Trimethoprim and Tremors: What Users Say

• Eni...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "GP put me on Trimethoprim 300 twice daily for UTI caused by enlarged prostate and a huge bladder stone. Had the first dose on the day one. Day two took the second dose, symptoms seemed to be elevating. By the third dose, I started to feel strange in my thoughts. I knew something wasn't right but didn't think of the antibiotic. Started getting dizzy like car sickness, trembling everywhere in my body, then suddenly threw up. It caused many physical symptoms as well as anxiety, depression, disassociation, and suicidal thoughts. Long story short, attempted suicide, police were called, and I've been admitted to the hospital three times for physical and mental assessment. Please accept my best wishes if you have used this medicine with adverse effects. I wish you a speedy recovery."

• 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."

• Jud...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "Was prescribed 2 tablets per day over 3 days... let's just say I would rather have put up with the UTI. These tablets need banning. I'm currently on my third day in bed with the worst migraine, body shakes, itchy skin, loose bowel movement, and intense thirst. At night, my mind is racing with thoughts (like a slideshow flicking at speed). I would never take these tablets 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."

• Sab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "I'm looking on here in the hopes I hear of others' experience with almost a numbness in my right hand... (weird trying to text, etc.) I don't know how to describe it - like it's a bit asleep and shakes if I try to use the fingers individually. If I put both hands on the table flat and raise each finger, the left hand is steady, but the right hand fingers are shaking. I am on meds 3 days now. I am not going to take them today. I have only noticed this side effect since yesterday and am hoping it's the medication, trying not to go to a dark place that it could be a bigger issue."

• 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."

• 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!"

• Aan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "I'm on day 3 of this medication, and before reading these reviews, I have had a migraine that won't go away, shaky hands, trembling, paranoia, dry mouth, nausea, and the itchiest skin. These are all of the symptoms I've read of people that have taken this, it's actually scary, worth reading up before you take something new."

• Aan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "I'm on day 3 of this medication, and before reading these reviews, I have had a migraine that won't go away, shaky hands, trembling, paranoia, dry mouth, nausea, and the itchiest skin. These are all of the symptoms I've read of people that have taken this, it's actually scary, worth reading up before you take something new."

• Den...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "My GP gave me 3 tablets of Trimethoprim Mylan. I wish I had never taken them, the side effects are not worth it! The headache was so bad it just didn’t go away, unable to do anything, constant nausea, chills, and shaking. I cannot believe they can market this drug without extreme warnings. There was no pamphlet inside to notify of side effects. I am deeply upset about this, and I won’t ever touch it again. I am not exaggerating. Thank you."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Kri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2023

For Urinary Tract Infection "Since taking this drug, I've been having the worst anxiety and insomnia in my life. Had to start sleeping pills, that's how bad my insomnia became. Body shakes, numb limbs, panic attacks, and of course, diarrhea. Be careful taking this!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "Prescribed a 7-day course of 300 mg twice a day. Felt OK on day 1 and 2, but day 3 was bad. Woke up jittery and shaky, bloated stomach, and no appetite. Took the morning tablet, and two hours later, I was having a panic attack, shaking with chills—nausea and bloating continued, as well as the jittery and shaky feelings. My neck is stiff and uncomfortable also. It's now the evening on day 3, and I'm still shaky and have no appetite. I do take antidepressants and feel this has definitely not helped with my anxiety. I can't take many antibiotics either, as I am sensitive, this is clearly another one to add to the list."

• Chu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "Prescribed a three-day course (one twice a day) for UTI over the phone. First day gave me a raging headache and dizziness. The second day (Xmas Eve) I felt nauseous all day. Decided to take my second dose with food. An hour later I started vomiting and violently shaking. This lasted a few hours when it seemed to subside (I'm 2 weeks post-COVID, so it's easy to blame COVID for everything, but this felt different). Xmas Day morning, the vomiting returned, along with the violent shaking - no fever. Also, my mind was full of paranoid thoughts. I have never been so scared in my life. Rang 111, the doctor said it was a reaction to the trimethoprim and to stop taking them (I had). Prescribed anti-sickness tablets and advised to call back if symptoms worsened. Thankfully, by Boxing Day I had recovered. I just can't believe these side effects aren't made common knowledge."

• 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!"

• Ton...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2024

For Urinary Tract Infection "Started taking trimethoprim 300 mg for UTI. Two hours after taking it, I felt like I was shaking inside. Went to bed as I thought I’d just sleep it off, slept for a whole hour, then couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night. The insomnia was horrible. Also, woke up with my heart racing. I’m not even going to risk taking a second tablet. Never again for me."

• nkw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2023

"I took the first dose and started to feel anxious, but continued taking it, and by the second day, I had the worst anxiety attack ever. Obsessive thoughts were nonstop, racing in my head. I was unable to sleep. Chills, shaking, thirst that never went away, and the worst symptom by far was the anxiety. I really would not recommend it unless it is the only choice. I had to switch antibiotics because of the side effects. Luckily, I didn't take a lot of the medicine because it was intense for the one day I took it."

• Den...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 15, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "Have been suffering from UTIs continually for 6 years. Going from Keflex to Alprim. The infection always comes back. Had Alprim before, but this time on day 1, huge headache. Day 2, extremely thirsty, have the shakes, trembling hands, and nausea. I really don't want to finish these but will take 3 all up and go back to the doctor."

• Den...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 15, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "Have been suffering from UTIs continually for 6 years. Going from Keflex to Alprim. The infection always comes back. Had Alprim before, but this time on day 1, huge headache. Day 2, extremely thirsty, have the shakes, trembling hands, and nausea. I really don't want to finish these but will take 3 all up and go back to the doctor."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "Dreadful! These were so bad for my kidneys and bladder. Couldn’t urinate, weakness, dripping with sweat, couldn’t think or speak, trembling, and breathless. I felt like I’d been thumped in the kidneys. I believe this is due to the fact that they increase potassium levels!"

• Tal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was put on Trimethoprim 200 mg tablets twice a day. After the 1st day, I did get a racing heart, but that stopped after the 2nd day. After that, I experienced feeling really, really low, depressed, not wanting to leave the house, and when I did, I felt very shaky and nervous. I have never felt like this before in my life, and I have never experienced this after taking any other antibiotic. I told the pharmacist about the symptoms/side effects, and she told me to notify my doctor/GP, which I did, and she said that when I complete the course (I was on day 6 of a 7-day course), after a few days, I should feel better. She said she won't prescribe this particular antibiotic to me in the future."