Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Kidney Infections User Reviews

• Lisaxx
• November 24, 2015

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "Please don't let anyone scare you into not taking this. If you're like me with new medicine, you go online and research every little side effect and review and convince yourself not to take it. I was really scared to take this as I had bad reactions to Macrobid and Ciprofloxacin, and after reading these reviews I just knew it was going to be the same way. I'm on day two, no side effects other than a little nausea and a headache. That's the worst of it. We'll see how it goes by day 7, but so far this has been the best antibiotic I've taken."

• Reese...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2020

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "Went to the ER on Friday had the worse UTI infection ever which had spread to my kidneys & who only knows what other organs because the pain is absolutely unbearable! My 2nd day of Bactrim thus far pain has subsided some but still there. Haven't had any side affects yet I guess time will tell. I lost my mom last year to a very bad UTI infection so for anyone that has 1 please don't put off getting help."

• Linds...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2014

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "Took this medicine for a horrible horrible HORRIBLE kidney infection. Worked within 2 days and cleared up all of my symptoms, which was such a relief. I was told to finish off the bottle by my doctor, and the next day I developed a horrible case if the hives. I stopped taking the medicine immediately, but the hives stuck around for another 3 days. What a miserable week! So, Bactrim worked wonders for my kidney infection, but little did I know I was severely allergic to it. Take with caution."

• Ashxl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2017

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I was a bit of a moron and let a UTI go for too long. I had pain on and off for a few months in my back. Pee was cloudy, frequent urination..all that good stuff but two days ago I woke up and felt absolutely terrible. I was so nauseous, couldn’t eat anything, awful headache, chills and the worst back pain I had ever felt. I went to Dr and she wrote this for me. I took two pills yesterday and already today I feel a 100x’s better. I don’t believe it is for everyone obviously due to the mixed reviews and my mother had taken it before and it had awful effects on her as well but I do believe it’s worth trying because for me it’s been wonderful. I couldn’t even bend over yesterday and today all I have is slight dull pain in my back.Worked perfect"

• SarahES
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2015

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "Really effective, but really terrible side-effects. UTI and kidney infection both cleared up quickly, which I'm grateful for, and ultimately that's the point. But I had nausea and vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, joint aches, itchy skin, sore throat, loss of appetite... I felt way better with the infection than I did on the medication. But it's all temporary."

• annie
• July 28, 2019

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "Took 2 Bactrim daily for UTI after 3 prescriptions of Keflex with no change to infection. Bactrim did cure the persistent UTI but I ended up in hospital and tests showed my kidneys were not working. So was effective cure but serious side effects. After 4 days in hospital kidneys are back to functioning"

• Ckrus
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2018

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I went to the ER and was diagnosed with a severe kidney infection. I was prescribed with Bactrim 2 a day for 10 days I’m on day 6 and I’ve felt some nausea, headaches, and mild body aches and I’ve been very sleepy BUT as far as the pain from my kidney and chills etc I feel A LOT better !! I didn’t have any allergic reactions"

• good...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2023

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I was prescribed Bactrim after 2 other antibiotics that did not knock out the infection. Honestly, after reading so many bad reviews I was reluctant to take Bactrim. However, my infection was one step from putting me in the hospital. Fast forward, I've been on it for almost 13 days. I felt immediately felt better after the second day. The infection is gone. I had no side effects at all. Nothing. It did suppress my appetite a tiny little bit...which I'm not complaining about! Lol. But it worked well for me. Don't forget to drink a lot of water."

• tduch...
• July 3, 2017

SMZ-TMP DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I will not ever take this medication again (Generic form of Bactrim DS). I landed in the ER with a severe kidney infection... was given antibiotics, nausea medication, and pain medication through an IV. went home six hours later and started the Bactrim that night. I woke up at 2am absolutely drenched head to toe in sweat, with chills... couldn't fall back asleep. The next day I had the worst headache... terrible, terrible pain in the base of my skull, and a horribly stiff and sore neck. Any time I stood up I could feel my blood pressure in my head sore, just throbbing. I had zero appetite. I stopped the Rx after 2.5 days. I felt worse after I started the Rx than before it. Never, ever again."

• smj
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2020

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I was diagnosed with a Kidney infection and prescribed Bactrim twice a day for 5 days. I took my first pill in the evening, slept for twelve hours and took another one in the morning. I thought my body just needed the rest, but shortly after the second pill I slept most of the day. By the end of my experience I've had: fatigue, stomach pains, severe constipation, nausea, insomnia, and loss of appetite. My kidneys seemed to have improved but I couldn't even bring myself to take the final pill."

• Danni
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2020

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I was prescribed this after having kidney surgery. I took one pill and felt fine. But the next day, I took a 2nd dose and within an hour I had the worst vertigo that I have ever experienced. Everything was spinning. Even when I laid down, if I moved even a little, I felt like the pillow was falling. Its been 24 hours, the vertigo passed but very tired and have a headache."

• Sarah
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2019

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I was prescribed Bactrim after a UTI turned into a kidney infection. The Bactrim wiped out enough of the infection so that I became functional again. However, I wrote this review to warn people prescribed this drug of the following: - I got severe back pain about a week into my 2 week course of Bactrim. It only happened one day and may have been caused by something else. - I was out in the sun for only a few hours in a tropical place while on Bactrim and got the worst sunburn of my life. I couldn't sleep for 2 nights because the pain and the itch was so bad. Take the warnings about photosensitivity seriously and stay out of the sun or you will be at risk of getting a severe sunburn (Do a computer search on this to see how bad it can get. No doctor properly warned me of this). - I got UTI symptoms again about a week after my 2 week course was done. I'm now on another antibiotic."

• Sick...
• March 25, 2020

SMZ-TMP DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "Wow I should have looked at reviews prior to taking this SMZ-TMP DS medication. I had this prescribed for a UTI/possible kidney infection. I only had a 3 day course, day 2 I woke up extremely sick horrid headache that turned into nausea and vomiting. That caused the headache to be even worse. I felt so weak and dehydrated like the worst hangover of my life except there was no alcohol involved!! :( i had to drink water all day or else I felt I was gonna pass out and did nothing but lay on the couch under the blankets. Moving in any way made me out of breath. I finished the dose as I was scared to not finish since internet says it’s bad to not complete antibiotics. On the night of day 2 I was finally recuperating but surely after taking morning dose of day 3 I went back to feeling super crappy!!! I’m hoping my infection is gone, but my back is still hurting so I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Anyone taking this beware!! Make sure to eat a lot and drink a lot a lot of fluids."

• Sbano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2019

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "Horrible medication. Vomiting, skin rash --headache-- joint pain. Can barely get off toilet knees hurt so bad Sore throat. I was ok until I took 1 pill. I'm worse from taking it. Should be classified as poison not medication."

• TheBr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2018

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I had sharp back pains and a 101 fever with nausea, and was put on levaquin for 7 days. I am soo sensitive to meds that I had to change to Bactrim after one day. Bactrim has been a dream!! I have had little to NO side effects which is huge. Pharmacist said drink PLENTY of water on this so I have been. Dry mouth/weird taste in mouth but no feeling weird or having stomach issues."

• Gilly
• August 25, 2019

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "(18 yr/o female) I was prescribed this medication after winding up at the emergency room with extreme pain in my right side. After further investigation it turned out to be a kidney cyst that had become severely infected and was getting bled into. I was more than willing to start the medication. I had currently been at Mayo Clinic getting tests done for severe stomach nausea and pain. Yet on the third day of this antibiotic I was miserable. I figured it was my previous stomach issues yet it got worse and worse. I spent day 3 by the toilet thinking I was going to be sick with a low fever. After that I lost my appetite completely, and had this awful twisting spasm start in my upper gut. This spiralled into severe depression, anxiety and not being able to sleep at night. It has kicked my cyst (hopefully) but I am on day 7 after being prescribed for 14 days and I don't know how much more I can take. Good luck to anyone who can brave this medicine."

• TXano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 15, 2012

Septra DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "Had ache in back/side under rib, remembered that it was symptom of kidney infection, left urine sample at doctor's office immediately, test was positive for infection, doctor (who knows me well) called in this antibiotic and I began making immediate progress within 24 hours. I was careful to take the full course of the medicine without stopping."

• Carly
• November 10, 2020

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "If you are someone with any sort of stomach sensitivities, food sensitivities, IBS, etc. I strongly recommend you DO NOT use this antibiotic. I am someone with a very sensitive digestive system and am prone to stomach bugs. I had a really bad UTI that led to kidney infection. My first course of antibiotics were gentle, but the infection returned after finishing the course. My doctor recommended Bactrim to get the infection off completely. I suppose it worked, because my urine sample came back normal. However, I could not finish the course because of extreme side effects. Complete loss of appetite, constant vomiting, diarrhea, chills, shaking, panic attacks, the works. I will never take this antibiotic again. Now almost a week later, I still can hardly eat and have constant abdominal pain."

• swoods
• October 4, 2016

"I usually take this antibiotic because I am allergic to everything else and am afraid to take Cipro. It clears my uti and kidney infection everytime. I must say the side effects are worth the relief. What I experienced as side effects are, painful tongue almost instantly, joint pain toward the end, and loss of appetite. I did notice if you drink enough water with this antibiotic it makes all these symptoms less noticeable. The last time my tongue pain I could hardly feel it, joint pain was there but bearable, loss of appetite well I saw that as a bonus. Make sure to drink lots of water and I mean lots. Also make sure to take a good probiotic so you don't get a yeast infection afterwards. I ate a lot of yogurt with a probiotic. God bless!"

• MLBH
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 11, 2019

"Everyone processes pharmaceuticals differently. After a prior unpleasant experience with Macrobid, I requested an alternative this time around and was prescribed Bactrim DS. I had a great experience and would take it again in the future if needed. My symptoms cleared up quickly and I felt fine while on it. No GI side effects. I was a tiny bit "jittery" on Day 1 but otherwise felt quite well. Be incredibly vigilant about drinking tons of WATER (not just any fluids). Even though I drank lots of water, I did still feel dehydrated while on Bactrim DS but I just kept at it. It can take a few days to get your hydration to normal levels even once you've stopped taking it, so keep drinking TONS of water for several days afterward. And I mean more than you think you will need."

• Sarah
• December 6, 2017

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I was prescribed Bactrim for a kidney infection. I took two doses, 500 mgs each. After the first dose, I began to feel lousy. I assumed it was a side effect. The second dose almost killed me. I went to the ER, where I was stabilized enough to move me to ICU. Before I lost consciousness, my blood pressure was 35/27. I woke up 3 days later with a central line, severely swollen body, and my skin was bright red, like a severe sunburn. I spent 3 weeks in the hospital, with my blood pressure constantly plummeting. I apparently have a severe allergy."

• Arey
• March 8, 2017

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I had a UTI that went into a kidney infection, They put me on Bactrim, Didn't notice any side effects until a few days later, I started feeling depressed out of no where and it got worse from there, I ended up in the hospital with the worst headache of my life, I was shaking and throwing up I didn't even think it had anything to do with the Bactrim. The depression got so bad I ended up at the psychiatric hospital, I had no idea why I was feeling like this, it was by far the worst feeling in the world, When I came home and went to see my therapist and told her what was going on she immediately asked me what medicine they put me on and when I told her she said look up the side effects to that and sure enough everything was listed."

• JamieW
• February 9, 2021

"I was terrified to start this medication sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim after all the awful reviews but I only had a 3 day course of 2 pills a day so I thought I could hang in there if I got any bad side effects. To my surprise I completed my prescription and had very mild side effects. I did lose my appetite and was not hungry at all while on this. Other than that I didn’t have any other issues. I do take a probiotic so that may of helped with any stomach issues that people have complained about. But I think this medicine did wonders! Cleared up my kidney infection in 3 days!! Give it a try, take a probiotic and as long as your not allergic you should be just fine."

• Anonymous
• June 6, 2015

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "Rushed to the ER because of unbearable flank pain. Doctor noticed a large amount of white blood cells in the urine, and prescribed Bactrim. The first two days I felt okay, nothing really improved. By the fifth day the back pain disappeared but the urge to pee was still present. Sixth day I got a high fever, headaches, body aches, and a rash. Felt like crap! Stopped taking it and side effects subsided. I'm severely allergic to Bactrim. Was prescribed Cipro, it works great!"

• Raj_1
• January 2, 2018

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I always get digestive issues (severe nausea, diarrhea, gas, upset stomach) from antibiotics. I hadn't taken Bactrim before. For me the side effects have been very minimal. I eat a serving of carbs about 10 minutes before taking it (bread or pasta or a banana) and then drink a large glass of water with it, and have made sure to drink a lot of water generally. I'm also taking a probiotic midday. The side effects I've had are being more tired than usual, low appetite and a bit of a dull headache for a couple days. After the initial dose I had intense nausea but I had not eaten. I have one day remaining of the 7 days course. After one day on Bactrim my infection symptoms went away. I'll need a follow-up but so far, yay Bactrim!!"