Bactrim Side Effects
Summary
Common Bactrim side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, and sensitivity to light. More serious side effects can occur occasionally, such as muscle weakness and pain, goiter, and dizziness. Pregnant and nursing women, people with anemia due to folic acid deficiency, and children under the age of two months should not take Bactrim.
Common Bactrim Side Effects
Like most strong antibiotics, Bactrim side effects are common. However, do not allow side effects to cause you to stop taking your medication, as the benefits of taking Bactrim outweigh the side effects in the long run. The most frequent complaints that Bactrim users remark on include:
- Nausea/upset stomach
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
If you experience diarrhea, refrain from self-treating yourself with anti-diarrheal medication prior to consulting your physician. The side effects of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim generally disappear over time as your body adjusts to the medication.
Serious Bactrim Side Effects
Although most Bactrim users do not experience more serious side effects, consult with your doctor if you experience any of the following:
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Muscle weakness
- Mood/Mental changes
- Goiter (a growth in the neck)
- Blood in the urine
- Decrease in the amount of urine output, darkening of the urine
Occasionally, people have a more severe response to or develop an allergy to Bactrim or one of its components. If you begin to experience any of the following symptoms, immediately contact your physician:
- Shock (heart palpitations, throat/tongue swelling, dry mouth, skin rash/hives, etc.)
- Neck stiffness
- Persistent, severe headache
- Yellowing skin or eyes
- Severe peeling skin
- Confusion
- Unusual fatigue
- Prolonged diarrhea
- Seizures
- Blood and/or mucus in the stool
- Paleness
- Severe abdominal cramping
Long-term use of Bactrim can produce recurring cases of thrush and vaginal yeast infections.
Contraindications of Using Bactrim
You should not use Bactrim if you are a pregnant or nursing woman (because Bactrim crosses the placental boundary and is excreted in breast milk), have a known sensitivity to sulfa drugs or trimethoprim, anemia due to folic acid deficiency, liver and kidney problems. People with asthma and severe allergies are also advised to not use Bactrim.
Bactrim is a powerful antibiotic medication that is excellent at treating specific bacterial infections. The likelihood of common Bactrim side effects is high, but the benefits of taking Bactrim outweigh the potential negatives.
