|
|
BACTRIM:
4 December 2007 In
February 2007 my 6 year old son
took Bactrim for an ear
infection. When I told the ENT
doctor that I was allergic to
Sulfa and was worried my son
would be, he said that he
probably wouldn't and most people
don't experience a reaction to it
unless they take it more than the
10 days prescribed. On day nine I
noticed a small rash on his neck
and then upon further
investigation noticed it on his
trunk. Called my pediatrician
(not the ENT) - the nurse said to
keep taking the medicine (which I
did NOT give to him again) and
try Benedryl and if it gets worse
call back. The next morning he
was covered in red splotches- his
face was covered and his trunk
(see attached photo).
|
I
took him in and the doctor said it was
the worst case she'd seen. She had to
give him a weeks course of steroids to
clear it up.
My
reaction was in adulthood before I had my
son and overnight I developed a swollen
throat and dramatically swollen lips and
an instant vaginal yeast infection. After
reading on this site back in February and
recently hearing of a horrible case in my
hometown I will NEVER let anyone in my
family take this drug. Doctors should be
made to warn people of the allergic side
effects to this before prescribing it
since it has happened to this many
people. Thanks for your site!
Sherry,
Atlanta, GA
BACTRIM:
6 December 2007
Hi,
I
was recently prescribed Bactrim because I
had contracted MRSA, methicillin
resistant staphylococcus aureus. I began
taking it on November 25, 2007. Within a
day, my staph infection had markedly
improved. I was happy that the drug was
working. I did, however, notice some side
effects which I attributed to stress. I
was having hot and cold flashes and
becoming dizzy and lightheaded. By the
end of the week, I noticed that my upper
body had begun to swell and my face was
very puffy. I was in the midst of
preparing for my daughter s wedding,
which took place on December 1st.
By
November 30th, my face was flushed and I
had a rash developing. I began having
strange muscular twitches and jerking. I
wrote this off to stress as well. The day
of the wedding my upper body was so
bloated, it felt like I was trying to fit
Dolly Parton s breasts into my bra. The
straps were cutting into my shoulders, I
was miserable and wondering what on earth
was going on. I had a couple experiences
that were similar to panic attacks that
day as if my body was panicking, without
my mind being involved. The day after the
wedding, December 2, I was worse. I could
not sleep and kept feeling cold. That
night, I began to itch. Pictures from the
wedding show that my face was so red and
puffy, I didn t even resemble myself.
December
3rd I awoke covered in hives. I went to
the emergency room and was given Benadryl
and Prednisone. After a few hours I was
sent home. The next day, December 4, I
was back the hives had intensified, were
extremely red and angry and covered me
from head to toe with my lips and face
frighteningly bloated and swollen. I was
immediately hooked up to an IV and given
Medrol, Tagamet and more Benadryl. I was
a nervous wreck when I arrived with blood
pressure of 141/99, before I was hooked
up to any meds my blood pressure suddenly
plummeted to 102/60. At that point was
when they added the Tagamet to the IV.
Nothing
they gave me would stop the itching. I
cannot take Vistaril, so there were no
other options. After five hours and blood
pressure stabilized, I was sent home. I
was told it could take any where from 2
days to 2 weeks for my body to stop
reacting to the Bactrim.
Today
is the 4th day on steroids and
antihistamines. I am a little less puffy
and the itching is gone. I have no
appetite and still feel very odd.
Glynis
P.
SULFAMETHOXAZOLE/TMP
DS: 11 December 2007
Brian,
I am
a 41 year old, HIV+ but otherwise healthy
male who recently sought ER treatment for
a rather large, rapidly developing
abscess on my left buttocks. The abscess
was incised and drained and I was
prescribed
sulfamethoxazole/tmp
ds at a dose of 1 tablet twice a day for
10 days. When I returned to the ER for
wound follow-up and packing/dressing
changing, I was informed that the culture
taken during my initial visit to the ER
came back positive for CA-MRSA sensitive
</= 10. I was instructed to continue
my sulfamethoxazole/tmp ds and was also
told I could remove the packing in two
days. I am now in my 5th day of the
antimicrobial regimen of
sulfamethoxazole/tmp ds and the infection
is responding well with little
evidence
of puss in the drainage and a shrinking
are of cellulitis around the abscess. I
have had no noticeable side-effects from
the sulfamethoxazole/tmp ds and I thought
it was important to share my positive
experience with the medication. Now you
may choose not to include this email with
the many complaints you receive as it
does not readily support a sense of
sensationalism that is apparent in the
emails you do list. I think if you do not
reflect an accurate accounting of the
many people who benefit from treatment
with sulfamethoxazole/tmp ds without any
negative side-effects would be
irresponsible journalism, though to
report both the negative and positive
stories might not sell as many newspapers
or attract the same number of Web hits to
your Website.
Regards,
John
D, Bronx, NY
BACTRIM:
12 December 2007
I
was recently given Bactrim for Sinusitis
on 12/05/07, which is when I began taking
Bactrim, 2X's per day for 10 days. Well I
stopped taking it yesterday morning
because two days into taking this
medicine, all of my viral/sinus symptoms
were more than exacerbated: they were 10
fold and then some. I began having body
aches on Friday 11/7 through Tuesday
11/11. I still have some body ackes today
but much less.
My
sinusitis turned into: constant frontal
sinus pain; extreme post nasal drip;
congestion; tiredness; extreme stomach
pain; constant sneezing; some blurred
vision; nausea; middle and lower back
aches; and extreme sharp shooting pain on
the top left side of my head, which have
just subsided today.
For
the next couple of weeks I will be eating
mostly soups, detoxing teas and avoiding
dairy and wheat/gluten to cleanse my body
entirely. I feel so toxic right now.
The
week before they gave me the Bactrim, I
was taking the Z-Pack and that did help
but it left muscous blockage in my front
sinus causing extreme pressure in my
head, to the point of interefering with
driving.
THANKS
SO MUCH FOR THIS WEBSITE.
Sherry
P.
BACTRIM:
3 January 2008
Hi
Brian:
I
took one double dose of Bactrim in late
September 2007 and still experience
shortness of breath, insomnia, chest pain
and angina over 3 months later. I was
prescribed Bactrim by a doc in the box
(an express clinic doctor) for a minor
skin infection (not MHRSA). Weeks later I
found out the prescribing of this drug is
become quite popular with well-meaning
(albeit ill-informed) physicians in
America who consider it a benefit in
treating MRSHA victims. I only took one
pill, yet I still suffer to this day with
persistent angina and fatigue. I am sure
the drug did some internal damage and it
may never clear up. I am 54 years old,
and was in great health before this . I
immediately suspected the drug was
causing my heart and chest problems along
with the dreaded flu-like symptoms which
forced me home from work with twelve
hours after I took the drug (like many
others I felt I was having a heart
attack). I am usually very cautious about
medications, but wish I had researched it
first before injuring myself. I should
have been more alert especially since my
wife had the rare nerve leg pain caused
by Lipitor several years ago which led
her down a futile chase to determine if
she had a blood clot. Three statin pills
did her in, but it only took one Bactrim
to wipe me out. I can only shudder to
think of people who took hundreds or
thousands of these pills. No doubt
countless people have died as a result of
this horrible drug and millions more
permanently damaged. I especially feel
bad for the young victims who were
injured and killed by this drug.
The
Bactrim fiasco makes you wonder about the
fragility of the human race, but nothing
much surprises me anymore as greed and
power supersedes common sense.
After
all, in 1902 Thomas Edison electrocuted
Topsy the elephant while trying to
promote the superiority of his DC over
Tesla and Westinghouse s AC. And again in
1962 a young UCLA doctor (ok&a
shrink) killed a zoo elephant named Tusko
with a massive overdose of LSD. Small
wonder modern scientists came up with
Bactrim!
Thanks
for your support,
Russell
S, Texas
BACTRIM:
4 January 2008
Over
the holidays, I developed a sinus
infection. The doctor prescribed Bactrim,
a "sulpha" antibiotic. I know
all drugs have side effects, some
serious, but I had no idea of Bactrim's
bad history so I took the prescripton. My
infection seemed to go away, yet I
developed some really weird problems with
forgetfulness and fatigue I attributed to
being ill or stressed out or depressed. I
thought it must have been a really
serious infection to have affected me
this way. Sure enough, the infection
seemed to reappear about a week or two
later, a different doctor prescribed a
longer course of the same drug.
After
I started taking the meds, I became
extremely tired, which I attributed to
the medication. Several days into
treatment, I became even more tired and
slept for hours and hours on a Sunday
afternoon. That evening I had extreme
nauseau and the worst headache I've ever
had. Nothing seemed to relieve it. I
threw up several times. I felt really
wierd, like I had food poisoning or that
awful feeling one has when one has had
too much to drink (poisoning, too). A
terrible uncomfortable rash developed,
and my lymph glands were swollen. It was
really wierd. My temp seemed to go up and
down, but I didn't have a temp. It was
like my system was fighting something
off. I couldn't keep down liquids.
Scared,
I called the local pharmacy just to check
if I was having a bad drug interaction,
maybe the new sinus medication was
bothering me. After hearing my symptoms,
the pharmacist told me to immediately
stop taking the Bactrim, that many people
including herself, have had these
symptoms. I stopped taking it and within
several hours actually felt as though I
"turned the corner" i.e.
started winning against whatever it was I
was fighting rather than just struggling
with it. It was a noticeable change, but
still it took me several days to recover.
While
it was leaving my system, I still
couldn't concentrate to read, and ended
up laying in bed for two days, really out
of it. Thank God, my child was at her
dad's house. Each day, though, I felt
markedly better. I'm still having trouble
with the rash, but I don't think the
stuff is out of my system yet. I decided
to go to my doctor, to make sure this is
documented in case there are any other
side effects down the road.
Susan
B.
BACTRIM:
5 January 2008
I
had very good luck with this product and
feel you have shown only one side of an
issue- side effects stop the drug! That
would be the case with any drug I take-
sometimes we have no choice as we need to
trust our doctors and look at scare
tactic people like yourself and ask our
doctor what his feelings are on a drug-
there are more good things to say about
this product than bad- however the bad
gets the most attention- scare writing-
Ron
S.
BACTRIM:
11 January 2008
Mr.
Deer,
I
had what was presumed Bronchitis and was
given a 20 regimen of generic Bactrim DS.
The first few days went by without a
problem, and then all the sudden I
started having symptoms just like one of
your readers posted from Eureka
California! That is, fever, fatigue,
lower back pain and a body covering rash.
My fever would always go away in the
morning and return shortly after I took
the Bactrim. At first I didn't think much
of it since I was told by my pharmacist
that there were no side effects besides
dehydration (and boy was I dehydrated). I
soon caught on and stopped taking the
pills. That same day I noticed a red
splotchy rash that covered my entire
body.
So I
did what any informed self diagnosing
person does and went and looked on the
Internet for solutions. To my surprise,
there are many people who have had very
similar reactions. It seems to me that
the medical field is becoming to
complacent with prescribing drugs and not
properly informing their consumers. I am
very angry and the pharmacy and will
write them a letter. Just wanted to share
my experience and urge caution to others
when taking this drug, since my cause
could be considered mild compared to
some.
Brian
P, Tucson, AZ
BACTRIM:
17 January 2008
Hello,
and thank you for publishing this
information - a great service to
consumers.
I
found this while my husband was upstairs
violently throwing up at 3 in the am
after complaining about headaches,
neckaches and intestinal troubles all
day. He is on day 19 of a 30 day dose of
Bactrim for a prostate infection. He's
never been sicker. He wouldn't here of
the emergency room....two months ago I
had a slight UTI and was put on Bactrim,
10 days into it I ended up in the
emergency room with hives that covered my
entire body, including face, eyes, and it
was beginning to climb into my mouth.
I've never had allergies before. Was put
on prednisone and hydrocortisone shots.
I
promptly pitched the remaining dose of my
husband's bactrim, will call the doc
today. The stuff needs to be removed from
the market or at least patients need to
be warned to be watchful for any
symptoms. I'm telling the doc about this
site and recommending he's more careful
with distribution.
Thank
you!!!
Kreg
M.
SMZ-TMP
DS: 19 January 2008
Dear
Brian,
I am
a 19 year old female who started taking
this medication today (I am a vegetarian
who only eats organic food and works out
daily). It was given to me because I
developed a boil on my inner thigh and I
was told that if not treated a staph
infection could arise from the boil. The
first pill seemed fine and I even felt a
little bit better after taking it.I drank
as much water as I could ingest without
self harm. But it was the second pill
that sent up red flags. I did get dizzy
and nauseas like it said would happen but
I also got very jittery and anxious . I
couldn't stop moving and I would catch
myself sctratching my skin or attempting
to grind my teeth over and over. Then I
noticed intense pain in my hips and in my
knees. After the pain I started to shake
uncontrollably and I as though I was in a
refrigerator even though my house was
almost 80 degrees. I also started to feel
intense stomach cramps. My mother said it
could just be from me having my period,
but I know my body all to well to ignore
what was happening. I took the second
pill at 8:30 p.m. and it is now almost
12. I am very tired but cannot seem to
fall asleep, I suppose it is the insomnia
setting in. I'm sure I'll wait the night
out to see what else happens. All my life
I have been on antibiotics some of the
strongest one's ever made, but nothing I
have ever taken has been as intense as
these pills. I hope people research and
read before they just take what their
doctor gives them because it might be the
one thing that will save them from the
experience that every person on this
website had to go through.
One
thing I found extremely interesting is
that when I received my medication it did
not come with its' usual list of Side
effects or allergic reactions.
C.A.
Oceanside, CA
SMZ/TMP
DS: 20 January 2008
Well,
I too have been taking this medication
for about a month now. I am prescribed
this because I was diagnosed with
Hydradenitis Supprativa. A condition
that's pretty odd and incurable. My
doctor said that there's not any real
medicine that will actually help, but
Bactrim might keep it stable. I never
take med's ever until this and finding
out that I have to take Bactrim for the
rest of my life worries me. I started
noticing that I have been really itchy
and my legs and buttocks have a rash that
is present every so often. I'm not sure
what I should do at this point. I think I
may need to find another doctor, because
when I told the doctor about the rash
like symptoms she stated that it's
probably from the soap or laundry
detergent I use!! I thought well I do
change soaps often, maybe thats it even
though I have not encountered this
before. Never did she mention that it
could be from the medicine. I wish I
would've looked at your site before I
went in but now I know that I am not
crazy and it s not from my soap.
Melissa
Z.
BACTRIM:
21 January 2008
My
dermatologist has had me on bactrin for
10years now, for acne. He recently took
me off it. a couple weeks after being off
it, my tongue turned completely white and
was swelling up and hurting..its 3 months
later since ive been off the bactrin and
my tongue has gotten worse! its entirely
white going down the back of my throat
and its swelled and hurting! i told my
dermatologist this and hes referring me
to a specialist in philadelphia, im in
scranton and have no car and cant afford
a bus..hes being completely disregarding
of me as his patient of 10yrs and saying
theres no more he can do....
marc.
BACTRIM:
24 January 2008
My
daughter began on Bactrim for MRSA along
with another anti-biotic, several days
into the regimen she started itching, she
had a red rash and was stiff in her back
and such. She quit the one anti-biotic
because it was started the latest, but it
took a few days before she had relief
from the rash and itching. She recently
began to take Bactrim for a sinus
infection and within just a few hours her
face was blood red, very hot to touch,
she developed a rash from head to waist,
her lips began to swell and her nose
began to swell, by less than an hour
later her whole face was swollen. I
called the pharmacist and they
recommended Benadryl and said if her
tongue began to swell or she had trouble
breathing to go to the emergency room for
IV Benadryl. I am wondering if she is
allergic to Bactrim, would she be
allergic to all Sulfa drugs? If you know
I'd like to know so she can make sure to
list that in her medical history. Thank
you for posting this sight.
Concerned
mom in WV
BACTRIM
DS: 24 January 2008
On
the 18th of Jan. 2008 I was prescribed
Bactrim DS. I took one pill at prior to
going to going to bed. I awoke at 6 a.m.
with the worst itch on penis, the head
and shaft had a red burning rash on it. I
was terrified. I looked online and found
your site, which had many prior accounts
similar to mine and I immediately stopped
the drug. I still have a little burning
on the skin today. This drug is horrid.
Please to anyone out there DO NOT TAKE
THIS DRUG . I cannot believe that only
one pill could do that. Thank you again
Brian for the site and the information.
Jeff
R, Michigan
SULFAMETH/TRIMETHOPRIM:
1 February 2008
I
cannot thank you enough for your
information on this drug!!! I was
prescribed sulfameth/trimethoprim for a
UTI, I came down with side effects that
were not listed on the paperwork. I
talked with the pharmacist and my doctor,
both told me it was not from the
medicine. What I experienced was such
severe cramps and pain in the back of my
legs that I could not even sit down. The
day after I quit taking them,(after
reading your site) The symptoms
dissappeared. I don't know if the doctors
in the U.S. are in denial, but I am
printing some of your letters out and
bringing them to my M.D. today!! I am mad
as heck.
Amy
P
SMZ/TMP
800-160: 1 February 2008
hi
my name is tony and i have been taking
smz/tmp ds 800-160 for over a week which
my doctor gave me for a uti.i have been
taking it 2 times a day and i feel even
worse now then i first started.i have
headaces and back pain i also have real
bad stomach pains and i also feel so weak
all the time. i have 4 pills left and i
am not going to take them anymore.and for
the person the said that his doctor did
not him what the side affects would be i
agree with him .because my doctor did not
tell me thanks tony from east boston mass
SEPTRA:
3 February 2008
Hi,
I
have been having severe problems since I
have been on Septra. I was just looking
around some sites and ran across this
one. I was treated for a UTI with Septra.
Well, I have been on it 3 days and now my
mouth and throat are swollen, I can't
even drink water without being in pain.My
speech is impaired by my swollen , welted
up tongue. I wasn't aware of any
allergies before, but I assume I am
allergic to this drug. I am just in a lot
of pain and discomfort and would like to
know if there is anything I could do
about it...It is Sunday, so tomorrow I am
going to a doctor, but seriously, why do
they still give this drug out if there
are so many side effects? I am absolutely
miserable!!
APO
SULFATRIM DS: 8 February 2008
I
started taking this pill for bladder
infection which I started on Wednesday,
today is Friday, 2 days ago, twice during
the day. I was shaking like a leaf the
second day, couldn't understand what that
was, last night I was in the bathroom
every hour since 2 the morning with
diahrea, (running water) all night and
I'm so weak and my stomach feels like
it's going to explode, my ass, is burning
like crazy and terrified to go to
the
bathroom, I call the Wabano center and
they said they can't a thing about it, I
am not going to take the last pill
tonight as I don't feel like being in the
bathroom all night.
Kunnuk
BACTRIM:
12 February 2008
Hi,
I
took my 80 yr old mother to the emergency
room on Wed 2/6/08, she had very severe
abdominal pain, and was bleeding heavily
in the urine. The doctors diagnosed her
with a elevated UTI infection. She was
give Levaquin intraveneously, and sent
home to take Bactrim and Pyridium.
Well
she started the Bactrim the next day, and
I notice her mouth getting slightly
swollen, but we didnt pay too much
attention to that, by Saturday morning
her mouth was swollen, and burning... I
called the pharmacist who in turn advised
me t o call the emergency room and find
out, ... I was instructed to take her
back to the emergency room, and I did,
the doctor changed her antibiotic to
Myopid...and said that if her throat or
tongue gets swollen to bring her right
back.
Well,
her mouth is in a terrible burning pain,
where she cant even sip water ...thats
how much it hurts...
Sylvia
D.
BACTRIM:
22 February 2008
Dear
Brian, this week I had an intestinal
infection, lots of diarrhea, vomiting and
cramps, I went to the hospital, (one of
the best hospitals in Quito) and after
hydrating me they prescribed Bactrim
Forte. The second day I took it I felt
like I was dying. My legs were trembling,
my head was like allusinating, my lips
were trembling, I felt like I wanted to
cry and I thought I was going to faint. I
checked with a doctor at the university
where i work and he checked the side
effects and he said, yes, this medicine
causes headache and fatigue.
I
have been in bed all day. Before taking
bactrim forte I was walking around fine.
Now I am extremely week. After reading
your web site page I have decided to stop
taking it.
When
I was very young for any infection I had
I was always prescribed bactrim forte,
with similar side effects. Now I am 52
years old and will not take this
medicine. Particularly after reading your
web site information. I am glad I was
able to find your site when I tried to
research what bactrim forte is.
Maria
B, Quito, Ecuador
BACTRIM
DS: 1 March 2008
Hi i
was just reading you page the other day
because i wanted to know if bactrim ds
could be mixed with alcohol because it
didnt say anything on the box. i had
aready taken one tablet t 5.30 pm while
reading your site and as i was on it my
hands started shaking so i got off the
computer and lay down where i got worse
and i wasweating and hot but freezing
cold and had blankets on in 40 degree
weather. my boyfirend then came home at
6pm and found me on the floor with a dark
purple red face. he rushed me to the
after hours doctor where i had a fever of
39 degrees (and i was perfectly normal
before) and then took some blood of mine
to see if anything else was causing it
(wch it wasnt) by then it was 8pm i
couldntstandup with outfainting. every
time i even sat up my blood pressure went
75 to 95 and i would faint. I was then
sent home at 10pm wen they were sure i
didnt have meningacocle and gave me
paracetamoland clarentine. I was stuill
feverish the next day and very swollen
and red all over my body so i wen to the
doctors who believed it was the bactrium
and that i could be allergic to he
sulfuir in it. she perscribed me with
phenergan (to stop swellng) and and kind
of antibiotic i have had before that
wouldnt make me sick =) its been two days
since then and i am almost btter. still
red though =( i hate bactrim ds.
Jess
M.
SEPTRA:
8 March 2008
Deer
Brian,
I am
15 years old and was prescribed Septra
antibiotic exactly one week ago for
bronchitis. I had 14 pills and I took
them twice a day. After the first day of
taking this antibiotic I had a high fever
of 104, severe headaches, and no appetite
at all. I drank plenty of water because I
had all flu related symptoms, vomiting
anything I ate or drank even if it was
just water. I got about 2 hours of sleep
each night. I was very weak. I felt like
I was going to die. I missed 6 days of
school. By Thursday morning-night was the
worst I only had 3 more pills left to
take. I had no idea it was the medication
that was supposed to be helping me, that
was making me feel so awful. Doctors said
I probably just had the flu and I should
continue taking the rest of the
antibiotics. I stayed up all night,
coughing, vomiting, shaking with a
swollen face, and glands in my neck and
head that were also swollen. Friday
finally fell asleep at midnight, which I
haven’t been able to do all week.
But sadly I woke up at 2am and could not
fall back asleep because of all the
discomfort and pain I was in. So I got up
and took my second last pill. ALL of
Friday I felt terrible. I came to the
conclusion that the doctors were wrong
and I was allergic to this
‘medicine’. Later that day
after I vomited several times I called my
mom at work to take me to the hospital
because I was having trouble breathing
and couldn’t stop throwing up. I
also had red marks all under my eyes. It
looked like some kind of rash. My eyes
were burning. I went to the hospital and
the nurse took my temperature it was 104
and rising. I didn’t feel like I had
a fever though. I guess I was just so
used to it because I have had one for the
past 6 days. She gave me 3 Advil, but my
fever still did not go down for another 2
hours. My temperature was then around
103.7. I layed in a hospital bed waiting
for the doctor to come check on me. He
thoroughly examined me, asked lots of
questions, and did a mono test, a chest
and sinus xray. He was a much better
doctor then the one who proscribed me
Septra at the walk-in clinic. The Mono
test was negative. The X-rays showed I
had no sign at all of infection in either
my lungs or sinus. He came to the
conclusion I had a virus, I had the
common cold. He said I probably
wasn’t allergic to Septra. He said
all the symptoms I had could have been a
mix of the flu or the common cold. So I
went home. I did not take the last pill.
Friday Night I broke out into a rash that
covers about 90% of my body. Red, Itchy,
burning bumps everywhere, they have
stopped me from sleeping. I knew this was
an allergic reaction to the Septra but
the doctors denied it having anything to
do with the drug even though both my mom
and brother are both severely allergic to
this medicine as well. It is now Saturday
morning. Is it just coincidence that when
I stop taking Septra half of all my
symptoms go away? I guess that’s
what these doctors think. Brian, I was
very scared I was going to die. I have
never felt this sick in my life. But what
I found most disturbing about this whole
experience is that the doctor, who
prescribed this medicine for Bronchitis,
had no proof I had this disease. He did
not do any tests to see if I even had an
infection. It was a blind guess by a
licensed doctor. It turns out all I had
was a cold. How is it that these Doctors
can give out such a harmful
life-threatening drug? I’m sure for
some people the drug has been successful.
But the harm this drug does outweighs the
good it does by far. I still feel
terrible. It is beginning of march break
and I cannot leave the house because
I’m trying to recover. I will not be
going to parties, visiting friends or
traveling anywhere. I’m somewhat
depressed. This Medicine was extremely
harmful to me. I don’t want to think
about what it could do to small children
or the elderly, or anyone with a weakened
immune system. I think this medicine
should be taken off the market or at
least, controlled and only prescribed if
there is actual proof there is an
infection. I am so confused as to why the
doctors would deny my allergic reaction
to this drug. I think they are trying to
cover up the fact that this drug
doesn’t help people, its harms them,
can even kill them. Doctors who prescribe
the medicine without sufficient reason
should be sued and have there medical
license taken away. Doctors should not be
giving out drugs to make people more
unhealthy then they already are. I would
have been better off not going to the
Doctor at all.
Thank
you for Listening.
Erica
H.
BACTRIM:
17 March 2008
I
just wanted to add to the list of bad
experiences with Bactrim. I had a staph
infection and visited my doctor who
prescribed Bactrim.
At
the time I also had the flu and was
running a fever with headache, aching
muscles, and a sore throat. Later that
day I took my first pill. My fever spiked
to 104 degrees and I couldn't get out of
bed. This went on for nearly 5 days. My
eyes were bloodshot as well.
When
the staph infection healed, I stopped
taking the drug and felt better within a
day or two. I went on vacation for a week
and when I came home I found the bottle
of remaining Bactrim pills sitting on the
counter. Thinking I'd be the good patient
I went to finish the container and took
one pill before I went to bed.
Within
15 minutes I had broken out in severe
hives all over my body. I was itchy and
hot. I tried laying in bed but i wasn't
able to keep still. I stayed there for
about half an hour and got so hot that I
had to get up to go splash water on my
face. When I got to the bathroom what I
saw scared me to death. My entire body
was swollen and red. But that wasn't the
worst part. The irises of my eyes were
blood red, so dark that I looked like I
was in a horror movie.
I
freaked out and ran a bath of cold water
and submerged my whole body in it. I was
burning up and was having a hard time
seeing anything. I laid there for what
seemed like hours before I felt I was
able to get up without passing out. I
walked to the bedroom and tried to go
back to bed.
I
slept for a few hours and was still
terribly itchy, hot, and sweating
profusely. When I woke the next morning I
was still extremely red. My eyes weren't
as red as they were the night before, but
now everything I looked at had a haze
surrounding it.
I
visited my doctor that same day and she
said it had been an allergic reaction and
that I should have called 911
immediately. The only reason I hadn't is
because took the pills twice a day for a
week without that type of reaction. Only
afterwards did I realize that the fever I
had at first wasn't the flu, but my body
reacting to the Bactrim. My doctor told
me that allergic reactions to medicine
are always worse the second time around.
It
took me nearly two weeks to get my vision
back to normal and I continued to have
itchy rashes throughout that entire time.
Things are back to normal now, nearly two
months later, but Bactrim taught me a
very important lesson. Don't let your
Doctor prescribe something to you until
you've researched it on your own. One
Google of Bactrim would have kept me far
away from the drug.
Dane
T, Houston, TX
BACTRIM:
22 March 2008
Brian,
I
have been reading on your website and
would like to tell you about our
experience with Bactrim.
History:
One month and one week ago, my mom
developed a small red bump on her index
finger just above her cuticle. Within the
hour it had tripled in size. Her brother
is a family practioner, so showed him the
bump and he was almost certain it was
Staph. So he perscribed Bactrim. She took
it for two days and started feeling flu
like symptoms, not very sever, such as
fever, minor aching, stomach and head
ache. On the ninth day of the medication
she developed a rash all over her
body...severe itching and burning. The
next day she went to the ER for severe
pains in her abdomen and the bottom of
her feet. They gave her a prednisone shot
and she went back home and slept for 3
hrs. When she woke up she went back to
the ER with the same symptoms except more
severe. My uncle finally admitted her
into the hospital to do some test and
hook her up to an IV. The next 7 days
combination of pain "twice as bad as
childbirth with no epidural," drugs,
no eating, and more tests than we could
count. Morphine didn't work so the only
thing that made a dent in the severe
pain, yet didn't stop it, was 4 hour
injections of 2 mg dilauted. After the 7
days of tests we figured out that she was
a very health person, there was nothing
wrong with her. On the eighth day she was
finally able to take the dilauted orally
and we came home. After about a week, she
switched from dilauted to tylox.
Present:
The nights are generally horrible. Pain
in feet, hands stomach, calves, knees,
and it switches its location every time
it surfaces. The pain worsens
considerably at night. The pain she
describes as burning and also sharp
needle like pains. Queesy stomach pretty
much continually. Shortness of breath.
EXTREME weakness, for example she
couldn't even pick up a 12 oz coca cola
can without dropping it. Tingling all
over, especially when she walks in her
feet.
Today
is one month and one day after the sign
of the bump and we are wondering if this
is ever going to get better. It has
improved but seems to be at a standstill
now. We also want to know if this can
lead to any long term damage???? This is
the worst thing we have ever seen and it
has changed our opinions on medication
forever. Please let me know if you have
any insight on what we might be going
through!!! Can you offer any advice?
Thanks,
Anna
|
|
|
SEPTRIN: 2 April 2008
Hi
Brian
I
was given Septrin in liquid form when I
was about 7 (so circa 1981) and remember
it vividly. I wasn't a terribly sicky
child but I projectile vomited this
medication back up almost instantaneously
with such a tremendous force that it
covered my entire wall (and have never
been as violently sick again since
then!), so given some of the stories I
have stumbled across on your site, I
consider myself to be very lucky that my
body reacted to it so quickly!
Hope
this helps with your research/ campaign.
Claire
C. |
SULFAMETHOXAZOLE
& TRIMETHOPRIM: 7 April 2008
I
wanted to add my experience with this
medication. I was given this for the
treatment of an ear infection. I started
taking it on a Wednesday and by Thursday
was feeling very weak, but thought this
was due to the infection. My Friday, I
was having major panic attacks! They
continued through the weekend and I was
wanting to die! My heart was racing, I
could not eat, I was pacing the floor, I
had a burning sensation on my neck, I was
cold and shaking, was very weak, my lower
back hurt, my eyes hurt, and my balance
was way off. When I was finally able to
see the doctor again on Monday, I was
told to stop taking the medication. I
ended up taking 10 doses which was half
of the entire mediation. I don't know
when I will return to normal. Why don't
they tell us all of the adverse reactions
to this medication? This should be taken
off the market. It is dangerous!!! What
can we do to get this medication out of
our bodies?
Linda
W.
BACTRIM
DS 800-160: 12 April 2008
The
first time I was prescribed this
medication, I experienced high fever
accompanied by chills to the point that I
couldn't keep my teeth from chattering. I
was also shaking uncontrollably and
experiencing excruciating pain in all my
joints. It felt as if every nerve in my
body was sending pain signals to my
brain. The pain encompassed my entire
body...I felt as if I were dying. My eyes
were bloodshot red, my neck and back were
stiff and painful. I thought that, along
with my UTI, I must have contracted some
bug at the doctor's office.
The
second time I was prescribed this
medication, I experienced all the same
symptoms. My husband immediately put two
and tow together and I had to agree that
it was the only answer. Both of these
prescriptions were for UTI, first one in
Feb and the second one in Mar of 2008.
My
question is this, with all the
information available on this medication,
why is it still being prescribed by the
medical professionals?
Is
it really all about the money?
Ali,
South Carolina
SEPTRA:
15 April 2008
I
have recently had a severe reaction to
septra which landed me in the ICU of the
Burn Unit of the Medical College of
Virginia. My reaction was diognosed as
Steven Johnson Syndrome, which developed
into TENS.
I
was in the ICU for one week before coming
home.
Kathy
& RIcky S, West Point, VA
BACTRIM:
15 April 2008
I am
responding to your website and would like
to give you feedback about Bactrim. I was
diagnosed with a MRSA staph infection. I
was prescribed Bactrim as I am allergic
to PCN. My doctor also informed me that
Bactrim would be the best antibiotic to
utilize because of it's strength...little
did I know.
Almost
immediately I had severe headaches;
didn't think it was the drugs...thought
it was a tension headache. I then started
getting cold/hot flashes, hives,
difficulty breathing and severe back
pain. Again, didn't think it was the
Bactrim.
On
day 8, I forgot to take my medicine and
had felt it was a good idea to do some
research. When I read about the nasty
side-effects and possible allergies one
could have, I contacted my doctor.
My
doctor was also in denial about my
allergy and dismissed me indicating that
she felt that my staph infection may have
caused SEPSIS (isn't that a relief -
not). She told me to resume taking the
Bactrim.
My
mistake was listening to her as about 1.5
hours after taking the drugs I was rushed
to the emergency room because I had
severe hives, swollen face, tongue, and
lips as well as difficulty breathing. The
ER doctor didn't confirm that the Bactrim
was making me ill; but he wasn't
convinced.
He
wound up prescribing me a EPI pen and
suggested that I see an allergist under
the premise that if I am allergic to PCN
and Bactrim that I would be limited on
antibiotics that I could take.
I
have also been given steroids and a
benydryl to reduce swelling and itching.
Thankfully I am still alive to tell my
tale. Stay away from Bactrim it has
proven to be poison to me. What is more
alarming is that MD's still are in denial
about how toxic this drug is...
Thanks
for listening.
Dana
M.
BACTRIM:
16 April 2008
Hi,
I want to say thanks for you website
first. It, among with a few others are
what convinced me that I was having an
allergic reaction to the Bactrim and made
me decide to go to the er.
I
was prescribed Bactrim at a Quick-Care
facility when a tattoo on my foot got
infected. I took two pills on Sat and one
on Sun morning. I lost my appetite and
was nauseous and couldn't get to sleep
and when I did sleep I had horrible
nightmares. I also had a nagging headache
behind my eyes that wouldn't go away and
felt very anxious. I didn't worry too
much until these reddish/purple dots
appeared first on my foot then moved to
the other foot and up both legs and
eventually onto my butt and back.
Thats
when I started researching and found out
about the horrible side effects of this
drug. I went to the er and when they did
blood tests they found that my platelet
count was 5000. Normal ranges are around
140000 to 450000. Platelets are what
clots your blood and without them you
won't stop bleeding if you are cut and
can have spontaneous bleeding (which is
what the red dots were). It can be very
serious and lead to brain hemmorhage and
death if its not treated.
The
hospital admitted me and gave me large
doses of iv steroids and immunoglobulin.
This raised my counts to 19000 and they
let me go home as long as I promised to
come in every day to get my blood checked
and to see my specialist again in two
days. This is my second night home and my
platelet counts do seem to be rising but
I have to be very careful b/c my number
are still dangerously low and I can't
work or go to college. I am also
uninsured so this $4 antibiotic has ended
up costing me thousands of dollars and
much pain and worry. I've learned my
lesson though, research any drug before
you take it!! Even after I'd researched
it and told the er doc what I thought it
was, she rejected the idea b/c "we
use bactrim all the time". The
specialist figured it out though. This
drug should be taken off the market or at
least come with some sort of warning in
the package!!
Maggie
M.
BACTRIM:
16 April 2008
yesterday
I went to the doctors office for a
bladder infection and he prescribed a
medication name bactrim, to be taken for
three days, twice a day. I took one pill
about 7 pm and by 10 pm I had to be
rushed to the hospital. I started feeling
dizzy, lightheaded and one side of my
face felt completely numb. After running
all kinds of tests, cat scans , lab work,
etc. The er doctor concludes he could not
find anything. I had suspected in the
beginning that I was having a terrible
allergic reaction to the bactrim, being
there wasn't anything wrong with me
before I took the medicine. Now the left
side of my ear is completely deaf. I have
never had any promblems at all with my
hearing and I am 54 years old. I am
feeling awful strange. I don't know what
is wrong with these doctors. They are not
doing their homework or something. They
are not researching these dangerously,
potential fatal drugs they are
prescribing for their patients. The er
doctor told me to keep taking the
medication to clear up my infection and I
told him in no uncertain terms would I
continue that medicine. I do not know
what his problem was but he must of
thuoght I was a fool. Normally I research
my own medicines before I take them, but
last night my internet service was out so
I just decided to take the first pill
instead and I am sorry now.I am saying
all this to let the readers know to be
careful with all these medecines these
doctors are prescribing for us. It is my
sincere belief that they don't give a
hoot what happens as long as it do not
happen to them.I made up in my mind this
is my life and I am going to be the one
in control of it.So everybody just be
careful.
Geraldine
F.
SEPTRA
DS: 16 April 2008
Hello
Brian,
my
name is dale, and i live in nashville tn.
in january 2008 i went to the dr. for a
sinus infection and was prescribed septra
ds and i got the generic drug smz/tmp 800
mg, 2 days later i was covered in hives,
i looked like someone droped me on abed
of nails.
needless
to say that i have had this outbreak
before, so i did not take the next dose,
the dose was suposed to be at 5:00 pm.
was instructed by the dr. that perscribed
the septra ds. to take benadryl and do
not take no more of the septra ds,
smz/tmp 800 mg.
at
aprox. 9:00 pm 4 hrs later i was
uncontrollably slobbering from the mouth
and had a lot of pressure at my
esophagus, like a severe case of
heartburn. then at 2:00 am jan 31,2008 i
was on my way to the emergency room with
slight pain under my left arm and some
numbness at the top of the left arm, and
no strength in the left arm, i suspected
a heart attack! at the er at about 2:30
am blood work was back and cardiac
enzymes were elevated and i was in fact
having a heart attack at the age of 39.
went
to operating room and preped for an
angeogram with dye shot into the heart
while i watched the monitor the heart lit
up all black and the surgeon said to me
all arteries are CLEAR AND NOT BLOCKED!
i
asked what is wrong then and the dr.
replied heart is in good shape, and
NOTHING IS WRONG. the dr. said i had a
heart strain now i have high blood
pressure and numbness all over from time
to time. the smz/tmp almost killed me.
the
medical bills are piling up and with no
health insurance the 19,000.00 dr bills
will not get paid. i will loose my lawn
business and everything i have worked
hard for the last 7 years i have owned my
own business and will soon loose it
because the side affects are getting
worse as days pass.
who
do i turn to , i will soon be in
financial desaster
sincerely
Dale
|