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Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim for Bacterial Infection User Reviews

Brand names: Bactrim, Bactrim DS, Septra, Co-trimoxazole, SMZ-TMP DS, Septra DS, Bactrim Pediatric, Sulfatrim Pediatric, Bactrim IV Bethaprim Bethaprim Pediatric …show all brand names

Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim has an average rating of 3.8 out of 10 from a total of 184 reviews for the treatment of Bacterial Infection. 20% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 61% reported a negative experience.

Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim rating summary

3.8/10 average rating

184 ratings from 204 user reviews.

Compare all 1035 medications used in the treatment of Bacterial Infection.

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Reviews for Sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim

  • Mel
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 18, 2019

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I just wanted to share my experience for people like me that are anxious about trying new drugs and see all these bad reviews. Only people who had a bad experience/are allergic tend to write reviews. Probably 90% of people who took Bactrim had no side effects. On that note, I was prescribed this for a moderate bacterial infection. It was probably 50% healed overnight after starting antibiotics, with only VERY minor side effects. It made me pretty tired and gave me a teeny bit of heartburn but that’s it. Don’t worry, major side effects are rare. :)"

8 / 10
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149 Report
  • Niki
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 4, 2021

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "Noo!!! Do not take this medicine. I was at the hospital a week ago for a severe UTI they prescribed me Bactrim. They wanted me to take it twice daily for 10 days. I made it to day 6 and tonight I feel so bad. My legs are tingling my tongue feels tingly and my mouth is super dry. I’m having bad stomach cramps and my ears hurt. This is all from this medicine. I’ve been having severe headaches, nausea and my anxiety is so bad. Please be very aware with taking this medicine."

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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 9, 2021

"If you never have had a panic attack but would like to know what one feels like then this sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim is for you. If you are lucky enough to not have any side effects consider yourself lucky. It had me convinced I was going to die. Not from self inflicted injuries but from my heart jumping out of my chest. I have tried it several times and it’s the same result. Never again!!!"

1 / 10
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75 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Green...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 17, 2020

"I am on the last day of a seven day course of this combo antibiotic sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim. The infection has cleared up yes (UTI) but my anxiety has been amplified 10 fold, as well as having hot flushes, a hard time concentrating, fatigue, and extreme depression. I would recommend that anyone who has a preexisting anxiety disorder or depression request a different antibiotic as sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim seems to make anxiety a lot worse. I feel miserable right now."

1 / 10
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77 Report
  • Crazy
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 26, 2020

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I had a staph infection and I am also on paxil for depression. I used bactrim for eight days and became very sick. My depression was very severe with this drug. Cold sweats, very weak, mouth issues, nerve pain in legs, headache insomnia and what makes it worse is that you are on a roller coaster. "

2 / 10
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76 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • Kd0520
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 27, 2020

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I took Bactrim for 4 days. On the 4th day, I started having leg pain. The day after I quit the meds, I had all over body aches, a low grade temp off and on and just a feeling of being ick. The next day, my aches went away but held on to the low grade temp, headache and weakness for two more days. During the course of the medication, I also had a pounding heart and no appetite. It did clear the infection though. I think I had a bad reaction and only wanted to report these so that others might know if they have the same thing happening to them. It took about 5 days from my last pill that I feel better."

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68 Report
  • Celtic
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 2, 2019

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "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 UTI's 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?"

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67 Report
  • The...
  • April 12, 2020

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "Took bactrim for 10 days...felt ok...a week after completing the bactrim I felt like I had the flu. Major insomnia and feeling the sweats and increased heart rate. Would never take it again...hoping to feel normal again!...drinking a ton of water....but will never take it again..."

9 / 10
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56 Report
  • stinab
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 17, 2019

"Worst antibiotic ever. Felt like I was a losing my mind for the 5 out of 10 prescribed days I took it, thought about death constantly, severe anxiety/panic attacks, I felt high like out of body. Weird, awful dreams. I am usually able to calm myself and just zen out, not on this stuff. Literally asked God to take care of my son and husband when I die due to death obsessed thoughts. Please ask for a different medicine if you can. Scary stuff."

1 / 10
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56 Report
  • Vance
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 12, 2018

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "There seems to be a lot of people who have had side effects. But seriously, Bactrim is a drug with not many side effects for most people. The people who mainly think to write comments are usually the few that have had the bad reactions. For me it was fine."

10 / 10
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59 Report
  • Len
  • September 2, 2021

"This antibiotic is very effective at clearing most bacterial infections quickly. You'll usually feel improvements within 48 hours. But as a bunch of other reviews have stated, bactrim gave me terrible anxiety and had my heart pounding out of my chest for 10 hours straight. Sleeping is nearly impossible. So 10/10 efficacy but 1/10 for side effects. I wouldn't take it again unless my life depended on it."

5 / 10
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33 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 4, 2020

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I have been on Bactrim for 4 days and my incision is feeling much better. The infection is oozing out and I’m feeling better. This medicine must be taken with food and you must drink 6/8 bottles of water daily. Not drinking water will cause many side effects."

10 / 10
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41 Report
  • Layla
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • August 9, 2020

"Started taking this sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim antibiotic for a cyst. About two days in I because very ill with fever and extreme fatigue, horrible headaches, vomiting and CRIPPLING anxiety and panic attacks. I have never had such a traumatic episode of fear and panic as the 6 days it took me to realize it may be the bactrim making me sick. I thought I was going actually insane until I read these reviews. I took one earlier before I found this and honestly am honestly considering going to the hospital to see if they can help me in anyway. I feel so bad."

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36 Report
  • Kd0520
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 22, 2020

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I took Bactrim for a gum infection. It got rid of the infection and I felt better fast however it gave me anxiety and a panic attack. If I had to take it, I would, but if there are other options, I would recommend going with one of those. I also had a pounding heart and leg pain."

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36 Report
  • Daish...
  • February 24, 2020

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "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 800mg/160mg 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, 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, low fevers and 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."

4 / 10
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36 Report
  • Bjano
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 4, 2019

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "Worst medication ever. My anxiety is through the roof. I am freezing most of the time when I’m not drenched i sweat. Heart rate is racing. Can’t sleep due to the horrible feeling of not waking. It’s like the spins but different. I swear I was seeing the light! I would be listening to my husband tell me to drink the water next to me but I couldn’t respond or move. It was like I was paralyzed. Very terrifying. If at all costs please find an alternative antibiotic. I wouldn’t wish this on my worse enemy....pure torture. I am prescribed it for 14 days twice daily and I’m only on day 3."

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37 Report
  • Riley
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 13, 2021

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I had a breast infection and was prescribed this terrible medicine- it needs to be off the market. I felt real bad 2nd day taking it. It caused a fever, rash, headache, sharp pains through body, no appetite, shaky, dizzy, numbness I felt so out of it scared me so bad I stopped taking it the Bactrim medicine is too strong I definitely wouldn’t recommend!"

2 / 10
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25 Report
  • Manddaa
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 12, 2019

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "This drug was almost the end of me. I had taken it several times before with no issues. However, this time I took three pills, and ended up in the hospital with Steven Johnson’s syndrome - which is serious severe reaction. It started with blisters covering the inside of my mouth. And then it spread all over my face and chest. I felt like I was literally ON FIRE!!! After very large doses of steroids and antihistamines, we were able to save my face. No scarring, thank God. But 2 months later, and I’m still struggling with the feeling of my face and chest getting really hot."

1 / 10
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33 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 20, 2020

"**This sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim is by the far the worst medicine ** I was prescribed this medicine, It works great but the side effects are not worth it, stop taking it immediately. On day 3 of taking it every 12 hrs, almost 10 mins later Irregular heartbeat (fast paced), an increase/enhance in normal anxiety, shortness of breath, fever flushing( random hot/cold flashes) constant thoughts of death(not suicidal) this medicine is a poison, ask you doctor for a different medication, or do natural remedies "

4 / 10
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30 Report
  • samsa...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 17, 2019

"this antibiotic combination medicine sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim is AWFUL. The first two doses I was okay but then I started having really bad anxiety and I couldn’t sleep. My stomach felt like it was in knots and I had shortness of breath. I felt like I was coming down from meth!! I don’t not recommend this."

1 / 10
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31 Report
  • Kadi
  • January 17, 2020

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "My daughter was contaminated with stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteria during a pleural drainage procedure and a year ago and for a year the bacteria has been treated with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (TMPX), the bacteria became MDR after nine months of continuous treatment and my daughter developed acute renal failure after the overuse of this antibiotic."

1 / 10
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30 Report
  • Scooter
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 30, 2020

Bactrim DS (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "Started on this sulfate antibiotic Bactrim 2 days ago for an infected sebaceous cyst. Several hours after taking first pill I developed a 102°, fever, splitting headache, muscle aches....I thought I was coming down with the flu. The second day the same thing happened....fever, muscle aches, severe headache again.. Took some Tylenol and crawled into bed for the entire afternoon. I’m not going to take tonight’s pill, and call doctor in the morning for a different antibiotic. I’ve never had reactions like this to any antibiotics I have taken in the past."

1 / 10
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29 Report
  • Coach
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 1, 2019

Sulfatrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "MENTAL HEALTH WARNING: Even though it was the only drug working on my Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), it has rare chance of causing significant psychosis or extreme mood disorder. I should have stopped taking it sooner, but it after two other drugs, I wanted it to work. If you have any symptoms of mood changes, STOP taking immediately. There have been cases of young adults not living thought their psychotic episode. I'm older, so I was able to realize my thoughts were not reality. Even when I thought reality was a delusion and my spouse of 20 years may not be real."

3 / 10
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33 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 1, 2020

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "I am 30. I recently had a vasectomy which caused an infection while healing. Doctor prescribed Bactrim. I noticed after my nightly dosage, I would constantly wake up like I previously would when having an anxiety attack. I thought it was just due to outside stress but after reading this page I see it may have been increased by this medication. I wish I would have known sooner. Bactrim helped with my ailments but also made me use the last of my emergency Xanax in the process."

9 / 10
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25 Report
  • Anonymous
  • December 20, 2011

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim) "This was not right for me. I had a severe reaction while taking this and had to go to the emergency room. Racing/irregular heartbeat, nausea, shaky, legs felt weird, red blotches, slurring speech, red eyes, feverish and generally felt very unwell. "

1 / 10
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58 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.