Bactrim DS for Urinary Tract Infection User Reviews

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2019

"I promised that if I had a decent experience with this antibiotic I would write about it. You will not have any of these scary reactions if you are not allergic or are taking a medication that will interact with this. I have anxiety, so I know how it feels to read horrible reviews about meds, but the Bactrim worked great for my UTI."

• A-T...
• June 6, 2016

"I was scared to take this because I read about people having horrifying side effects. I'm taking the generic form of Bactrim DS 2x a day for 7 days. On day 5, the only side effects I've noticed are mild gas and a headache. If you're skimming these reviews looking for reasons to be scared, just remember that most of these bad reviews are from people who are probably: A) Allergic to the medicine. B) Not drinking enough water. C) Using alcohol and non-prescription drugs which you are not supposed to do while on Bactrim. D) Not taking it with food. Take the medicine with food and a good probiotic, and it will help minimize your side effects. Drink LOTS of water and stay out of the sun while on this medicine! Not soda, not coffee, WATER."

• TJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2021

"Found this site as I was taking my first Bactrim dose and was concerned about side effects. The first day didn't feel great but I didn't attribute that to the medication. I took the med with food, before and after, and felt the key was to drink a lot of water to flush the system. I cut back on coffee intake as well. Completed all meds with no side effects. It cleared the UTI up quickly."

• Anonymous
• August 5, 2011

"I'm very obsessive. Somewhere around a few years ago, I started obsessing and being paranoid about medications. So, as I'm sure you are all doing right now, you're looking up reviews on this medication to determine if you'll take it. Just like I did. I almost gave myself a panic attack thinking about possibly taking this medicine and then having a serious allergic reaction. Luckily though, while speaking with my pharmacist, he let me know I took this medicine last year and I remembered I was fine. The point is, every medicine has adverse effects. Chances are, you won't have major side effects."

• lol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2013

"Bactrim did a great job! My whole lower part of the body hurt and burned, it was awful. I couldn't even walk for a while without feeling strong pain. Going to the toilet was a nightmare, and it happened every five minutes. I took Bactrim, and the symptoms got worse, but then in two days, I was cured. No pain, no nothing. Bactrim is perfect."

• Anonymous
• September 29, 2012

"I asked my doctor for a different type of antibiotic to take for this urinary tract infection instead of Cipro. This is my second day taking Bactrim for my UTI, and I can already see improvement! It feels like the infection is almost gone. I do, however, get a little bit of an upset stomach, so eat something substantial just before taking it and drink a few more bottles of water than normal, and you will be golden!"

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2016

"Take a breath. If you're speeding through all of these experiences, you're probably looking for potential side effects and reactions of other people. I know because I'm just like you. I can tell you the first day I took Bactrim, I had a horrible migraine. The worst I've had in months. But guess what? I also didn't drink coffee that day after having a constant intake for weeks. I had other problems like chills, but wait, I got this medicine for an infection! So many symptoms people experience are likely a result of other things. My UTI went away. I drank lots of water and milk with it. Other than experiencing a few more headaches and a bit of tiredness, I was fine."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2014

"I used to get recurrent urinary tract infections but hadn't had one in 7 years. Just got one and they tried nitrofurantoin but it did nothing. I got Bactrim and the urgency and burning was gone within hours. I don't like taking antibiotics but UTIs are no joke. Bactrim worked for me and thank goodness. I get a little stomach ache but it beats the UTI symptoms!"

• Lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2019

"This Bactrim stuff is awful! Taking for a UTI. I am used to taking Cipro, but have stopped due to the nasty side effects of that one. Have been taking the Bactrim for the UTIs instead. Every time I take this stuff, I feel weak and dizzy, my head hurts so bad, and I get antsy and stir crazy. I don't want to eat or sleep, and the nausea can be overwhelming. This stuff makes me feel like I am going to fade away and die. Once the medication wears off, I feel much better, but then it's time to take another dose, and it starts all over again. Ugh! It gets rid of the painful infection, but I just feel so awful while I am on this stuff."

• Hil...
• July 1, 2019

"Have been struggling with UTIs despite my many and varied preventive measures. Had some backup Bactrim that I tried instead of the Augmentin I was prescribed. On both occasions, within a half hour, I was in massive extreme discomfort, my vagina was on fire. I assumed I had developed a curiously fast yeast infection and treated it that way but with little success. Having done some research, I now see it’s a less common but real side effect, similar to a swollen tongue or hives, the vagina is the area affected. Lesson learned, but terrible that this side effect isn’t mentioned more commonly, a nightmare."

• DAB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2017

"I don't know what it is with all these users reporting ineffectiveness or side effects. Maybe mostly people who have complaints are the ones who take the trouble to write reviews. I had a UTI, and a few hours after taking the first pill of Bactrim, my symptoms started to clear. On my third pill now and no side effects and starting to feel better than I have in weeks."

• Anonymous
• April 5, 2013

"Had a 7-day prescription of Bactrim DS. The first two days, I had a headache. By the 3rd day, I started feeling nausea, which turned into nausea, dizziness, and constant fatigue. I've been off the medicine for 36 hours and still feel extremely exhausted, dizzy, and a little queasy at times."

• Mit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2016

"This is an amazing drug. I've never had any side effects besides that one where my bladder infection went away. If you're reading people's posts who have horrible side effects, they probably have an easily upset stomach. Don't eat or drink water. In most people, these don't cause side effects when properly taken. Or allergic! I wouldn't be too worried."

• ell...
• November 11, 2013

"Make sure Bactrim is actually the correct medication for your UTI! I took Bactrim for 4 days with no relief before my doctor's office got the results back from my UA and realized that Bactrim is resistant to the bacteria causing my UTI. Now I am taking Cipro and it seems to be doing the trick. I did not have any side effects with Bactrim though, it just didn't work for me."

• Cam...
• September 6, 2020

"Took sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim for a minor testicular infection. I got very sick. It caused chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache, and sharp pains all over my body. The doctor told me it was in my head, and I kept taking it. I eventually ended up in the hospital and was so sick I could barely sleep. It’s been a month since I took this drug, and while some of the problems are gone, I still have very bad muscle weakness, cramping in my legs, and sharp pains that feel like nerve damage. I’ve seen many doctors all agree that Bactrim did something to my system. I urge you to not take this drug. I haven’t had any response from my doctor since I called with all my symptoms. It has gotten so severe I’m starting to think my life might never be the same, and I was completely healthy, a 21-year-old before this. DO NOT TAKE THIS."

• Ann...
• December 17, 2016

"I was prescribed Bactrim DS for a severe UTI and a 7-day, twice-a-day schedule. On the second day of dosage, I began having flu-like symptoms such as dizzy spells, nausea, aches, weakness, and I felt so sick I thought I was going to die. I felt worse each day, and by the 6th day of dosage, I had to return to my doctor. He said I must have had a severe allergy to this medicine. He gave me a shot of antibiotics and a prescription of 500 mg Amoxicillin. I am finally feeling better. The Bactrim did not work on me. They put a note in my chart to not prescribe Bactrim to me again. I think that some people have allergies to this, I know I do. Hope my story helps you."

• Urm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2017

"Prescribed generic Bactrim DS, 2x/day for 3 days. Just took my last dose and minimal side effects. I always ate a big, substantial meal before taking this medication even though I had a loss of appetite (ate food that had tons of starch). Also, drank tons of water after and throughout the day. I was constantly peeing, but at least I knew I was drinking enough. Had minor upset stomach and fatigue, but still very functional, especially when the pain from UTI was gone. Took a day and a half to feel relief."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2019

"I've had multiple UTIs in my life, so I know what it feels like when I'm getting one. Tuesday night I had symptoms, so I went to the doctor the morning after. Got prescribed Bactrim DS. I did what everyone shouldn't do and Googled reviews. I was so scared to take it, but I felt 100% fine. I was a little dizzy when I first took it, but I honestly think that it was all in my head. This is the only medicine I take for UTIs. I suggest taking it with food to prevent nausea. But no dizziness. No nausea. No fever. And my infection feels better already."

• Jes...
• May 19, 2014

"Felt mild relief. Doc said it should be gone in 3 days, gave me enough to take it for 5 days in case it was not gone. I also experienced fevers and achiness. Not pleasant. Every day I had discomfort, and today I am out of it and feel terrible with my urinary tract symptoms again."

• Gid...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2019

"Bactrim DS, taken twice a day, has been effective for each UTI I’ve had. It covers a resistant strain of E. coli and has been effective all the times I’ve taken it. I just make sure to eat a meal prior to taking it, and I’m fine."

• non...
• April 13, 2012

"I also had similar experiences and side effects like lethargy, shaking, confusion slightly, severe fatigue, headaches, aches, and pains, but kept taking the medicine anyway because the pain of a urinary tract infection is much, much worse. I'd rather suffer for a short time with these symptoms than suffer with a bladder infection."

• Lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 30, 2019

"Fought a UTI for over a week and finally gave up and went to the doctor earlier today. He prescribed Bactrim DS twice a day for 10 days, and within an hour of my first dose, the pain was gone. I’d hardly been able to leave the bathroom for almost a full day, and all it took was one pill for me not to be absolutely miserable. I was an idiot for waiting and have had no unpleasant side effects."

• Aut...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 14, 2018

"If you're sick, meds typically have at least one side effect you'll experience. It's a prescription drug, not a miracle homeopathic treatment found in nature. You need to follow instructions and be aware of the warnings given. Ex: DON'T DRINK ALCOHOL during the course of the med. You NEED TO EAT SOMETHING with most meds, and drinking lots of water (way more than normal) is important too. I don't eat/drink water enough on a regular basis, and I love alcohol, but if I'm on a med, I alter my lifestyle to relieve symptoms of an infection I felt were bothersome enough to go to the docs in the first place. I've had no issues with Bactrim/sulfa thankfully, and those who have might want to find out if they are allergic to it prior to writing a bad review. It's a VERY common drug allergy that shouldn't sway the opinions of those not allergic. If you happen to have severe side effects from this, or any, med please find out if you are allergic first and consider it a personal learning opportunity."

• Anonymous
• December 23, 2009

"I've just taken my 3rd pill, and every time I take it, I feel extremely lousy. Terrible headaches, dizziness, blurry vision, shaky nervousness, some difficulty breathing, beginning to itch. I don't like this at all the way I feel. Just before I need to take the next dose, I'm feeling my old normal self, and then I take the Bactrim and, boom, I go downhill again. Told my doctor I quit, it's ruining the quality of my life."

• cal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2012

"Third day of medicine, but still having symptoms. Those of you who report adverse reactions and then go on taking the medicine should know that is not a good idea. I am allergic to several antibiotics, and my doc says stop taking at the first sign of any reaction as it can be very serious."