Trimethoprim and Pain: What Users Say

• MAR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "Got prescribed a 7-day course of Trimethoprim 200mg twice daily after symptoms returned after a course of Nitrofurantoin. Started it in the evening after a meal and immediately felt very tired (figured it could be a UTI). Continued with the course till day 3, getting progressively more tired, could not stay awake. Felt very weak and shaky and had a stiff neck. Had nausea but continued to eat. When I was awake, I had a sense of anxiety, clenching fists, raised shoulders up to the neck, palpitations, clenched jaw. Not usually something I struggle with. General feeling of being very unwell. Strange sharp aches and pains randomly on my body, abdomen, back, inner thighs, etc. Very thirsty as well, waking to drink but not to pee. Decided to stop the antibiotic and felt better the next day, 24 hours after the last med was taken. Would never touch this again."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was on trimethoprim for 7 days, taking 1 pill twice a day. From about day 2-3, I was getting nauseous and headaches and felt very ill. I could not go to the toilet, and by the morning of day 4, I felt extremely weak and nauseous. However, I was able to go to the toilet from day 4, but I had the shakes and was weak. Each night after my second tablet, around 6 pm, I got pain and spasms where my kidney is. Not sure if this is working."

• Ker...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2023

For Urinary Tract Infection "OMG, I have never experienced an antibiotic so awful in my life than trimethoprim 200 mg twice a day for seven days. Pains, anxiety, migraine, shortness of breath, and tearful. Hot flashes. I nearly fainted, I felt so ill. Stopped them Sunday and hoping I feel myself again soon."

• Ian...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2022

For Prevention of Bladder infection "I have recently come out of day surgery. The plan was to remove a kidney stone that was in my bladder and laser a stone in my right kidney. Also, I had a stent fitted. I was in surgery far longer than planned. They couldn't find the stone... I have just spent the most horrific 24 hours of my life. Huge pain, blood pouring out when I pee, which is so painful, I feel as though I am dying. To top it all, I am given this drug, trimethoprim. I have never felt so ill, depressed, sick, and suicidal. I would ask your GP or consultant to prescribe some other medication for your condition. In my opinion, simply not worth the risk of going through this! I cannot imagine the suffering that scientific 'us' put fellow primates through when developing this monster of a drug. No doubt this post will get 1/10 as being 'unhelpful,' but if every negative drug experience is down-voted, then we are surely missing the point."

• sof...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2019

For Prevention of Bladder infection "I’ve suffered from UTIs and chronic cystitis for about 8 years, and finally, I’ve been taken seriously and been given ultrasounds and put on a 3-month course of trimethoprim as a preventative measure to take 200 mg at night. 4 days in, I became really constipated and got bad headaches. 6 days in, I began waking up early in the morning vomiting, and subsequently felt nauseous the whole day and could barely stomach even the tiniest amount of food. Convinced myself I may be pregnant, 2 negative tests later, and after choosing to stop the medication after calling my GP, and now I'm 100% fine again, no nausea, headaches, or anything. Probably important to note I also got really bad aches and pains in my whole body too. Now been switched on to 50 mg of Nitrofurantoin at bedtime instead, so fingers crossed!"

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2023

For Bladder Infection "As I sit here with a UTI and wait to phone the GP in the morning for antibiotics, I suddenly remembered how ill I became on trimethoprim two years ago. Reading these comments, I didn't realize how many people have had bad experiences with this drug. The first thing I'll say to the doctor is, 'Don't ever give me trimethoprim again, EVER!' On day 3, I had to have an out-of-hours doctor come to visit me. I was so unwell. I was involuntarily violently shaking, I had pain throughout my whole body, the worst pain in my head, and felt like I had the flu. It was the tremors and shaking that were terrifying. The doctor told me to stop taking them immediately, and thankfully, after three days, I started to slowly improve. Never again! I'm not sure what my other options are for a UTI, as there's another antibiotic that I'm allergic to."

• Fem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "This antibiotic has left me really unwell. I was prescribed 200 mg 2x daily for 3 days. I only took 3 tablets (1 a day). Firstly, felt like my kidneys had been battered, followed by severe stomach pain, extreme shivers and anxiety, also bad insomnia! Getting sharp shooting pains (like an electric shock all through my body)! Bad muscle aches as well. Warning! If you suffer mental illness, please avoid, as these pills really heighten everything. No more for me, it is an awful drug. Not forgetting headaches, facial pain, and horrendous nausea. I feel for all the patients experiencing these unwanted side effects. It's been 1 and a 1/2 days since stopping them, praying this will all pass real soon. In my opinion, they should be taken off the market pronto. Hope doctors realize what toxicity they cause. I never will take these again, not worth the suffering."

• Fem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "This antibiotic has left me really unwell. I was prescribed 200 mg 2x daily for 3 days. I only took 3 tablets (1 a day). Firstly, felt like my kidneys had been battered, followed by severe stomach pain, extreme shivers and anxiety, also bad insomnia! Getting sharp shooting pains (like an electric shock all through my body)! Bad muscle aches as well. Warning! If you suffer mental illness, please avoid, as these pills really heighten everything. No more for me, it is an awful drug. Not forgetting headaches, facial pain, and horrendous nausea. I feel for all the patients experiencing these unwanted side effects. It's been 1 and a 1/2 days since stopping them, praying this will all pass real soon. In my opinion, they should be taken off the market pronto. Hope doctors realize what toxicity they cause. I never will take these again, not worth the suffering."

• Jod...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "Prescribed 1 Trimethoprim at night for a long-term UTI, and all it has done is made the UTI symptoms worse. I'm fine in the day, but at night, I can't sleep because of the burning/tingling sensation in my girly bits. The pain is indescribable. I'm seeing my GP today, so I'll get them changed. Worst antibiotic I've ever had."

• JB6...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "Cleared up the UTI, but 5 weeks after taking the final tablet, I'm still having side effects. First noticed that I had a sore throat and stiff neck after taking tablets for 5 days (was given a seven-day course) but did not make the connection with taking antibiotics. Continued to take medication. I then developed a sensitive scalp, neck pain got worse, and on-and-off headaches plus shoulder and back pain. Felt awful. I was on holiday at the time, and it seemed to ease after about a week. Reported to my GP on returning to the UK. Now, 5 weeks later, on holiday again, neck pain, sore skin, and head pains are all back. Hope this helps others. Not sure if I should seek medical attention or just hope problems go away with time."

• FRE...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was given ALPRIM for a bladder infection. I was told to take it in the evening with food. The first night I nearly went mad, I had nausea, itching, headache, pain in my lower legs and feet. Then on day 2, a severe rash appeared, and my feet both swelled. They were also red raw, I thought I must have had gout. Day 3, I took another tablet, and the rash spread on both legs. The pain was unbearable, moods were hard to live with. I have had infected cellulitis, and that was painful, but nothing like this. So on day 4, the lower legs all blistered, and I was in shocking pain. So that was the end of ALPRIM-never again. It is 3 weeks later, and the legs are slowly coming back to normal, still very red. So please be aware of this medication, and if you notice any changes in yourself, stop it. I will never take it again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "Took this antibiotic for 4 days once a day. It got rid of the UTI, but within a week of finishing, I broke out in a rash on my legs and arms and in my hair that I thought was eczema. Plus, I got a spasm and pain in my left kidney area and low back, so I thought the infection had not been cleared, so I went back to the doctor and he prescribed it again. I took one tablet and broke out in a worse rash all over my body. It’s everywhere. Hot, ugly, and I can’t stop scratching. It’s driving me crazy. How am I going to get rid of it? Another drug? Worst drug I’ve ever taken. Never again."

• CAH...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed a course of 3 Alprim tablets for a UTI and immediately noticed a few ulcers in my mouth half an hour after the first pill. I thought it was just the antibiotic making my immune system low, and the next day I had my next tablet. That’s when I started feeling much sicker and my mouth blisters much worse. I also experienced numbness in my left hand. I decided not to finish the course and so wish I had stuck to my resolve, but family said I should finish the course or the UTI would come back. About 15 minutes after the 3rd pill, my mouth was on fire. My tongue, lips, and gums all erupted into ulcers, and I couldn’t eat, drink, or sleep for the pain. My blood pressure is through the roof and I have terrible headaches. The doctor said I must have an allergy. My hand is still numb too. Never again."

• Kat...
• May 16, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "This review is partly in response to the last review from Stardust: I just wanted to tell you, what you described with your experience I had the EXACT same reaction, so you are not alone at all. I was on 300 mg 1 x day for a UTI, and it completely wiped me out, I was exhausted from day one. I had pounding, throbbing headaches that were unbearable and dizziness, especially getting up or bending over. As I continued taking it, it just got worse. Day 3, I started getting awful abdominal cramps and pains in my lower back, stomach, and legs, diarrhea, vomiting, and terrible nausea. My heart began to palpitate so bad I couldn’t sleep, and my whole body vibrated, and I could feel my heart beating through my body, it seemed. I got hot flushes followed by chills. It is honestly the worst antibiotic I have ever had and would rather put up with the burning when peeing of UTI than suffer these horrible, sickly side effects. Ask for Augmentin or amoxicillin, don’t take trimethoprim! Heed my warning!"

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 1, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was placed on it for an embedded UTI, it does get rid of my pain, but the side effects aren't worth it. I was fine the first month, then, the second month, things went downhill suddenly. When I'd have a BM, my heart rate would drop to 40 bpm, and I'd almost pass out. Then, for the next 24 hours, I'd feel miserable, vomit endlessly, and would question going to the ER or psych hospital because my anxiety was so bad and intrusive thoughts-absolutely terrifying. This happened to me four times, and I decided to stop the antibiotic. It's been almost a week since stopping, still have occasional all-over body tremors/shakes, nausea is hanging on, stomach is up and down, but no BP crashes, which is great. I just hope to feel better soon."

• bja...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "Caused serious necrotic reaction in genital area. After only 2 tablets, I started to feel intense tingling on my feet and thought it was chilblains. I took one further tablet but called the emergency doctor following that as the pain on going to urinate (often since I had cystitis) was so severe. Continued pain for 7 days, and I had to get penicillin and numbing ointment. I think I was lucky not to get a more serious infection, but it was like a 2nd degree burn. Now about to take anti-malarial, and they have the same rate side effect, and I am extremely nervous."

• j h...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 22, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "Caused me severe toothache and jaw ache."