Is anyone taking Trimethoprim? - Interstitial Cystitis Network Support Forum

Vonnie · 10-08-2004, 02:28 PM

Is anyone taking Trimethoprim? My husband went to his renal doc today and he asked advise about my IC. His doc told him that many IC patients take the above low dose antibiotic daily. Is there anyone out there taking this drug?

Jmeisnor · 10-10-2004, 05:56 PM

I was on 6 month program of trimethoprim for recurrent UTIs. I had only one 'break thru' UTI during that time. I was on vacation, and got a script for some other antibiotic, dont recall what it was, UTI symptoms disappeared,and so never had a culture to find out what the UTI was. Within a week of finishing the trimethoprim, I got severe IC symptoms. Took trimethoprim again, then amoxicillin, then macrobid. Nothing worked, and that was the beginning of my IC journey. I knew it was different from a UTI, but could not convince the urologist. Interesting to note...I am allergic to sulpha drugs. Took something about 15 years ago and got the rash/hives reaction. Have not taken sulfa drugs since then, till the trimethoprim. I remember telling the uro about my allergy to sulfa and he said the trimethoprim would not be a problem. I wonder....

mallenajolie · 10-11-2004, 06:22 AM

Hi:
I have had two bad experiences taking chronic antibiotics. One was a c. difficule infection (a colon infection, with bloody stool and it was like IC of the bowel), and pancreatitis. I was told the pancreatitis was due to the antibiotic marcrobid I asked my uro to put me on. He didn't want to do it, but he did, so I blame my self for the pancreatitis. It took about six months to get rid of the c. difficule, and almost a year to get rid of the pancreatitis.
Some are helped a lot by antibiotics, but I don't think I will try it again.

***Katrina*** · 10-11-2004, 09:50 PM

I had a bit of pancreatitis once from Flagyl...but my pharmacy made the mistake of putting on the bottle to take it twice a day. Scary.

stacey79 · 10-14-2004, 04:25 PM

My doctor tends to give me Macrobid or Cipro when I have an infection. I am on a low dose of Bactrim all the time. I take half of one, three times a week. That controlled my infections pretty well, but after starting on DMSO I've had some problems. I hear that's pretty normal, though.

SusanC · 10-14-2004, 08:17 PM

I was prescribed a 1 tablet dose of 100mg Trimethoprim daily since I do self-instillations. My doc said this particular antibiotic acts only on the bladder so there should be no problem. I've trusted him for all he's done and all the research he does before we decide treatments. I've been taking that dose for at least 10 months now with no bad effects.

Hope this helps and that others reply too!

Welcome to the boards, Vonnie!

stacyann_1 · 10-16-2004, 04:59 PM

My doctor just prescribed Trimethoprim to be taken after intercourse to prevent anymore UTI's. He still thinks maybe I don't have IC, just an inflamed bladder from recurrent UTI's.. Haven't decided if I'm going to take it yet. I hate antibiotics!

I also have had the c.difficile infection that mallenajolie had and have been told I can't take macrobid since that's what brought it on in me - twice.

To clear up the sulfa question - Trimethoprim is not a sulfa drug (I don't believe). Trimethoprim, however, is one of the 2 components of Bactrim (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) The second component, sulfamethoxazole, in Bactrim makes it a sulfa drug, but Trimethoprim alone is not.