Trimethoprim and Tiredness: 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."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed a 5-day course of 300mg trimethoprim for UTI treatment when I walked in at Emergencies (there was blood and total incontinence). I have had the worst days ever: insomnia, massive throbbing headaches, my hands are shaking, and bloating on the face and legs. I feel so tired, depressed, and I've been having obsessive-catastrophic thoughts. Is it just me? The blister contains 7 pills, unsure whether to finish or stop at 5, as I don't want the UTI back."

• Cre...
• June 17, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "I have just completed 7 days of trimethoprim. I do suffer from some anxiety, but when I took these, my anxiety was really, really awful, and I feel really low. This is my second time having a UTI in six months. But now I am scared of getting a UTI back because of the tablet. They tried one before trimethoprim, but that made me feel very sick. I was exhausted, couldn’t concentrate, just so, so anxious. I really don't like antibiotics, and I know they save lives, but I always have a reaction mentally when I need them."

• KGa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 9, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "I've taken Alprim previously in a small course, but was put on a 7-day course, and it has taken the life out of me. I don't want to eat, the thought of it makes my stomach turn. I feel like vomiting every second, tired, sweating, anxiety."

• 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."

• Blu...
• October 9, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "I took a three-day course. From day 2, a bad headache, weariness, and aching. Had to sleep on day 3. After stopping, was ill for 2 days with exhaustion, terrible headaches, toothaches, and pain throughout my body. I will never take this dangerous drug again."

• Lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2019

For Bladder Infection "Cystitis infection and prescribed these trimethoprim tablets. Took the full course and feel totally exhausted, difficulty sleeping, anxious. Infection still hasn't totally cleared up! Will NEVER take these pills again. SHOCKING."

• 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."

• Mol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Trimethoprim worked fine 2 months ago but got another UTI and was given 3 days of treatment while waiting for hospital culture to be done. Trimethoprim makes me very, very tired and bad depression and just no appetite. Only one more day to go, so hopefully my appetite will pick up when dose is over."

• Reb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2023

For Bladder Infection "I was prescribed this drug for a bladder infection. Within an hour of taking it, I had one of the worst headaches I've had since my last migraine. It was the intensity of a migraine, I tried paracetamol and ibuprofen, but nothing touched it. I've got horrible anxiety, I feel shaky, and my stomach feels truly awful. I feel sick and have no appetite. I also feel exhausted, I didn't sleep well last night due to racing thoughts. Much of what others have described has been my experience. I'm currently waiting for a call from my GP surgery for a different antibiotic. Take the advice on here: don't take it, it's a truly awful drug. It should be taken off the market!"

• Lad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "Was given a 3-day course of trimethoprim 200 mg twice a day. By day three, although UTI pain had gone, I started to feel so ill. Lethargic, achy, itchy, and nauseous, and by day five, I felt so nauseous I struggled to eat much at all. Now, nearly a month later, I still feel rough, have a very uncomfortable stomach and bowel, and feel constantly nauseous, just generally unwell. I think this antibiotic has played havoc with my system, and it is going to take a while for my body to fully recover. I won’t be having it again, I will ask for something different."

• Bus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 24, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed a 3-day course of Alprim, one per night for a urinary tract infection. After taking the first tablet, a red blotchy rash appeared on my lower legs, extremely itchy. The next day, I noticed blisters had appeared in the rash. I also was extremely tired and had a burning feeling in my stomach, but as I only had one tablet to go to finish the course, I continued to take it, as I did not want the urinary tract infection to return. Two days after completing the course, the blistered rash is still with me, although the itching has ceased. The UTI has gone, but I will never take this again as I have really suffered, this must be an allergic reaction."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2023

For Urinary Tract Infection "Was prescribed a 7-day course (think curse would be a better word) for a suspected UTI. Day 3 started feeling a bit weird/off-kilter. Very anxious, tired, loss of appetite, bloating, chronic abdomen pain, but persevered as instructed by GP. Day 5, in bits!! Not sleeping, aching, anxiety borderline manic. By day 6, I honestly thought I was dying and was about to go to A&E. Finished the course but will NEVER use it again. Stay away from it, ask your GP for an alternative."

• 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."

• 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!"

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "Day 1, an hour after taking this, felt so tired, couldn’t move off the sofa. Carried on taking them twice a day, then the 2nd day, very fast heart rate even when resting, & started to get very shaky in my hands and just felt overwhelmed with anxiety and felt shaky inside. Managed 3 days of these and had to stop, had really bad insomnia last night before I took one, heart racing, anxious, this morning I feel totally out of it. Will never take these ever again!"

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "The worst ever. I was given a 3-day course of trimethoprim for a UTI. I already suffer from severe anxiety disorder and have a hiatus hernia. Also, getting over the 2nd dose of COVID. Took the 1st tablet yesterday and felt like my throat had swollen. It eventually settled. Took the 2nd pill at bedtime, then kept waking and feeling weird and having visions or dreams. Today, I haven't taken any more and feel terrible, like I've got a fever, bad anxiety, been crying, and shaking. I hope it comes out of my system soon. For sure, it should be given to anyone knowing my luck, the UTI will still be lingering because I didn't take the full course, but screw that. Can't deal with this overwhelming clammy heat in my body, no energy, and also no appetite."

• jjj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "Had UTI symptoms and asked GP for a lab test to confirm UTI. GP prescribed Alprim medicine without waiting for the result, saying this medicine is specifically for UTI and better than my previous amoxicillin that worked well for me. 1st day, I felt fine but felt lethargic late afternoon. 2nd day I felt a bit better, so I thought the medicine was working. 3rd day, after an hour of taking it, I had a horrible headache and painful stiff neck! Half my face was numb, and I can feel thumping at the back of my eyes! Checked my BP, and it was so high, 165/105. I thought I had a mini-stroke. Rushed to ER, CT was all normal, and BP went down after they gave me painkillers. I had a gut feeling it was the antibiotics! Took the 4th tablet, and an hour later, I had a throbbing leg. 2 hours later, chills and hot flashes and headache again. Next day, I went straight to GP and asked to be taken off Alprim! Never again! Lab result showed no UTI!!!! Having gone through this, I would prefer UTI!"

• Fox...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2021

For Bladder Infection "Desperate have read comments which leads me to believe trimethoprim might be making me feel so dreadful. I have prostatitis and have just done my 3rd week on this drug, having been on ciprofloxacin for 10 days prior to the trimethoprim (changed due to possible tendon problems taking ciprofloxacin). I became constipated within 2 days, tried to tough it out with a combination of laxatives, but just feel dragged down, very anxious, morbid thoughts, no energy, and now shaky and worried about the persistent pain. I hope this is the cause of my problems others have intimated, so that if I stop it, these problems will go away."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "This was the only drug that I could take that was sensitive to the Klebsiella infection. I tried to take it many years ago and had side effects, so I was reluctant to try it again. I managed 7 days with nausea and tiredness. I finished them 2 days ago, feeling pleased with myself for persevering, and last night started with cramps in my stomach and diarrhea. I'm hoping it stops, or it will be another visit to the doctor."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "Felt very, very tired and lethargic, and also a bit depressed with no energy or motivation. Cleared up infection in 3 days, and my skin rosacea even cleared up."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "Felt very, very tired and lethargic, and also a bit depressed with no energy or motivation. Cleared up infection in 3 days, and my skin rosacea even cleared up."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "Felt very, very tired and lethargic, and also a bit depressed with no energy or motivation. Cleared up infection in 3 days, and my skin rosacea even cleared up."