Trimethoprim and Rash: What Users Say

• Chr...
• October 21, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "First 7 days of taking Trimethoprim made me feel ill, nauseous, vomiting, shaking, sweats, and headache. Felt better once the course ended, but 2 weeks later, UTI back. Further 7 days prescribed, this time raging temperature, vomiting, mouth sore, throat sore, runny nose, and breathless shaking, clammy skin, and rash. Urine test showed clear of UTI. Told by GP to immediately stop taking Trimethoprim. 24 hours later, still feeling ill with intermittent above side effects, wondering how long it will take to leave my system."

• Nev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "UTI ... so I was given trimethoprim, two a day, seven days. Things seemed fine until the 7th day. A rash broke out all over my body. Felt like I had a fever, though I had a normal temperature. But when I tried to sleep ....! Sweating, constant shifting position, none of which were comfortable for more than 10 seconds. My mind seemed to be racing away on its own, and I had no idea why I was running over and over in my head all this stuff that was absolutely nothing to do with me. But every time I even tried to nap or doze, away went my mind at breakneck speed on weird subjects. For two nights, I simply did not sleep at all, had to sit on the sofa just waiting for morning. It was very scary. Never again would I take this."

• Flo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "Had trimethoprim for a UTI, one a day. The first night, I had the most horrible acid reflux all night, woke up the next morning with the sorest throat in the world and about 2 hours of sleep. Then, after night 2, I experienced a massive headache where I couldn't put my headset on to work, and I felt so tired. By night 3, I was a bit itchy on my arms, and a rash developed, but the UTI had gone by then, so I stopped treatment. If a doctor recommends alprim again, I'm going to say no."

• Bay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2019

For Bladder Infection "Took this antibiotic many times and never put two and two together that the bad tummy and headache, sore throat was the tablets. The last time I took them, I had salmon pink skin, rash, swollen eyes and lips, and diarrhea. Was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. Would suspect if I took again it would be anaphylaxis. Steering well clear of this awful drug."

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 24, 2018

"I was prescribed 300 ng of trimethoprim 6 weeks ago for acne by a dermatologist who told me I should go on Accutane for 6 months and that will cure it, but she wanted me to go to all these check-ups first (family planning, psychiatrists, and come back to her every month, all expenses paid cash as I have no insurance, so I couldn't afford it. She gave me trimethoprim for 4 months probably just to get rid of me. This is the typical medical care in Ireland. 10 days into the treatment, I got a rash. At the time, I thought it was an allergic reaction from a burger, it went after a few days. Then I got major depression and anxiety. It became so bad that I couldn’t sleep, I was wide awake for over a week. Recently, I noticed my hair is thinning. It's falling out a lot, and I put 2 and 2 together and I stopped taking this drug. I wish I had realized sooner."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "I had a UTI and was prescribed Alprim (trimethoprim), 300 mg one at night. On the third day, I developed a severe rash on both lower legs and feet. I have taken it for 5 days, and I am not taking the last two. I have taken photos to show my doctor, definitely seems like an allergic reaction of some type."

• 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."

• Nan...
• August 9, 2015

For Bladder Infection "I took the 200 mg strength and was given 16 tablets. On the morning in which I took the very last dose, I came out in the most horrendous rash I have ever experienced and have been told I must never take that drug again. The rash, over a period of about 3 hours, spread over my entire body, including my face. I was hot and itchy beyond belief. My doctor was absolutely shocked, as she said that any reaction usually appears after taking just a few tablets. I'm in the U.K., so some questions are not relevant to me."

• Mam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Taken for a UTI. I started having headaches with them and itching. Then, after a few days, I was covered in a rash, and my face had swollen up. I found it difficult to swallow. I had hives all inside my mouth. I had an allergic reaction to the tablet."

• Mam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Taken for a UTI. I started having headaches with them and itching. Then, after a few days, I was covered in a rash, and my face had swollen up. I found it difficult to swallow. I had hives all inside my mouth. I had an allergic reaction to the tablet."

• 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."

• Boa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "I have just finished a week's course of trimethoprim for cystitis. It cleared symptoms within a few days, which was great, but they made me feel unwell in myself. I felt nauseous all week and also felt achy and lethargic, as if I were coming down with another illness. Once I finished the course, the nausea stopped, but a day later I woke up to find an itchy rash all over my upper legs-basically an allergic reaction. These antibiotics certainly cleared the infection quickly, but I obviously don't tolerate them very well. However, I was on them for a week, and I think that they can be prescribed for shorter lengths of time."

• Sud...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was hospitalized on day 6 of a course of trimethoprim (Triprim) with a full body rash which then turned into hives, prescribed prednisone which caused my blood sugars to rise considerably being a type 1 diabetic. I spent a day in the hospital, was to go home that night until a GP noticed that I was at risk of renal failure. That night I stayed in the hospital and all of the next day. Previously, years ago, I had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic Bactrim and was told I was allergic to sulfur. The GP knew this when prescribing trimethoprim and I have been assured that trimethoprim does not contain sulfur. In my lay opinion, after the trauma I have been through, I believe that the T.G.A. (who we are all supposed to trust) should take this drug 'off the market' so that other human beings will not have to experience the horrors inflicted upon us. It didn't help, it didn't work, caused immeasurable damage, the dosage was 300 mg once per day for 7 days."

• Moo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "Started trimethoprim course for UTI. 4 hours later, wanting to rip my skin off, the itching, unbearable, kept me awake all night. 2nd night, same thing, been awake, scratching the hives. My skin is sore, red, and angry. Allergic reaction? I am not too happy myself. But just want to get rid of the UTI."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "Prescribed trimethoprim for UTI one a day for 2 weeks. It has set off my migraines, and I had to stay in bed for 2 days. I can’t eat, feel like I’ve been punched in the stomach, nausea 24/7, rash all over body, plus itching. Worst experience of antibiotic ever !!"

• Sar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 3, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed 100 mg of trimethoprim before bed for 6 months in hopes that it would help with my recurrent UTIs. It took a single dose to realize that this type of antibiotic wasn’t for me. I broke out in hives with a swollen face the next morning. I had never had an allergic reaction to drugs before. My arms and legs are extremely itchy. The only plus side is that despite having a sensitive stomach, it didn’t make me nauseous, nor did it give me bad stomach cramps."

• Tor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "I'm allergic to amoxicillin, so my GP prescribed this medication. I had nausea and a mild reaction for 3 days. I took the 4th tablet tonight. My face has swollen, rash on my hand, tummy tightness, severe nausea, and a terrible headache. I am flying overseas tomorrow, I need rest tonight."

• Jsy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2012

For Bladder Infection "It cleared my cystitis, but I got a rash after 4 days, so stopped it."