Trimethoprim and Insomnia: What Users Say

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "Presented to Doctors for UTI. Was prescribed trimethoprim for 5 days. 300mg, one per day. I have never had such a horrible reaction to an antibiotic. I did think it was odd that the dose was so low and only 1 per day, and now I know why. Any higher and I probably would have been hospitalized! I had the worst, worst stomach cramps, nausea, wobbly legs, zero energy, couldn’t sleep at night, sweating on and off, horrible jaw clenching, tense body muscles (especially in the back of my neck) and very, very anxious. It’s easy to second guess yourself and think that these side effects are just in conjunction with the UTI but me, personally, know my body very, very well and these tablets just made me so sick and in my opinion the UTI was easier than taking these. Now that I’m 2 days off these pills I am creeping back to normality. My advice is don’t take them unless you want to risk the side effects."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed a 5-day course of 300mg trimethoprim for UTI treatment when I walked in at Emergencies (there was blood and total incontinence). I have had the worst days ever: insomnia, massive throbbing headaches, my hands are shaking, and bloating on the face and legs. I feel so tired, depressed, and I've been having obsessive-catastrophic thoughts. Is it just me? The blister contains 7 pills, unsure whether to finish or stop at 5, as I don't want the UTI back."

• She...
• December 7, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "This trimethoprim medication is dreadful, the side effects seem to hang on well after finishing the course. I’ve used this medication a few times and thought it was only me with side effects. I have a thyroid disorder, and this medication has absolutely sent my blood reading all over the place, which results in my thyroid medication being lowered each time. Terrible insomnia, my body ached all over, and itchy. These side effects still linger two months later, it’s literally destroyed my gut and wrecked my insides. All I’m doing now is working on trying to rectify this."

• X20...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2023

For Urinary Tract Infection "I am from the UK, and I have taken this drug in the past with no issues. However, this time, trimethoprim 200mg 2x a day for 7 days. As with other people here, I got horrible jittery internal trembling within a couple of hours. Terrible burping and no appetite at all. Horrid tingly sensations all over my body, as well as creeping pains up my back. Also, back pain, stomach ache, dreadful anxiety, insomnia, horrible morbid thoughts, no concentration, lightheadedness, fatigue that bad that even going to the corner shop left me out of breath and sweating. On the last day, I developed an awful feeling of hypersensitivity in my genitals (I'm female), a constant and very unwelcome throbbing, it was all-consuming. Eased off a bit by nighttime, but I couldn't sleep. I also had frequent urges to pee, but I can't seem to 'let go,' and only a thimbleful comes out. Finished the course and praying that this stuff leaves my body soon."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 23, 2023

For Urinary Tract Infection "I had a very bad experience with this antibiotic. I totally lost my mind. All the usual levels of anger, fear, and hurt were multiplied by 100. Thoughts totally dark, with my heart pounding like crazy. I ended up smashing plates! I couldn’t sleep. I saw the reviews from other people. Stopped the antibiotic, and after a day, I feel shattered but myself again. This could have been so dangerous. Please, if you experience something similar: you will be okay, just stop taking this antibiotic. After reading other people’s reviews, this drug should really be taken off the market. It could be dangerous, especially for people already with vulnerable mental health. All the best to you."

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "Awful medication. Took for 2 1/2 days and had to stop taking. Symptoms: - Acute pain in arms, legs, groin. Difficulty in moving fingers, etc. - Fever - Headache - Red eyes - Rash on leg - Stiff neck - Back pain - Unable to sleep. To make matters worse... bladder pain still there. Will never take again!"

• Lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2019

For Bladder Infection "Cystitis infection and prescribed these trimethoprim tablets. Took the full course and feel totally exhausted, difficulty sleeping, anxious. Infection still hasn't totally cleared up! Will NEVER take these pills again. SHOCKING."

• Fem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "This antibiotic has left me really unwell. I was prescribed 200 mg 2x daily for 3 days. I only took 3 tablets (1 a day). Firstly, felt like my kidneys had been battered, followed by severe stomach pain, extreme shivers and anxiety, also bad insomnia! Getting sharp shooting pains (like an electric shock all through my body)! Bad muscle aches as well. Warning! If you suffer mental illness, please avoid, as these pills really heighten everything. No more for me, it is an awful drug. Not forgetting headaches, facial pain, and horrendous nausea. I feel for all the patients experiencing these unwanted side effects. It's been 1 and a 1/2 days since stopping them, praying this will all pass real soon. In my opinion, they should be taken off the market pronto. Hope doctors realize what toxicity they cause. I never will take these again, not worth the suffering."

• Hel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "Got 200 mg to be taken twice daily for a UTI. Night one, I started to vomit and had zero energy with an indescribable migraine, I put it down to the UTI making me poorly. Over the next few days, I started to have my muscles cramp up massively, my arms and legs would not move, and the energy to move them was too much. It also caused unbelievable acid reflux, I could not eat for a week, literally zero appetite. Lost a lot of weight. The last two days, the anxiety, insomnia, and panic attacks set in. This is when I checked on here for reviews and realized I wasn't the only one. It cleared the infection, but boy, what I put down over the week was something else, please find an alternative if you can."

• Kri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2023

For Urinary Tract Infection "Since taking this drug, I've been having the worst anxiety and insomnia in my life. Had to start sleeping pills, that's how bad my insomnia became. Body shakes, numb limbs, panic attacks, and of course, diarrhea. Be careful taking this!"

• Tre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2023

For Urinary Tract Infection "Like many others on here, this drug and I don't get on. Two days in - anxiety overload, loss of appetite, feeling of pending doom, and no sleep. Can't really comment on its effectiveness because I couldn't endure it longer than two dosages... Won't be revisiting trimethoprim."

• Ton...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2024

For Urinary Tract Infection "Started taking trimethoprim 300 mg for UTI. Two hours after taking it, I felt like I was shaking inside. Went to bed as I thought I’d just sleep it off, slept for a whole hour, then couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night. The insomnia was horrible. Also, woke up with my heart racing. I’m not even going to risk taking a second tablet. Never again for me."

• Thi...
• November 30, 2020

For Bladder Infection "Bladder infection. Almost an hour later, I had severe dizziness, hot flashes, extreme anxiety, and felt like my blood pressure had dropped drastically. The next 3 days, I had a horrible headache, nausea, the worst fatigue ever, completely no appetite, and severe anxiety. Kidneys were very painful, hard to breathe without exacerbating the pain. On the 4th night, I experienced all that and insomnia/strange random thoughts at night that seemed to have a mind of their own. Day 5, I feel much more like myself but still delicate. I notified my doctor and NHs24 about my symptoms, and they said to keep taking it! Glad I did because I am feeling much better now. Look up 'bacteria die-off symptoms', this may be what we have been experiencing. Harmful endotoxins from the dead bacteria in our systems due to antibiotics. I've read the worse you feel during die-off, the more you needed it. Take a good probiotic at night to ease symptoms."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2023

For Urinary Tract Infection "Was prescribed a 7-day course (think curse would be a better word) for a suspected UTI. Day 3 started feeling a bit weird/off-kilter. Very anxious, tired, loss of appetite, bloating, chronic abdomen pain, but persevered as instructed by GP. Day 5, in bits!! Not sleeping, aching, anxiety borderline manic. By day 6, I honestly thought I was dying and was about to go to A&E. Finished the course but will NEVER use it again. Stay away from it, ask your GP for an alternative."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "Day 1, an hour after taking this, felt so tired, couldn’t move off the sofa. Carried on taking them twice a day, then the 2nd day, very fast heart rate even when resting, & started to get very shaky in my hands and just felt overwhelmed with anxiety and felt shaky inside. Managed 3 days of these and had to stop, had really bad insomnia last night before I took one, heart racing, anxious, this morning I feel totally out of it. Will never take these ever again!"