I was prescribed z-pak for a horrible cold I had. Immediately I had stomach cramps, horrible pain that would come and go...but I kept taking the medicine. Each day the stomach cramps were worse than my cold. By day 5 I broke out in a rash on my upper chest, shoulders and upper back...they were like pimples that itch. I am assuming since the zpak stays in your system for 10 days that this stomach pain and rash will continue. PLUS the zpak has not helped my cold/cough. I will never take the z-pak again and told others to never take it.