Co-trimoxazole Septra Bactrim TMP/SMZ side effects
Page 30 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: 13 June
Hi Brian:
I’m writing to tell you about the very scary experience I had just this week while taking Bactrim for a UTI. I was prescribed a 7 day course of the antibiotic last week after my doctor confirmed that I had a UTI. He asked me if I was allergic to sulfa medications and I told him that to the best of my knowledge I was not. I started taking the medication the following day with no problems. On day 5 I didn’t feel very well, but thought I was having plain old allergies since the pollen count was very high that day. I took some Benadryl and felt a bit better. On day 6 (which was yesterday) I took my dose in the morning, and by noon I had developed the worst case of chills that I had ever experienced. I was shaking so violently and uncontrollably that I could hardly stand up or walk. I own my own business, and when I went next door to ask another shop owner to watch my store for me she told me that my lips looked bluish. I looked in the mirror and sure enough, my lips were blue and purple! I immediately went home to lie down, still not even thinking that this could be because of the Bactrim – I thought I was coming down with the flu or something. I was home for about an hour and the symptoms still had not subsided, and I started to get really hot and my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. I called the urgent care clinic and they told me to come in right away. By the time I got there my blood pressure was really high, all the joints in my body ached, and I had a fever of 102 degrees. They immediately started me on 50 mg of Benadryl to stop the allergic reaction and also told me take 800mg of Ibuprofen. I did that same dosage of meds 6 hours later and thankfully I’m fine today, but damn, what a horrible experience! I was talking to a local pharmacist and he told me that about 90% of the population is allergic to Bactrim, which completely shocked me. If that’s the case, why is it still being prescribed?!?!? That’s just ludicrous to me. I think this drug should be taken off the market.
Thanks for letting me tell my story. I certainly hope no one else has to go through what I’ve gone through!
Cheers,
Sandra in Colorado.
BACTRIM: 15 June
hi Brian, I was giving Bactim 4 days ago i had the worse reaction to this stuff the first night i was violently vomiting and then the next 2 days i felt like i had the flu with the fever of 103 and all oh it was awful no more bactim for me i cant even remember when i have felt so bad so i am glad i found your website while looking up the side effects so i could tell my story
Melony B.
SULFAMETHOXAZOLE & TRIMETHOPRIM: 18 June
Hi. I live in Southern California. I was just given sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim for an ear infection. I was a little concerned that the doctor didn’t prescribe it; he just handed it to me, but my history with ear infections is long and I was in a lot of pain. I took the pills without knowing what they might do. I’ve taken Amoxicillin in the past & it has only caused a yeast infection so I expected that this would, but I was worried because I’d heard of a woman whose skin came off from sulfur drugs after she had finished taking them & because my older brother had broken out in a rash after taking some non-penicillin antibiotic.
I got dizzy and developed a headache within about a day, I was very tired and listless, within a day my skin was burning and I had a constant cramp in my tummy. I thought I was constipated. I looked up the side effects on-line & saw that diarrhea is common, as well as headaches, aches in the body and dizziness. I don’t know why I didn’t stop taking it immediately, but in the past I have taken medications that have side effects that will last a day or so & then go away & I have to do the trial & error thing. The doctor who gave me these pills said nothing about them potentially damaging my body or killing me.
I started taking them last Tuesday night & the symptoms began early the next morning, but were fairly minor and I thought the aches in my body might have more to do with the ear infection. By Thursday morning my head was throbbing (I get migraines but this was NOT a migraine!) I had a head ache from hell. I felt a little short on breath & very hot. I called out sick from work trying to explain to my boss that I wasn’t sure if it was my ear infection or my reaction to the medication I was taking to cure it, but that I felt horrible as I had the day before. I still took the morning dose & went back to sleep. I had been burning up all night like my skin was on fire & then cold & then I’d be up in the morning and it would be fine.
I discovered that I was not constipated at all and was able to go—very well in fact to well. I slept nearly all day Thursday and was feeling better, but still weak. I don’t know why but I took the pill Thursday night. I think I was determined to see it through. I was so close to calling 9-1-1 (my lack of health insurance & money being my reason not to). My whole body was on fire. I was in the bathroom off and on; it hurt to stand up from the headache. What was worst was that I was fully awake & alert to all the pain I was in. It wasn’t like when I’ve been sick with the flu & delirious. I felt every second of it.
I went to work the next day (Friday) despite my lack of sleep. I was weak and tired, but my skin was not burning. It seemed like that only happened at night. One thing that I and my co-workers noticed was that my skin was redder, like sunburn. I wear sunscreen everyday because I am very fair skinned & I’m outside a lot at work. Sensitivity to the sun was listed on a side-effects list I’d found on-line. I thought sun block would help. I had the diarrhea, headaches & weakness all that day & had to leave work for an hour because of a burning on my clitoris (I assumed is the beginning of a yeast infection). I was amazed I made it through work that day—by the end of the day I thought I was going to vomit all over the place. I called the doctor on Friday & told him my symptoms & he said he’d give me Amoxicillin.
I still had all the symptoms Saturday but felt better that I’d stopped taking them & I wasn’t burning up anymore. It’s now Sunday night & I have a rash all over my body. I woke up this morning with a killer headache & last night had gas pains for hours. I spent most of today in bed until I got too nauseated and had to eat. I talked to my brother tonight about the rash & he said that he had taken the same drug. He had taken it 10 days in a row and had the same symptoms I described but his didn’t show until after the 10 days.
I’ve read a lot on your website & I’m terrified that something worse will happen to me. I don’t want to die & I have enough problems in my life that I don’t need more pain. I don’t know what resources are available in U.S. but I would love to help bring this into the public eye because even one person going through the pain I just did for a simple ear infection is insane! And I read so many stories far worse than mine posted on your site. I’m grateful that you’ve exposed this & hope to help in getting both of these sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim drugs discontinued.
Thanks
M.F. Irvine, CA.
SEPTRA: 18 June
had an ear infection. was prescribed a z-pak. that didn’t work as the ear infection came back 3 weeks later. then was prescribed septra. 9 days into the 2 x’s a day prescription i developed a fever and nausea. the following day i developed a light rash and head ache. by the third day the rash was totally covering my body. i had body aches in my bones and joints. mainly below the knee but then also my teeth started to ache. i went into the er and they prescribed a steroid. i have now been on that for 12 hours and some relief has occurred but still the rash and still the ache below the knee. I am trying to advocate for my self and get into my dr for a full follow up and lab. unfortunately they are not concerned enough to get me in ASAP. they say the steroids should take care of everything but that they are stumped by the bone pain….
Christine P, Portland, Oregon
SEPTRA DS: 28 June
I am a 41 year old male who was completely healthy. I played basketball twice a week and have never been put in a hospital for myself. I was recently misdiagnosed with a prostate infection and given a generic form of Septra DS 800 mg twice a day for 30 days. After 2 weeks I started to cough. This cough persisted for a few weeks and I went to see the doctor. He prescribed another 30 day dose of Septra DS. I was two days into the second round when I started to get very ill. I was vomiting and any food made me sick. I have now been sick for more than three months and am starting to recover. My liver completely stopped working and the doctors and specialists were talking liver transplant. I have been jaundice and completely yellow.
The doctors thought I had liver cancer, Hepatitis A, B, C, EBV with Mono, Wilson’s disease because my copper count was at 21,000, auto immune disease, and finally it was confirmed that it was drug induced hepatitis. This was confirmed by liver specialists and by 4 pathologists. My bilyruben was at around 22 for 2+ months. After countless blood tests, CT, MRI, Ultrasound, liver biopsy, 30 + doctors appointments, multiple ER visits, all sleepless nights, a horrible skin breakout 2 months after I stopped taking the last pill, I am finally starting to sleep a little and able to eat some food without feeling absolutely sick. This drug and the extreme dose I was prescribed is extremely dangerous and I would not recommend it. It has ruined my professional life and has completely ruined my health. I am still not sure if I will ever be completely healthy again.
Walter N, Salt Lake City, Utah.
SEPTRA: 30 June
Congratulations Mr. Brian Deer!
Your work uncovering misdeeds of big pharma is genuinely a work of compassion.
Adam B, Ottawa, Canada.
SMZ/TMP DS: 9 July
Dear Brian,
Recently I had a miscarriage and shortly after started feeling dizzy and sore, so I went to my primary Doctor and she diagnosed me; The start of a bladder infection. I explained to her that I was allergic to Rocephin and couldn’t take that, and thought I would be perscribed Cipro. Well, I wasn’t, I was perscribed the generic form of BACTRIM-DS (SMZ/TMP DS 800-160). When I received my perscription, I read the “possible side effects” and didn’t think much of it the first day as I started to experience loss of apetite and fatigue. As the days went on and I continued to take it, I experienced more and more; dizzyness, nausea, fatigue, sore muscles, shivers, chills, vaginal discharge, abdominal pain, insomnia, headaches and I am extremely irritable. It also read on the label “prolonged or excessive exposure to direct and/or artificial sunlight should be avoided” I would go outside for 5 mins and would have to lay down for 3 hours to regain myself and that was on the fourth day! By the fifth day I spent most of my time laying in bed, thank God my husband was home to care for our 3 children. The unfortunate part is that I run child care in my home and care for an additional 4 children. By today, which would be day 6, I refused to take anymore of the Bactrim and called my doctor at 8:00 am, it is now 1:20 pm and have yet to here from her. I could not sleep lastnight due to the aching in my whole body, and now I have to care for my children in this condition, which I was hoping would get better, but it is not!
That is when I decided to be my own doctor and search the internet and found your sight! I am appalled that this drug is still on the market in the USA, I will be emailing and informing everyone I know about this! I am a 30 year old mother and wife and can not afford to feel like this; mentally, emotionally, physically or financially!! Also, I have suffered all my life from acne, and this is not worth the risk! I would rather spend the rest of my life with the worst case of acne imaginable than feel like this! Plus, my husband and I are trying to get pregnant and all my doctor said was, “I would use birth control this month if I were you.” Now, why would any doctor perscribe a woman who is trying to get pregnant a medication that could severly harm an unborn child! Thank God, again, that I am not and we have taken precautions!
Please, if you have any remedies to recover from this let me know!
Sincerely,
Alicia L, Farmington, NM.
SEPTRA: 15 July
I too, have had a horrible experience with septra. 6 mos ago i had a staph infection and was put on septra 2x day. i took 3 doses and ended up in the emergency room. i was dehydrated, had a terrific head ache, chills, and a fever 104.7 f. The whites of my eyes were blood red. i was switched over to a different antibiotic. the ER doc felt that the septra was not working. Then 2 months ago i dedveloped a urinary tract infection and took 1 septra tablet. 30 minutes later, I developed a head ache and took 2 advil. within 5 minutes after the advil I experienced severe anxiety, pain in my posterior neck and shoulders. I felt as if I was going to die. I have never felt so anxious in my entire life! When i arrived at the ER the whites of my eyes were blood red. no sulfonamides for me again!
Pam S.
BACTRIM DS: 17 July
I just came across your web site and want to share my experience with Bactrim DS. Several years ago a doctor friend gave me a prescription for Bactrim DS to decrease the possibility of getting “Montezuma’s revenge” while on a trip to Mexico. I started on the medicine two days before my trip, and did not take anymore since my luggage got lost. On my first day in Mexico, I spent a hot afternoon climbing around on the ruins at Monte Alban. That night I woke up with an intense itching all over my body, which quickly converted to large, hot whelts around my waist and down my sides. I thought the problem was something I had eaten since I had not had a pill in two days. I contacted the house doctor and he gave me benedyrl. The itching, redness, and whelts became more severe and soon my hands and feet began to swell to the point where I had to have Jeweler cut the rings off my finger. I went to a second doctor and got a shot of cortizone. Four days later, the symtoms began to go away. I still did not attribute my problem to Bactrim DS. Several months later, I took Bactrim DS for an infection and after taking a hot shower, I started to itch and break out again. Since then, I have discovered that I cannot take any drugs in the sulfa class. I know that hot sun and Bactrim DS do not go well together.
Robert, San Marcos, TX.
TRIMETHOPRIM: 23 July
I found your site after searching for side effects of Trimethoprim. I have been taking this for 3 days for a urinary tract infection and I have never felt so ill in my life. I have the most awful headache, feel sick, have a rash round my stomach, itchy hands, palpitations, dizziness and pains in my arms and legs. I stopped taking it yesterday but my symptoms don’t seem to be going away, in fact if anything I feel worse now. I am typing this in the middle of the night because I just can’t sleep. I will never take this antibiotic again!
Angela M.
SMZ/TMP 800-160: 23 July
Dear Brian,
I was prescribed SMZ/TMP 3 days ago for a UTI, the doctor said the infection was spreading to my kidneys so she told me I would need to take this because its stronger at fighting infections. I started taking it just 2 days ago, I immediately noticed I was feeling weird, my back was hurting, I was nauseated, and I my neck was getting really stiff. Now I’m noticing I’m more confused and unaware of whats going on, I cant get to sleep at night so I sleep during the day. I haven’t got any rashes or blisters but I did see a cut and it was dark blue like I bruise or something, I questioned if it was another infection or not. Also, theres a large lump just below my neck.
Thanks for sharing others peoples stories, I’m going to stop taking it and call my doctor.
Anna B.
BACTRIM: 3 August
Hi Brian
I’ve been reading through all the emails on your website and just want to thank you for putting up this site as its the first “real” account for what seem to be the symptoms of Bactrim.
I was a very healthy 29 yr old female, who had my first Urinary Tract Infection about 3 weeks ago. The walk-in doctors clinic I went to prescribed Bactrim. The following morning after taking the drug I had diaherra (which I never get) and promptly called the doctors office. They told me to keep taking the drug and that the side effects should stop once I stop drug use. Well, needless to say my symptoms continued to get worse over the next 3 days with severe lower back pain, pelvic cramping and abdominal pain.
Its been 3 weeks later and no one can seem to find what is wrong but my lower back pain is constant still and I have muscle weakness in my legs from time to time. When I tell the doctors I recently was on Bactrim, they do not say much but there is a “look” they all have which tells me this drug truly should not be prescribed for most people.
Please let me know if you’d have any other information on the coping skills for this drug.
Thank you-
Tami, NYC.
BACTRIM FORTE: 8 August
Hello —
I was prescibed Bactrim Forte by my doctor to treat UTI a couple of days ago. My fever was not as high before taking the medicine. After the first pill, my fever eventually shoot up to 40. This was the first time in my life that I had fever reaching 40. I also had a swelling inside my mouth (salivary tract). I thought that this is just normal reaction, I still continued using the drug.
The next day, I didn’t have any fever but felt that my stomach is always experiencing cramps. I could no longer eat. Whenever I ate something, I just eventually vomitted it. I felt really weak. I went to see another doctor and advised me to stop taking the drug.
My fever is back but I am no way taking bactrim again.
CSC, Philippines.
BACTRIM: 12 August
Dear Brian:
I was prescribed Bactrim 6 days ago. I took it for 4 days. I was ok the 1st and 2nd days. However, on the 3rd day, I felt nauseous and dizzy, but not too bad. On the 4th day, I felt more nauseous and dizzy, close to vomiting, and I experienced chills, unsteadiness and pain in my middle back. On the 5th day, I stopped the Bactrim and still have the symptoms, which are uncomfortable and worrisome. Do you know if they’ll go away and how long this will take? Will I experience other ill effects? I’ll never take this stuff again.
Why on earth would a doctor prescribe Bactrim instead of a newer, safer, better tolerated, more effective antibiotic with far fewer side effects such as Cipro? It boggles the mind. And we, the unsuspecting patient, are the ones who suffer. Shame on them. How unfair.
Anon.
BACTRIM: 17 August
Hello,
I know your article and website are a few years old, however I wanted to let you know that it was very helpful to me in understanding exactly what was wrong.
I was diagnosed with a cronic sinusitis. My doctor wasn’t available, so I went to an urgent care facility (what someone might call a doctor in a box), who prescribed Bactrim, telling me that “this will clear up any infection”. (12 days worth, or 25 pills).
After living with the side effects, I can understand why!
The first few days on the medication I was a bit out of it. My mental acuity was off and I was feeling sluggish and constantly tired. half way though my first week I would break out in cold sweats and my face would go pale, I would feel as if I just swam the english channel, under water. Out of breath, muscle aches, and just plain tired. by day 6 I was not only feeling tired, but was feeling an uncomfortable tingle under my skin, and by day 10 was experiencing a heavy pain in my chest, and sharp abdominal spasms.
At one point I thought I might be having a heart attack.
I ran an internet search for side effects of the Bactrim, (and possibly if it reacted badly with pseudoephedrin), and found your site. I guess I’m lucky I didn’t have as bad a side effect as others. (I’m setting up a visit to my doctor to have tests run on my internal organs, just to make sure).
After reading how the sulfates are used, the nearest thing I can think of is that the sulfates get into the blood, and then irritates everything the blood “touches”, which gives you the skin on fire / crawling effect, and why my chest hurt so much. All that blood uses the heart as it’s central local. Anything effecting the blood, would also effect that muscle.
It’s been four days since taking my last Bactrim (SMZ/TMP DS 800-160), and the pain in my chest hasn’t gotten any better. My energy levels are returning but I’m still not able to concentrate on anything for very long, my skin still crawls, and I have reoccurring cold sweats.
Sometimes the cure is worse then the illness. I would much rather have had the sinus infection, then be leveled in this manner.
Thank you for your time,
Matt H, Portland Oregon.
BACTRIM: 17 August
Hello,
I found your website by accident…So glad it is out there. I took a round of macrodantin and had a horrible rash/inflammation episode. The urologist took me off immediately and put me on bactrim (Recurrent UTI)…after only 3 tablets over one week, I had a horrific sore throat/aches-pains/horrible headache.Felt flu like. Started reading side effects and web information…Also strange metallic taste in mouth….no appetite. I stopped immediately and demanded another drug. The dr. thinks I’m a bother – but I know what this drug did to me…I was supposed to take it for 8 weeks. No way. I am now on amoxicillin…one tab for 6 weeks. I have taken before with no problems…Should be ok….Wish I had known about bactrim Before I took the first tablet…Thanks so much.
Donna M, California.
BACTRIM: 26 August
I was given both levaquin and bactrim for a bacterial infection that the doctor in the ER diagnosed as celluitis. I was told that both were broad based antibiotics and since my infection was sort of nonspecific these were good choices for the infection at the time. Besides the effects of nausea, tiredness, weakness and constant headache, I developed a rash over my entire body. It literally felt like I was being seared in a frying pan. I was extremely hot and ran a fever of 104. I was eventually admitted into the hospital for IV fluids due to dehydration and the fact that I barely had an appetite and could hardly keep the medication down. While in the hospital, the journey continued, the rash got worse and my liver functions at one time were in the 1200s. At one point the gastroenterologist felt that a liver biopsy was in order and perhaps a transfer to another facility due to suspected liver failure. I was also suffering from gastritis. After the fever was finally under control the doctors battled the effects of the bactrim with different antibiotic. I had various X-rays, an ultrasound an EKG, Echo and a bone scan (the bone scan was used to see if the infection had set into my bones) all came back negative. I was being treated with anemia medication as well as steroids for the rash (prednisone among these steroids). I was released from the hospital after one week and I’m no longer taking any antibiotics but I’m still dealing with the after effects of the medication. I’m still tired and I still feel slight burning in my skin from the rash which I’m told it could take weeks to get back to normal. In addition, I’ve developed several fungal patches on my skin. Thank God my liver functions have gone way down and are once again approaching normal limits. By all accounts I seem to be on the road to recovery. The doctors are certain now that I had a severe allergic reaction to bactrim and that I can never take any sulfa based antibiotics.
Syreeta C, New Jersey.
SMZ/TMP: 28 August
Hi,
I stumbled across your website while trying to find the more specific details of the side-effects of this drug since I was prescribed it not a week ago for a staph-infected spider bite. Short of vomiting I’ve had all the listed side-effects, including such severe stomach pains that it feels like horrible heartburn combined with a gall bladder attack. I am on my last dose (I took 28 pills in 7 days, with the dose 800-160) and I haven’t slept in the last two days because of the pain keeping me awake at night. Add to that the pounding headaches that I would equate to a migraine if I had them, accompanied by a ‘fever’ sensation, with sweating, warm to the touch, and muscle tenderness. I also started hallucinating, which my friends attribute to unrelated stress, and shortly after the worst of the hallucinations had a severe panic attack. I’ve also been terribly jumpy for the last week, and every little noise makes me jump back. Having read that my sudden loss of balance and that ‘dizzy’ feeling as well as feeling like I am on the deck of a ship at sea (accompanied by the sea-sickness as well) isn’t me going crazy, I feel a bit better, well, not by much, but it’s nice to know that I’m not losing my mind totally.
Now, I am not allergic to Sulfa-drugs, which it would seem most people with the rashes, etc, experienced, but even still, the side-effects have not been mild nor have they gone away, but steadily gotten worse. My parents always called me a hypochondriac, but upon reading all the varying symptoms of the emails listed, and being on the last day of the drug myself, I feel that more side-effects should be listed on that label. It can’t be ‘coincidence’ that
I and someone else both had panic attacks, anxiousness, severe stomach pains, headaches, and a supposed fever, and more. Isn’t there anything more than can be done to have these things listed? Surely people can’t ignore that so many different people all over the world are having the same reactions to this drug, especially in the high doses that are prescribed for such mild infections.
Truly, it was good to read your website, to read all the side-effects that others have experienced that are pretty head-on to what I myself have experienced. I will ask my doctor for a different medication in the future, and simply claim I am allergic. Might as well, when the cure is more deadly than the disease.
Cheers,
Hannah, WA.
BACTRIM: 1 September
It’s 9-1-07.Im raging with a temperature after seeing my M.D. yesterday for a urinary/bladder infection.I’d rather have the infection! I had taken a bactrim DS/800 at dinner last night.I was up all night with aching legs and a raging fever (104.6).Sick wasn’t the word for the muscles aches.This moring I proceed to get out of bed,took another Bactrim DS/800 at 9am and by 1pm the fver,chills and aching are all back.I have been diagnosed with “Drug Fever”,some sort of reaction.Thank God for this website-I went online and typed in bactrim DS/800 and here was my answer,I literally had to go to the ER and through the process of the “know it all Doctors” i finally said-IT HAPPENS 2-3 HOURS AFTER I TAKE A BACTRIM.The Dr in the ER started saying to me “it’s probably from your UTI” (FEVER CHILLS ETC) Hello-my uti was much better prior to taking these terrible pills-but i thought i’d better take antibotics to prevent future problems.
Tammy S, Tennessee.
SMZ/TMP DS 800-160: 2 September
Last night I went to the emergency room at Holmes Regional here in Melbourne Fl due to my temp being 102.9 and prior to that I was freezing? I had called my Pharmacey and they had told me to take two tylenol as I had a splitting headache.
At the Hosp the took blood and uran samples.I was perscribed the medication for a Uranery infection and and after just reading all the E-mails on your web site. They discharged me and sent me home and I was told that my innfection qas getting better and to keep taking the medication .When I got home (11:30 pm) I tried to eat but it was almost impossible to swallow I had such pain in my throat.
Today at roughly the same time period I’am having the same effects as yesterday?? I took the medication at approx 12pm and I felt the effects around 6:45 pm just like last night!!! About 6-7 hours after taking a dose.I have towait until Tuesday as tomorrow is Labor day and no Docs have office hours.Things such as the experience people have had on your web=site should be in the news papers and on TV,it’s ashame so many people should suffer
David W. S.
BACTRIM: 9 September
Hi Brian,
I just came across your website, thank god. I do not feel so isolated now. I was prescribed bactrim a month ago for a post-op nasty infection (from the OR) that refuses to leave my body. (9 months ago the infection began, not cute) I took Bactrim for 20 days as prescribed, and then had a flare up of the infection landing me back in the ER for minor surgery. The ER doctor asked what I was taking for the infection prior, and I said Bactrim. So, he prescribed Bactrim again, along with another antibiotic called Rifampin. (used for Tuberculosis, oh my god, and other skin infections). Three days into taking BOTH I felt a weird prickling sensation on my elbows and backs of my arms. By the following day, I had a painful, itching rash that looked like hives/poison ivy all over my arms. I called the Dr. who asked me to come in the next day, but to continue the drugs. (I didn’t take anymore….I am not an idiot).
So, I was thinking this HAS to be the RIFAMPIN, afterall, I had just taken Bactrim for 20 days! The nurses took one look at me and scowled in horror. The Dr. took me off both antibiotics and prescribed Cipro and he also prescribed Prednisone and told me to take some Benadryl and use hydrocortison cream. That was almost two weeks ago. The rash, I thought, was clearing up. My elbows looked better. The, about 5 days after my initial visit to my Dr. I noticed these CRAZY huge welts all over the backs of my arms/shoulders that looked like I was attacked by a swarm of bees. Two days later, my thighs broke out, the backs of my knees, and now the fronts of my arms. I cannot sleep. I feel panicky. I itch so bad I am bleeding from the scratching….but the itch is so incessant that I cannot stop.
My Dr. said he had seen this reaction to Bactrim before, and that it can surface and resurface in your body for up to a MONTH. I see him again tomorrow…and I have to see if I can get something for the itching….I think I am going insane. (Oh, I forgot to mention the headaches….nothing will even touch them). I have never had an allergic reaction to anything in my life, let alone a hive. I cannot believe this is so widely prescribed and no one told me the possible/common side affects. Thanks for posting all these letters. I see it has been a while since you have, but I thought I would add my story too.
Truly and Itchy and Frustrated beyond belief,
Cara St.G, Cocoa Beach, Florida.
RELATED:
Bactrim-Septra: a secret epidemic
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