Septra Bactrim Co-trimoxazole TMP/SMZ side effects
Page 22 of mail to investigative reporter Brian Deer recounting sometimes serious side effects of the antibiotic often known as Bactrim DS, Septra or co-trimoxazole
BACTRIM DS: 13 April
Hello Brian, I want to share my “episode” with you and your readers. I’m 54 male. I recentrly had a large bladder stone removed thru cystocope and was instructed to take prophylactic antibiotic Cipro, but I told the doctor that last time I did it made me very ill. He instead gave me a prescription for Macrobid. I did not fill it immediately because I wanted to seek additional advice and ended up getting a prescription for Bactrim DS. Took dose 1 that night. Could not sleep. Day two I started taking it and felt a strong heaviness in my body, still functional but felt like I was walking through Jello. Could not sleep. Day three, I took my morning dose (#4) and again the heaviness came over me. I thought perhaps it was withdrawal from all of the Vicoden I had been taking and figured I would just get through it.
I forgot to take dose 5 that night and felt very well. Next morming felt terrific, took morning dose #5 and half hour later started to feel in slow motion. My feet began to tingle and go numb, then my fingers, my heart was pounding and very fast, neck and shoulder muscles aching feeling like I could not hold up my head. I called pharmacy to see if this was normal. He said it is not consistant with the drug but call doctor, so called my doctors, they also said not consistant with the drug but do not take more and drink plenty of water, if it got worse, go to Emergency Room. I laid down but could not rest because of heart rate. Finally asked a neighbor to take me to ER.
Passed out several times on the way. They could not wake me up when we got there and 4 people lifted me out (so I am now told). Next I remember being on a stretcher face up with many faces asking questions but I could not speak, could not move muscles. Could not squeeze doctor’s finger. My face and whole body feeling pins and needles. It was as if I was asleep and dreaming and wanted to make a sound but nothing comes out. I drifted off, but could hear bits and pieces of conversation–“non-responsive”, “dehydration”, “pepsid” (I think), “benedril”. I don’t even know if they were talking about me. Just voices. Couple of hours later, doctor came and said my “salts” were all OK and could go if I could walk. Able to walk slowly but objects in the room appeared to be moving –in slow motion. They suggested to X-ray my head & chest, but I said please no, give me more time I was coming around. After another saline drip, I was able to walk and no more motion of the room. My write-up was “weakness episode” and referred to “internal medicine in 4-5 days”. I am home now but still feel as if I am walking thru Jello, head fuzzy.
Called the pharmacist again and he explained that it could have been an “idiosyncratic response” but that my symptoms were consistant with the dehydration and since I have been drinking mass quantities of water since the stone removal, it is possible that I depleted or super diluted my electrolytes. Also that a true allergic drug reaction probably would have happened right away, not on dose #5. All quite logical and acceptable. Though some of my symptoms are consistant with de-hydration, I was perfectly fine last night when I missed a dose and even better this morning after missing last night’s dose.
My gut tells me it was the drug, but according to official record, that is “inconsistant”. Isn’t there some way to get this information out there so that these symptoms can be acknowledged as “consistant” with the drug? Drug half-life is 60 hours so it should be completely gone in 21/2 more days. Hopefully there will no long term effects as I have read in others.
Chuck B, Honolulu
SEPTRA efectos secundarios: 14 April
Mi Papa, paciente de Parkinson por 16 años, fue recetado por su medico primario con Septra para tratar una infeccion de orina
Sus movimientos, el balance y su estado en general estan bastante controlados con sinimet y myrapex. Cuando empezo a tomar septra notamos que no tenia control de sus movimientos: todo se le caia de las manos y durante sus horas de comida el mismo movimiento no lo dejaba tomar sus alimentos pues estaba muy agitado y sudoroso por el esfuerzo que hacia.
Elio M
BACTRIM: 16 April
I took generic Bactrim for 10 days last month for a UTI. No problems. I felt the UTI coming back so yesterday I filled the refill. I’m also taking several allergy medications and flovent and albuterol for a severe seasonal allergy I have. I took one pill last night and woke up with spots all over (hives). I didn’t realize it was the Bactrim because I also started the asthma sprays the same day. Any way, I took one more Bactrim and Benadryl, but the hives have gotten worse. That’s when I found your site, and my symptoms seem to match many of the people. So I guess I’ll stop the Bactrim – maybe I just developed the allergy because I am in an immunocompromised state. But I guess it will now last forever. I hope these hives go away soon. They are all over except on my hands and feet and face.
Barbara M
BACTRIM: 16 April
Hello,
I’m a 30 year old male from Louisiana. I started on Bactrim yesterday after going to the hospital for an infected finger. I started itching shorly after taking the medicine, however, I did’t associate it with the drug. After I took my dosage today, I started itching again so I started to wonder if it was the Bactrim that was causing the itching. Well, after reading through your sight and others, it appears that it is. I won’t take any more of this crap and go to my doctor and ask for an alternative.
Ryan McC
TRIMETHOPRIM: 18 April
I stumbled across your website by sheer accident and now awaiting a phonecall ffrom my doctor. I ain’t at all well seemingly have a kidney infection which the above was prescribed to treat now i have an extremly swollen tummy feel sick constantly and tired. just wondering if these symptoms could be a reaction to the medication as others have described on your website. i am really just looking for someone to listen and understand Thanks.
Nikki
SMZ/TMP DOUBLE-STR TAB MPC: April 20
Good site.
I was perscribed this medication on April 14th and by April 17th experienced insomnia, a fever of 102.7 glazed-over eyes, a tremendous headache, and all round muscle aches with a rash on my penis.
Within one day of stopping use of this medication, symptoms have subsided.
I found your site useful in cross referencing the symptoms I had against the medication (which I did out of general curiousity).
This med is bad news.
Jamie B
SMZ/TMP DOUBLE-STR: 24 April
HIya Brian,
In reading your site for side effect of this medicine, SMZ/TMP DOUBLE-STR TAB MPC,I have stopped taking it after the first dose. It seems no sooner had I taken it…at least 30-45 minutes later…I noticed an itching scalp. Being familiar with hives from previous outbreaks I knew what was coming, but I had no idea the itching would be so severe…especially in my hands. I feel like I just stuck my hands in an ant hill, totally insane feeling. I have since taken some benadryl and hope that it will ease the itching.
I was totally reluctant to start taking this medication after reading some of the side effects…and well, after giving credit to my doctor for knowing what is best, I decided to take one and see how I would react. Now here I am with some insance itching going on.
Thanks for putting this site out here….great resource for those wanting to learn more about the “real” effects of this drug.
Willie
APO SULFATRIM: 24 April 2006
Hi Brian
I too want to thank you for your information. My daughter was prescribed apo sultatrim for her acne. After the first pill she started to feel as if she was getting the flu. She then got a fever of 103.9 and chills that made her shake like I have never seen before. She was told to take Tylenol for the fever. She only got worse, after about three days she broke out in a rash that was all over her body. When she went to the doctor her told her she had roseola. Once we had a name for it we thought things where going to get better,but that night she woke me up crying saying she had a head ache but it wasn’t like any headache she had ever had before she said it was like her brain wasn’t getting any oxygen. I rushed her to ER where she was given fluids for her sever dehydration. They also gave her blood tests and there were so many factors that were bad potassium white blood count for a couple.
This is were as her mother I feel very bad because I did not clue in that it could be the pills. When she complained that she was not getting any circulation to her hands and the they hurt so bad she couldn’t move them I went on the internet trying to find something out that might help. That is when I found your site. I am so grateful for all the information that I have found on there.
As soon as I read a few of the letters I went right upstairs and flushed the rest of the pills down the toilet. She is already starting to feel better. I just pray that we have caught things in time and that there will be no permanent damage.
Thank you again for your site.
Lynn D
SMZ/TMP DOUBLE-STR: 26 April
Hi,
My husband has been taking SMZ/TMP DOUBLE-STR TAB MPC for prostatitis about a week now. I found your site when looking up side effects because my husband showed me his tongue this morning- It’s black!
He does not seem to have a lot of symptoms that these other folks have – thank God-.
We normally do not use prescriptions – we don’t usually trust them. I do not have time to read your entire site, so I am asking if anyone else has had this side effect.
I have another family member who was years ago prescribed a drug that not only turned her tongue black but also grew hair on her tongue! Not same drug, but apparently this is a side effect that should be listed on prescriptions?
I am praying for answers and will also pray for those who’ve presented you with their side-effects, that they may recover from these awful side effects.
Thank you in advance for your time and input
Tonya
BACTRIM: 26 April
I was given Bactrim for a bacterial infection. I took one pill on Monday night and started experiencing pain within 4 hours. I first began having pain all over, like you do when you have a fever. Over the next hour I began shaking uncontrollably and was freezing as my temperature shot up to 102.8! I felt like I was taking speed because I could not relax – my muscles were very tense. By 2:30 am I was vomiting and all of my joints were aching severely. I developed a horrible headache that lasted a couple days. I laid in bed the next day, unable to get up because I was so weak and just felt extremely bad from the aching joints/muscles and headache. Today I’m still feeling weak and am sweating a lot when I walk across the room.
Tammy B
BACTRIM: 28 April
I would like to know your current information on Bactrim or the generic of this drug. My husband took two antibiotics, one of them being bactrim, at 6:00 p.m. and died at 3:00 a.m. He starting having trouble breathing 2 hours after taking the medication. He was a diabetic but controlled his diabetes with pills. He had it under control.
Thank you,
SL
BACTRIM DS: 4 May
Brian,
I wanted to add my experiences to your website. In December 05, I was prescribed Bactrim DS for Prostate and UT infection. I was told I may have chronic prostatitis and to take medication for 2 months.
About a week after taking drug, I came down with severe flu-like symptoms. Due to the time of year I Wrote if off as a virus. Also, I stopped taking the Bactrim, because the pain in my groin areas has stopped.
Over the past several months, whenever the pain in ab/groin area would return, along burning in urethra, I would Start taking Bactrim again. I guess I m a slow learner, but the last round finally convinced me that this drug is Very dangerous. I have had many of the symptoms listed on the site each time I took the drug. Dizziness, Nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite heart palpations, pain and burning sensation in arms/bicep area.
I have been off the drug for 2.5 weeks but still have lingering symptoms. The worst is a ringing, humming in My right ear. I asked my doctor about this a routine physical last week and he seemed very unconcerned and Simply said to not take the medication again (wow, what a revelation).
This week I have also developed bi-lateral pain in my sides between the ribs and hip. I am going to see the doctor Tomorrow. It is either and kidney problem or more lasting side effects from the drug. My guess is the latter.
I will update site as I get new info. The worse part is that the only side effect my Dr. warned me about was a rash. Had I been aware of any of the other Potential problems, I would have stopped taking the drug months ago.
My advice is simple. Do Not Take This Drug.
Tony
BACTRIM: 5 May
I WAS PERSCRIBED BACTRIM FOR ACNE, AFTER I DOSE, ONE PILL I BROKE OUT IN A MAJOR RASH ALL OVER MY BODY AND MY LIPS SWELLED HORRIBLY. I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS THE BACTRIM UNTIL I TOOK ANOTHER PILL THE FOLLOWING MONTH.
BACTRIM: 5 May
I took it for a uti after two doses got blood shot eyes, extreme fatigue, and extremely painful joint and muscle pain. Couldn’t lift my arms over my head. Red rash and swollen body. When I called the doctor to tell him what happened he asked me if I have arthritis. He didn’t want to hear that it could be the antibiotic. Will never take that again. The joint and muscle pain lasts for weeks. Unbelievable.
BACTRIM: 5 May
My 12 yrs old was prescribed Bactrim by her dermotalogy for her severe acne. She took the generic form called Sulfameth/Trimeth for 2 weeks before the first episode showed up. She called me from school and said she’s running a fever of 103 and shaking, with a little bit rash. I picked her up and went to the DR. She was diagnosed as normal virus infaction. She ran a low grade fever for the next few days so I put her on Advils and didn’t bother to offer her the Sulfameth. She got better over the weekend and back to normal schedule – which means back to her acne treatment (Sulfameth). Three days later, she called me from school again with no fever (yet) but shaking and rash all over her body. When we got to the DR office, she vomited badly and shaked uncontrollably. Again, DR thought that’s the virus that never went away. We informed him this antibiotic so he asked her to stop taking it until she feels better. She got better in a few days and back to normal but we didn’t put her back on Sulfameth. She’s back on it this morning because her acne gets a little bit worse. Here we go again, she called me from school with the same rash. Vomiting, chill and fever came a little bit later. She was so week that she couldn’t even walk to the bathroom! She cried while she was taking shower! She’s NEVER been so weak before – she’s a year-round swimmer and she’s quite strong for her age. This time DR confirmed that Sulfameth did the damage!
Please stop this medicine! It’s so scary to see her shaking and being so weak for the 1st time!
SULFAMETH/TRIMETHOPRIM: 5 May
Brian,
Hello. I had a severe upper respiratory infection two weeks ago. I am normally very healthy but the doctor prescribed the generic for Bactrim (Sufameth/Trimethoprim). Two days into a ten-day prescription, I felt short of breath and went back to the doctor. A nurse’s assistant asked if I had a rash or any other symptoms. At that time, I did not. He encouraged me to continue taking the drug. Five days later, I developed severe chills, muscle aches, and joint pain. Seven days in, I called the doctor back. I was given another nurse who said I probably had a viral infection. Later that day, I vomited. On the eighth day, I called the doctor to tell her I was STOPPING the medicine, period. Today is the ninth day. I stopped the pills yesterday, but I am very fatigued and spacy today. Taking a shower exhausted me. In the shower I noticed reddish purple spots on my lower waist. I NEVER want that drug again. I would much rather let any infection run its course. I hope I haven’t experienced any serious long-term damage.
Valerie C
SEPTRA: 9 May
Dear Brian,
I am a 49 year old grandmother, and since early childhood, I have suffered from Chronic Pyelonephritis. I have been on daily doses of Septra for almost twelve years now, and rarely have complications. Every time I try to wean myself, (usually after reading something like your article and website), I end up with a full blown kidney infection which frequently requires hospitalization, and weeks to get under control again. I have had multiple surgeries over the years to remove scarring form the persistent infection, and my left kidney, which is the one I have problems with, is in atrophy, now, but still functions. My ratio is at 56, which is misleading, because my right kidney functions well.
I would be dead if it were not for Septra, or at least so immune to other antibiotics which could treat other forms of disease should I ever need them, and I am grateful for such a drug which allows me to live a fairly normal life. With my new insurance, I currently take the generic form produced by TEVA, in the in the 800/160 tablet, which I believe is a double dose.
I grew up with kidney problems, and took Sulfa tablets daily to control the infection, from the time I was three, until about my teens, when I was switched to tricycline. After a few years of that, I was taken off, as it apparently has serious, long term effects. For more than a decade, I was then rotated on various antibiotics including forms/generations of penicillin, Septra, and various permutations of myosin drugs, and floxacins, but Septra is the only one which seems to give me long periods of time without serious flare-ups, and without many side effects.
Occasionally, I develop a rash, and at that those times I am switched to another drug. Otherwise, I am in decent health, and I run 4 miles, every other day, (except when I am having a flare-up).
I think that people who read your website should be informed of the up side of Septra, too, as for many people, it is literally a long term, life saving drug.
Sincerely,
Teresa W
BACTRIM: 11 May
Brian,
I wish that I would have read your article 6 years ago. I was taking bactrim for the first time for a common UTI. I started developing purple marks all over my body which I finally figured out were bruises. You only had to touch me and I would bruise, I looked like an abuse victim. After notifying my doctor I was sent to the hospital for blood work, my blood clot counts were in the low hundreds not hundred thousands. I was told to go home stay in bed or on the couch for a few days, not be around any sharp objects or do any physical activity or I could die because my blood would not clot!
Luckily I survived the ordeal and didn’t die of major loss of blood at 18, however my doctor had no idea! I saw her just recently (for another UTI) and she told me she was scared to prescribe that to any of her patients for awhile, but that she does again and I was the only one to ever have a problem. I think I will print your article and send her a copy! How scary!
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have!
Sincerely,
Tara Summers
TMP/SMZ: 22 May
hello there,
I just took my last five day dose of generic Bactrim and feel awful. All I had was an UTI and now my mouth is covered in blisters, my throat hurts every time I swallow. My vaginal and anal area are awful itchy and I sit here wondering WHY this drug is the first one prescribed for UTI. I called my doctor as soon as my throat started to hurt but she said that stopping meant starting a new one from day one, which I really did not want to do. I took acidophilus everyday to fight the yeast infection that I got just after taking two doses, but that did not seem to do anything. I feel stupid for taking it to the end of the treatment but I hate pills so I suffered through it.
All I can say is: if you feel a serious side effect at the beginning STOP taking this horrible med! I know I will never take it again!!
Thank you for this site!
SEPTRIN: 25 May
After a visit to my dentist with my son who is eight I’ve been told that all of my son’s back teeth are crumbling and that he will be lucky if there still in his mouth by the age of 11.
I’m confused as to what caused this and of course feel devastated for him. His front teeth are mottled also with white flashings on them. The dentist asked me if he was ill as a new born or if i was on any medications whilst pregnant or had a difficult birth, my answer was no to all.
My son was put on 1 mill of Septrin liquid per night as a small infant ( under 9 months old) by his paediatrician as a precaution for urinary infection based on my own medical history of creating kidney stones as a baby myself. At the time i protested as my mother had told me she thought Septrin was to blame for my own mottled teeth colouring. My concerns were dismissed and i started him on the medication. i gave my son Septrin for opprox 5 months until i felt he could communicate with me to let me know if he felt unwell, his paediatrician wasn’t too pleased with me for stopping the medication but i had doubts giving antibiotic to such a young child over a long period of time especially knowing he had never suffered a urinary infection anyway and hasn’t to this day.
My concern now is not knowing how to do the best for my sons teeth, i find it hard to accept iv just got to wait for them all to crumble away at such a young age.
Lorraine, UK
BACTRIM DS: 27 May
I had a severe UTI and a culture was run, indicating the Bactrim-DS would be the right A_B
I took three doses, 2 the first day and 1 in the AM and discovered my entire torso covered in big red blotches. Prednisone to get rid of the reaction to Sulfa and another A_B to take care of the Staph Infection. I think that it is working. New A_B is Doxycyl HYC.
Will see the Urologist, as this is the second such UTI since September. Age 88
Lou S
BACTRIM: 27 May
I have been taking Bactrim DS for a week now. I have never in my life had a reaction to any drug until now. I developed vaginal itching and abnormal bleeding, fatigue, a terrible headache, stiffness and pain in my neck, I’m lightheaded and today a rash broke out all over my body. I found your site because I wasn’t getting an immediate response from the after hours on-call doctor and am really upset that I was given the drug at all. I had asked for Keflex as I had had great results and no side-effects for this same problem in the past. I was told Bactrim was the recommended treatment and that Keflex was not first line treatment and not very effective for my ailment.
I persisted that I really had done fine on it before but had an Rx in hand for Bactrim DS when I left. I developed the vaginal itching and bleeding about 4 days into it and initially thought that it might be related but decided it must be a yeast infection.
When the doctor called me a little while ago I told him I was upset I had been given the drug and that I had seen this site and was concerned that the drug was still prescribed at all and he defended the drug like it was his child or something. Also when my daughter was 2(17 years ago) she was given a sulfa drug and broke out in hives immediately. Thank you for this site!
Alice R
RELATED:
Bactrim-Septra: a secret epidemic
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