effects of this drug for me. I have to take these for the next four days and am just hoping they do their job so I can get on with my life. Currently, I feel exhausted, nauseous, have no appetite, and just generally feel grotty. I am loath to go back to the GP complaining, as the last thing I want is yet another antibiotic prescribed with even worse side effects. Hugs to anyone taking UTI antibiotics as they all seem to come with a lovely list of side effects."

• X20...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2023

For Urinary Tract Infection "I am from the UK, and I have taken this drug in the past with no issues. However, this time, trimethoprim 200mg 2x a day for 7 days. As with other people here, I got horrible jittery internal trembling within a couple of hours. Terrible burping and no appetite at all. Horrid tingly sensations all over my body, as well as creeping pains up my back. Also, back pain, stomach ache, dreadful anxiety, insomnia, horrible morbid thoughts, no concentration, lightheadedness, fatigue that bad that even going to the corner shop left me out of breath and sweating. On the last day, I developed an awful feeling of hypersensitivity in my genitals (I'm female), a constant and very unwelcome throbbing, it was all-consuming. Eased off a bit by nighttime, but I couldn't sleep. I also had frequent urges to pee, but I can't seem to 'let go,' and only a thimbleful comes out. Finished the course and praying that this stuff leaves my body soon."

• 123...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "Was prescribed 200 mg twice a day for UTI & possible kidney infection for 5 days. Not even an hour after the 1st pill hit my system, I was throwing up, shaking, agitated, having horrific thoughts, anxiety, couldn't stand, and had such bad fatigue I could hardly lift my head off the pillow. Also had facial bone pain along my jaw and cheekbones. After my 3rd day (today, 4th March 22), my doctor advised to stop & switch to a different antibiotic as I am just not coping on these. I'd rather sit in the bath for hours on end drinking cranberry juice and water to flush out the UTI than ever take these again!"

• Jet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "This antibiotic, trimethoprim, is good for treating UTIs, but gives awful side effects. Had 3 days' worth of these, and although it cleared up the infection, it came with some unwanted feelings. Worse side effects were migraine-type headaches, fatigue, shakes, nausea, and racing heart. Absolutely awful, wouldn’t want to take these again. Thank God it was only 3 days!"

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Took this medication (trimethoprim) for UTI. Never again. Had a burning sensation in my stomach and awful pains. I was trembling and had the worst headache on day two that lasted all day. Nothing would shift it. By day three, I was so fatigued I could barely move. Should have stopped this tablet on day 1."

• Wen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 6, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Had a UTI that turned into a kidney infection. I get chronic UTIs and have become resistant to many antibiotics. Day three of 300 mg, once a day, and my kidney infection cleared. Woo! I was left with a bladder infection still for the rest of the week. I started taking biofilm defense, and the antibiotic started to do its job properly. I’m guessing biofilm is the cause of my chronic UTIs. Feeling heaps better with this combo. Side effect is that I have extreme fatigue when I take this."

• Edw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "I’m on a 3-day course with these tablets for a UTI. Since taking them, I’ve had the worst throbbing headaches. I’m dehydrated and can’t seem to quench my thirst. I’m exhausted (really fatigued). I have a stiff neck and a sore throat. I’ve taken these in the past and never had side effects like this. They have changed somehow."

• Ala...
• December 11, 2020

For Bladder Infection "I wish I had seen these comments before I took Trimethoprim, which was several years ago now. It affected me really quickly too, and within about an hour, I also experienced negative effects from this drug. Never again! High anxiety and random thoughts. Had to keep the light on all night as I was so afraid. Extremely fatigued and depressed too. Senses heightened greatly, and at times had sudden surges of energy doing bizarre things. Thought I was having some sort of breakdown. Took it for a few days and then stopped. It left me feeling awful for several days. Put on another drug which worked well on the infection without such negative side effects."

• Hel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "Got 200 mg to be taken twice daily for a UTI. Night one, I started to vomit and had zero energy with an indescribable migraine, I put it down to the UTI making me poorly. Over the next few days, I started to have my muscles cramp up massively, my arms and legs would not move, and the energy to move them was too much. It also caused unbelievable acid reflux, I could not eat for a week, literally zero appetite. Lost a lot of weight. The last two days, the anxiety, insomnia, and panic attacks set in. This is when I checked on here for reviews and realized I wasn't the only one. It cleared the infection, but boy, what I put down over the week was something else, please find an alternative if you can."

• Dam...
• May 13, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "Was prescribed trimethoprim for a medium-grade UTI that Ural and Hiprex couldn’t quite clear. 1 x 300 mg for 7 days, 1st day I took two tablets. UTI has NOT gone away and seems to be getting worse again. Feeling fatigued and exhausted on this drug too, also off psychologically. This is the 3rd time I’ve taken it, belatedly remember that last time didn’t work too, and I went back to a female doctor who prescribed another round BUT ALSO wrote a penicillin script “in case it still doesn’t clear up,” which all UTI-prone females know does the job. I ended up ditching the trimethoprim and took the penicillin instead, which worked. My opinion as a 37-year-old female: refuse trimethoprim if you’re not allergic to penicillin. It doesn’t seem to be effective in the one 300 mg/day dose against UTIs, and the side effects alone on that amount are crappy. I’d rather a dose of thrush and the UTI efficiently gotten rid of than the side effects of this drug and the damn UTI STILL NOT cleared up."

• Thi...
• November 30, 2020

For Bladder Infection "Bladder infection. Almost an hour later, I had severe dizziness, hot flashes, extreme anxiety, and felt like my blood pressure had dropped drastically. The next 3 days, I had a horrible headache, nausea, the worst fatigue ever, completely no appetite, and severe anxiety. Kidneys were very painful, hard to breathe without exacerbating the pain. On the 4th night, I experienced all that and insomnia/strange random thoughts at night that seemed to have a mind of their own. Day 5, I feel much more like myself but still delicate. I notified my doctor and NHs24 about my symptoms, and they said to keep taking it! Glad I did because I am feeling much better now. Look up 'bacteria die-off symptoms', this may be what we have been experiencing. Harmful endotoxins from the dead bacteria in our systems due to antibiotics. I've read the worse you feel during die-off, the more you needed it. Take a good probiotic at night to ease symptoms."

• Kiw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "I had an uncomplicated UTI and was prescribed a 6-day course of TMP. After the first tablet, I developed intense nausea, chills, and overwhelming fatigue. I have now taken 3 tablets and have not eaten in three days. Even the sight of food makes me sick. I pretty much lay on my electric blanket with alternating chills and sweating. I am terminating usage and will never accept this drug again. I think that it did knock out the UTI."

• Tom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2023

For Urinary Tract Infection "I started a 7-day course, and by day four, I felt absolutely awful. The side effects of this antibiotic are horrendous. I literally felt worse due to the side effects than having a UTI. The most awful feeling of nausea, one of the worst headaches I’ve ever experienced, overwhelmed by tiredness and fatigue, tummy aches and pains, muscle aches and pains, and just a general feeling of feeling unwell. I can’t wait to get back to some normality again."

• chr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 22, 2025

For Urinary Tract Infection "I've been on Trimethoprim since May 2024, twice a day, as well as Lymecycline. Only recently I've noticed hot flushes alternating with shivers. I'm not sure whether it's the Lymecycline, Trimethoprim, or chronic embedded UTI I've had since 2022. I got a UTI in 2013, became embedded, and was on long-term antibiotics till 2021. I then got better, and it came back in 2022. I really struggle to find a way out of this after I asked my private urologist if it'll ever fully go away, and the answer was 'we do not know.' I don't know if the symptoms I've got are from the Trimethoprim, but I've noticed when I'm on it, losing weight, chronic fatigue, headaches, dry mouth, body aches, and feeling like you have the flu constantly. I've got a lot of antibiotic resistance due, but I'd rather deal with this for the rest of my life rather than get sepsis again after having severe sepsis in 2016. It is either making the infection lay dormant or treating the infection. Time will tell."

• Cri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Had these prescribed by my GP here in the UK. This drug certainly cleared the UTI up quickly but had the following side effects: - Sweats and feeling hot, then cold, sore throat, and extreme fatigue."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2022

For Bladder Infection "After 1 dose. Itching all over legs, feeling nauseous, sleepy all day, extreme fatigue and headache, pain in abdomen. Didn’t take the 2nd dose. Tell me another easy way to get rid of the infection."

• M O...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 17, 2021

For Bladder Infection "I am 76 years old and understood that I should not have a 7-day dose. I’ve had uncontrollable shaking, nausea, and fatigue."

• Cee...
• May 27, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "Took one 300 mg tablet for 7 days for suspected UTI. Only side effect I had was extreme fatigue and slight nausea, but other than that, it was tolerable and cleared the infection."