Biaxin and antibiotic

This stuff sucks I never knew a antibiotic could effect ones sleep and sanity. The bitter taste is terrible. They gave me this for the flu but i'd rather take the chance of it coming back than to keep taking this crap. NEVER AGAIN

Same thing here. I have a sinus infection and pharyngitis that just wouldn't go away for 3 weeks. I was prescribed the generic version (Clarithromycin) 500Mg twice daily. The antibiotic does seem to work. I have had a bitter taste from it almost from the beginning. I took the fourth dose on an empty stomach in the morning with little fluid and 10 minutes later started to eat. 20 minutes after taking the antibiotic I had experienced an uncharacteristically severe panic attack. My heart just instantly started racing, confusion set in. The whole time while I am taking it I have difficulty breathing which eases off as dose wears out. Luckily for me I had some lorazepam laying around which I took to suppress this reaction. I skipped my 5th dose in the evening but my infection is still an issue. Now I am unsure whether to continue taking it or not. I am about to see my ENT today so I think I will not be taking it until I see him.

I have many of the same symptoms as everyone else... miserable stomach pain, diarrhea, terrible headache and heartburn. this drug is awful. I've never had this sort of reaction to an antibiotic before. Today is only day 4 and i'm afraid to take the pills. Has anyone heard that the side effects get better as your body gets used to the drugs?? I'm in the middle of taking exams and I was worried about this throat and ear infection interfering with my studying. I think I could have managed the infection better than these drugs.

I was prescribed Biaxin Extended Release, 500 mg/2x daily for 10 days, for a sinus infection. I am on the 5th day, and feel absolutely horrible. The nausea is CONSTANT, I am very tired, headaches, stomach cramping, bad gas, sleeplessness..the list goes on and on. Also, am very emotional. I have a history of depression, but this is a whole new ball game. I cry at almost anything. I called my doctor today to switch to a new antibiotic, and am waiting to hear back.

Been taking the generic Clarithromycin for a little over 4 months now. I have Lyme Disease and this drug along with Plaquenil, really helps. With Lyme you feel worse before you can feel any inkling of feeling better Sure it's got some side effects like metallic taste and a few others. I will tell you for me the Lyme symptoms far outweigh the side effects, so I really don't mind the side effects at all. It's all relative. The metallic taste is one of the worst ones.

Of course you have to keep your gut in line with any antibiotic. Probiotics, yogurt, kefir, kombucha all help to do that.

I saw an elderly ENT who prescribed Biaxin XL 1000mg/once per day for a severe sinus infection of the ethmoid, maxillay and frontal sinuses. I was not getting any better, in fact I was getting worse. I decided to go for a second opinion and learned that Biaxin is not as wide spectrum of an antibiotic as Augmentin is for sinus infections. The key strains of bacteria are not being obliterated from the Biaxin. MDs who prescribe Biaxin are not staying on top of current literature as Biaxin was commonly prescribed in the 1980s and 1990s.

My incredible side effects to Biaxin XL (including not wiping out the bacteria) include: lingering bad bitter taste, night sweats, insomnia, extreme stomach cramping, constant stomach churning (which kept me up at night), terrible diarrhea, nausea. The only plus side is that was more mentally alert.

If your doctor prescribes Biaxin for sinusitis, leave that doctor immediately and seek help from another practitioner who is more current on medications of choice for treatment.

I have been taking Biaxin for seven days. Thank goodness this is my last dose. I've had all the regular symptoms (naseau, upset stomach, diarrhea, metallic taste in mouth morning, noon and night), but I also have noticed a severe break out with acne, night sweats and tiredness. I feel like I can hardly keep my eyes open. I forgot one dose and felt almost like myself again, guess that's what triggered me to finally take the medicine. I will not take this medicine again. I'd rather get a yeast infection from some of the other antibiotics than feel like a walking zombie again. This is some strange stuff. I even quit taking my zoloft while taking this antibiotic thinking it was the interaction of the two drugs, but it didn't help.

I've been prescribed biaxin XL before and had no serious side effects. However, I was recently prescribed this antibiotic on 1000mg once a day for seven days. I've experienced diarrhea, vomitting, pain in the chest, sleeplessness. The worst side effect is the nasty taste in my mouth...and the constant vomitting to the point where I can barely swallow my own spit. Totally disgusted with this medication.

I also have had some of these crazy side effects but but most of them are just the effects of having an infection and I think the Biaxin perpetuates those effects. I have the Metallic taste in my mouth and the first couple days I got nuasiated after taking each dose. The sweats and nightmares too!! Wow I thought it was just something else. Let me tell you though I have not been able to sit down. Which is a good thing I guess but I guess that is just anxiety. After a couple days on this drug the side effects went away other than the metalic taste and increased energy. I cleaned my house for 12 hrs for 2 days. I am not going to complain but I find this to be very weird. Energy and motivation from a antibiotic... It does seem though that I get rare side effects from any medication I take but this is a trip. I sure which it didn't feel like I sucked on steal for a whole day!! I find these side effects to be very bizare but I guess when I need some energy I'll just take a Biaxin..well that is i'll feel better after the nausiated feeling goes away. Ha ha taking for reason other than precribed, isnt that abuse LOLOLOLOL

This pill should honestly be banned and taken off from the market! I too took this pill for about 5/7 days and experienced major problems with first and foremost, INSOMNIA! Nervousness, slight panic attacks, and my hands were extremely shaky as a result. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS ANTIBIOTIC!

What I find interesting is, how is a person supposed to get better if he/she can't sleep at night, and that is when the body does most of "healing". If anything, the body goes into a stage of fatique and the body does not recuperate the way it was meant to. When I had pneumonia, I was on hardcore antibiotics (2 actually), and NEVER experienced such side effects as with this useless pill. Maybe it does work, but the side effects overpower the benefits.

I am on my 7th day of 500mg/once a day clarithromycin, prescribed to me for a sinus infection. On the third day, I read all of the below comments and had a mild panic attack fueled by paranoia. Once I came back to reality, and in touch with my body, I realized which, in fact, of the common side effects I have been experiencing. The most notable is sleeplessnes. I have been having very intense dreams which have been waking me up every 30 to 45 minutes; upon waking my mind is charged and rearing to go. This side effect was attended to by a prescription of Ambien, made to me for this specific incidence. The Ambien has helped, I am now getting a solid 5 hours of sleep, still intense dreams, but sleep. For someone who typically requires 8 -10 hours a night, I find this 5 hour deal amusing. I don't feel particularly tired as a result, although I admit it has only been a week - it could catch up with me. This brings me to the other most obvious side effect, which I can only describe as mania - ready to go go go, constantly up, alert, ambitious (for what, I am not sure). Again, for a groggy girl like me these are actually welcome side effects! Other than that, I am experiencing a small amount of gas, and a slight spacieness (lack of sleep? or just an effect?). For these I have found lots of yougurt, fresh foods, and fluids, all in small servings and at regular intervals, ie: every 1 1/2 - 2 hours, to be allievating. My infection seems to have cleared up, I have a small amount of clear drainage in the morning, no more facial tenderness, headaches, and obviously my sense of fatigue is gone. All in all, I must say I would take this antibiotic again, which is not how I usually feel after most antibiotics I have, as an adult, taken.

Don't know which is worse, the complete blockage in my sinuses, or the Biaxin. This is the second course of antibiotics I've taken this month to cure it and this antibiotic is the worst.....metallic taste in mouth that never goes away and wakes me up at night to remind me of it's every lasting presence, diarrhea, constant upset stomach (like I'm hungry, but not), yeast infection - the only upside to it is that my moods are better (not worse). I only have 2 more days to go. My provider told me to reduce my Biaxin to 1 perday instead of two (to cut out the metallic taste), but I'm just gonna suck it up and finish the meds. Sounds like others have similar complaints about the drug....which they could fix the metallic taste and the diarrhea - then I'd be happy.

I am on biaxin for an ear infection. Within the first day of taking it I have the constant sensation of having to urinate. It is also coupled with the feeling that I can't control my bladder. It is awful. I missed a dosage one day, and the sensation went away. I am now on day 4 of 10. I don't know how much longer I can take it. I may discontinue use and hope the ear infection doesn't come back. If it does, I'll definitely opt for another antibiotic!

On Biaxin XL 1000mg, once daily for cellulitis skin infection from a 2nd degree burn. Not sure why my MD chose this. It is not the drug of choice for cellulitis. On day 2 of 6 days. Infection looks worse today than before Biaxin. I have a bitter, metallic taste in my mouth. Will give it another day or so, but feel pretty sure I will end up on a different antibiotic.