Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Cel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2019

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Bacterial Infection "3 days into the course, and I am experiencing: 1. Very bad dizzy spells. 2. Feelings of great weakness. 3. Feelings of great anxiety. 4. Feelings like I am dying. 5. My head & stomach are aching up a storm. 6. I am nauseated & vomiting. 7. Vagina burning, that started on the second day. I HAVE had Bactrim before for UTIs but have NEVER experienced what I am with this darn one. My question is what have they put/added into the drug to make me react in such a horrid nasty way?"

• Vga...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2019

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Urinary Tract Infection "Had not read side effects, so did not realize what I felt was caused by the med. My first day on Bactrim, I had side effects of feeling achy and depressed. By day 3, I was shaking, shivering, anxious, and insomnia. By day 5, nausea, dizziness, 100 heart rate, very low blood pressure, extreme anxiety. Pain everywhere, pain in my kidneys, very dehydrated, painful muscle spasms. Day 6, was going to go to the emergency room when I realized it could be the Bactrim and read side effects. Find it difficult to believe a doctor would give this to anyone. It was horrible."

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

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Urinary Tract Infection "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."

• Gea...
• January 10, 2017

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Bacterial Skin Infection "This is my second time taking this medication, both times it was prescribed for an alleged spider bite. The first time I took it, I stopped before finishing because the side effects were terrible. I experienced headache, dizziness, flu symptoms, and flushing. The second time I took it, I had the same experience, so I drank 2 liters of water and symptoms subsided tremendously. This is a double antibiotic, so it is imperative that you drink a very large amount of water when taking it, otherwise, the medication is concentrated in your system, and the side effects will be unbearable."

• Anonymous
• April 5, 2013

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Urinary Tract Infection "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."

• Ril...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2021

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Bacterial Infection "I had a breast infection and was prescribed this terrible medicine. It needs to be off the market. I felt real bad the second day taking it. It caused a fever, rash, headache, sharp pains throughout my body, no appetite, shakiness, dizziness, and numbness. I felt so out of it, it scared me so bad I stopped taking it. The Bactrim medicine is too strong. I definitely wouldn’t recommend!"

• Dai...
• February 24, 2020

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Bacterial Infection "I read the reviews, but I really wished I would’ve listened. It seems like it’s helping cure my staph infection, but the side effects aren’t worth it. Maybe the medication was too strong of a dose, but I had to take 800 mg/160 mg 2x a day for 10 days. I’m writing my review as I’m taking this medication, it’s making my heart race, it’s making me dizzy and lightheaded, jittery, messing with my stomach, confused, and headaches are off the wall. I’m drinking plenty of water and eating plenty of food. I’m also breastfeeding, and it seems like it’s making my son sick. He was fine until I started taking it, and now he’s vomiting, very fussy, has low fevers, and is sleeping on and off all day. We’re not around people too much, so it’s highly unlikely he got sick from somewhere else. I stopped taking it after the third day. I had to call an ambulance because I was home alone with my baby and I felt so off, and my heart was racing all day."

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

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Urinary Tract Infection "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."

• Ann...
• December 17, 2016

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Urinary Tract Infection "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."

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2020

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Bacterial Skin Infection "I was prescribed Bactrim for a 10-day course to treat a Staph infection in my skin. I had no issues other than fatigue for the first 6 days, but by day 7, I woke up feeling dizzy and so tired. I kept pushing on, taking the tablets because it was working to clear boils. By days 8-9, I had a rash over my body. I felt so lightheaded. Even lying down, my body ached as if I had the flu."

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2015

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Kidney Infections "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."

• Bri...
• March 21, 2017

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Urinary Tract Infection "The ONLY side effect I had from this medicine so far is very slight fatigue right after I take it. Had a pretty bad UTI, took the first dose (2 a day every 12 hours), and within a short amount of time there was no more burning, fullness feeling, or pain. I take this for 10 days and I am on day 7. And no dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or anything. Don't be afraid to take this medicine BUT! EAT BEFORE YOU TAKE IT!! Like a full meal! I think many people aren't doing this, and you should."

• Diz...
• August 3, 2016

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Bacterial Infection "Took it twice like I was supposed to, in the morning and at night, and my head feels like I was drunk, kind of like I kept getting dizzy and feeling weird. I don't know, but I still don't feel right. I feel like puking and being sick. I went to the doctor and got amoxicillin instead, and I don't feel any better. I have a zoo trip tomorrow, and it made me feel awful and even worse. I still feel kind of drunk and dizzy, and like I may pass out, and I'm scared to fall asleep because I may die."

• Anonymous
• December 23, 2009

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Urinary Tract Infection "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."

• Jam...
• May 2, 2019

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Bacterial Infection "I took Bactrim twice a day for 10 days. After completing the script, all the side effects started: dizziness, confusion, cramps in legs, swelling of glands-one on the back of my head, two in my throat, my thyroid swollen too. These are just the glands I can see. I also have problems urinating, burning from the kidneys down. It's been 7 days since my last dose, I'm still having side effects. When will this be over? I wish I had never taken this medication."

• Anonymous
• September 17, 2010

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Urinary Tract Infection "Took this for 3 days. 2nd day got severe itching on palms and soles of feet. Day three had uncontrollable shakes, heart racing, felt like it was going to come out of my chest, facial numbness, dizzy, very elevated (for me) blood pressure of 145/90, whole body tingling, dizziness, lightheaded, extremely intense nervousness, ringing in my ears."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 29, 2019

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Urinary Tract Infection "Never again. It has been only 2 days. I'm already dizzy, fatigued, anxiety-ridden, and it's 2 a.m., and my heart won't stop racing! I've had the jitters all day and very unpleasant heart palpitations that feel like my heart is going to explode. Also, I can't sleep."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2018

SMZ-TMP DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Bacterial Infection "Side effects I got on the first dose: very bad headache, dizziness, difficulty urinating, irritated eyes, joint and muscle pain, fever with chills. I am still recovering, it's been over 12 hours. I've gotten maybe 4 hours of sleep while I started this. I had to discontinue it, and I contacted my doctor. My advice: do not take if you have high blood pressure or a thyroid condition, this medication seems to interact with medications for those conditions as well as interact with those conditions themselves."

• Suz...
• September 15, 2020

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Urinary Tract Infection "I went to urgent care for unbearable pain from a UTI, and they put me on Bactrim. This made me feel awful. Lots of anxiety and panic attacks, and constantly feeling dizzy like the room was spinning and like I was going to fall down and pass out. Felt very shaky on day 5. Also experienced neck pain and pain in my lower back. Also experienced headaches. It cleared up the UTI but had horrible side effects. I’m someone who also has neurological Lyme disease, so the left side of my jaw just goes into spasm when I have a flare-up, which is another painful condition I live with, and I’ve taken many other antibiotics for Lyme and for sinus issues, but I’ve never experienced symptoms like this."

• Joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2016

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Urinary Tract Infection "Started taking Cipro for a bladder infection but had some bad side effects in the tendon in my right hand. Went back to the Dr. and he gave me Bactrim (Septra). I took it for 3 days in total before I had to stop. The symptoms literally made me feel like I was dying. I had a really foggy head, headaches, dizziness, I almost passed out one day. I got zero sleep the whole time I was on it. My joints hurt in the night, my skin got really itchy and developed a rash, I also developed extreme anxiety and I felt like I was having a heart attack with the palpitations. I was close to panic attack, that's when I said enough is enough. I've never had a reaction like that and I have trouble remembering those days. It was a blur of pain and confusion."

• Bat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2020

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Bacterial Skin Infection "I have MRSA from a piercing and was put on Bactrim (2 in the morning, 2 in the evening) 4 days ago. After 2 days on it, I took myself to the hospital. I have never felt this horrible, I swear I feel like it's going to be the end of me. It started out with a bad headache, no appetite, a little dizzy. Right now, I'm sitting on the bathroom floor waiting to throw up, I didn't sleep for even a minute last night even though I was exhausted. I can't stop shivering and shaking, I'm so hot but not running a fever-unbelievable headache. My doctor said this is the only medicine that will help MRSA, and I'm dumbfounded. Is this medication even worth it? I don't know if these feelings are the medication working or not."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2020

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

• Nar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2013

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Bacterial Infection "I have been on Bactrim DS for 6 days (4 more to go) and was diagnosed with MRSA. I feel the medicine is working very well, but my side effects are bad! I feel nauseous all day. I have a hard time eating. I feel like I'm pregnant. My stomach cramps, sometimes bloated, a little bit of dizziness here and there, and always feeling like I am going to throw up. I'm just really glad that Bactrim DS is working for my MRSA because I really don't want to go through different meds and then end up being hospitalized because I couldn't find the right antibiotics for treatment."

• Tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 15, 2020

For Bacterial Infection "I have a lot of medical issues and take a lot of medications, and feel I have a stomach of steel because nothing really bothers me. Anyway, my doctor prescribed this antibiotic to me for a UTI...twice a day for 3 days. Doesn’t say the mg on the bottle, so I have no idea. Anyway, the first day I did okay, the second, not so much. I woke up feeling very antsy and anxious, like I needed my next “fix,” and I am one who has never smoked even a cigarette in my entire life, let alone any type of pot or illegal drugs to get high, so this feeling was very unsettling for me. My head hurt horribly and felt very fuzzy and dizzy. I was sure I must have contracted the Coronavirus, but no temperature and otherwise fine. I roughed it out the 3 days but felt like rubbish the whole time, only today, 5 days after my last dose, did I wake up without the fuzzy, needing my next fix feeling. I still have a headache, but thank God the other side effects are wearing off. I will never take this medication again :("

• Anonymous
• February 17, 2012

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) for Bacterial Skin Infection "I stepped on a rusty nail and had a lot of pain, and my foot started to swell. I started taking Bactrim, and the pain went away within the first two pills, which was 24 hours. The only problem is that I can't function with the nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, and headache. I think it's because of a sensitive stomach."