I don't think Trimethoprim should be prescribed to anyone

Posted , 2 users are following.

I was prescribed this drug yesterday for a supposed unrine infection. I had suffered with unrine infections alot in my teens and into adulthood, however had not had an infection since having my son 8 years ago. I had problems during my pregnancy high blood pressure being one of these problems. As a result I only have one fully functional kidney. I was told that my blood pressure would probably go up again in later life and therefore have had it checked each year since.

On a routine checkup a couple of weeks ago, it appears that the high blood pressure is back and at the checkup I also had my urine dipped. The nurse asked me if I had any problems passing water etc. When I said I hadn't, she said there was something in my water and would send it off to the hospital just in case. I said that I thought I would have noticed if there had been a problem.

Anyway, yesterday I got the results and the surgery informed me that my doctor had left a prescription out for me. I picked it up and took the first tablet at four o clock.By seven o clock I had a severe headache, and the most awful chest pain, I thought I was having a heart attack

On reading the side effects we rang the hospital, got an appointment, by which time my back and chest were covered in a rash. My Blood pressure had reached 240/140 extremely high....

The doctor confirmed that it was an allergic reaction to trimethoprim and injected me with an antihistemine. Having checked my urnine again, they said I did not have an infection in the first instance and should never have been prescribed this drug and confirmed that it could have been fatal.

I am going to make a formal complaint to my doctor and would like to take this further. Why is this drug being prescribed? I think I am very lucky to be here today and my children could have been left without their mum.

I have had no further side effects today, thank god

:twisted:

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Posted

    I have just taken 1 200mg tablet of Trimethoprim for a UTI. My doctor called me yesterday to switch me to this drug from another antibiotic I had been taking (with no side effects). 1 tablet and only about half an hour later my back starts to ache badly and I feel really sick, have diahorrea and am freezing cold. Excuse me for being so blunt but why the hell are doctors prescribing this? I called the emergency doctor who told me to stop taking it immediately but was non-commital about the side-effects. He said one person can react and the next not. Well I make that 50% of people having a severe allergic reaction, not rare symptoms at all. The drug should be withdrawn from the market completely.

    I am going to put a formal complaint in to my doctor (South London based surgery) and wait until the symptoms subside.

  • Posted

    I have just taken 1 200mg tablet of Trimethoprim for a UTI. My doctor called me yesterday to switch me to this drug from another antibiotic I had been taking (with no side effects). 1 tablet and only about half an hour later my back starts to ache badly and I feel really sick, have diahorrea and am freezing cold. Excuse me for being so blunt but why the hell are doctors prescribing this? I called the emergency doctor who told me to stop taking it immediately but was non-commital about the side-effects. He said one person can react and the next not. Well I make that 50% of people having a severe allergic reaction, not rare symptoms at all. The drug should be withdrawn from the market completely.

    I am going to put a formal complaint in to my doctor (South London based surgery) and wait until the symptoms subside.

  • Posted

    I understand that you have had bad reactions to trimethoprim but I think this was because you shouldn't have been prescribed it in the 1st place. I have had to take it regualrly for recurrent cystitis and it is an absolute lifesaver for me, however this is because i need the drug, whereas in your situation it was wrongly prescribed. Taking the drug off the market will just prevent many sufferers of UTIs from a simple fast and effective cure. The real challenge is to ensure doctors are prescribing the right drugs!

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