Biaxin and antibiotics

I have been on Biaxin XL 500 mg - 2 pills taken at the same time once a day. Today would be the 4th dose. I was sure to take the pills on a full stomach. My sinus infection seems a little better but I'm feeling totally lousy. I've had a headache and I haven't been able to sleep at all for the last 3 nights. I lie there with a pressure in my chest. Even after missing only 1 night of sleep I felt horrible and I'm sure it wasn't only from missing the sleep. Biaxin is definitely affecting my whole body. I've been on antibiotics before and never had any kind of reaction like this. I had called the pharmacist and they said that this is a very potent antibiotic, hard on the body but best on the market. True it may clear up an infection but at what cost. After reading all these side effects I'm definitely calling my doctor today and asking for a different medication. Thanks for this website.

I went to an on-campus health center and was prescribed Biaxin for a sinus infection. I had never taken it before, but the doctor said that it was the best thing because I might be immune to other antibiotics. That made no sense to me, but I didn't really question it. I just wanted the infection cleared, so I ran to the pharmacy as soon as possible and got the medicine.

First day: Took Biaxin at 9 in the morning. In a hurry, I read the directions wrong and only took one pill. I did fine until 3 pm, when I read the directions and took another pill. I didn't notice any side effects, and nothing really happened. My boyfriend was complaining that I was being irritable though, which I hardly ever am, but I didn't really pay attention to him. I had some stomach pains, which really hurt, but I didn't mark them off as being caused by Biaxin.

Second day (yesterday): Took Biaxin at 9 am, 2 pills this time. I was unable to concentrate all day, but I thought it was probably just the congested head and stuffiness. I went to bed around 12, and could not fall asleep. I was having racing thoughts about stuff that wasn't even real... I felt like I was in another world, like I was a different person. I finally fell asleep around 1, but I kept waking up. I woke up at 3:30 am today, and that's when the real ridiculousness started. I seriously just started crying my eyes out for no reason at all. I am not at all an emotional person. I rarely cry, even when something typically cry-worthy happens. This spell went on for over an hour. I had no idea what was going on, so I looked up "Biaxin depression" on Google, and sure enough there are tons of cases of this happening. How is this drug still on the market?!?!

I was feeling totally out of it, but I had enough coherence to head to the emergency room. I was crying my brains out while walking across campus to my car. For some reason I called my boyfriend, thinking that was smart. I couldn't even talk to him because I was crying so much. He was really confused I'm sure. I got to the ER around 5 am. I couldn't even talk to the receptionist without crying. I don't think I was even understandable. She felt really bad for me though, and when I couldn't find my health insurance card, she said not to worry about it. I only had to pay a ten dollar copay. I was the only patient there, so I got in right away. The doctor was really surprised when I told him about the Biaxin/depression ordeal, so he randomly pulled out his iPhone and looked it up. Weird, but hey... whatever. So he started talking all of this medical stuff, and was really amazed when I knew the name of the bacteria that Biaxin was supposed to kill that I had (plus of looking things up online). He didn't really question anything, probably because I was sobbing randomly... He gave me a prescription for my Augmentin, so maybe that won't be as horrible as this awful Biaxin. Doctors need to know about these very serious side effects. I went to Walgreen's to get my prescription filled, but the system was down, and they couldn't do anything. So, of course I started crying again. I didn't lash out on anyone. I just started flowing randomly. I am still crying at strange intervals...

So, I hope this was long enough to get my point across. Anyone who is prescribed Biaxin, please be aware of the depression you may face, and the severe stomach aches. I have never had any reaction to an antibiotic before, and I have definitely taken my fair share of them. Nothing like this has ever happened. Please take with caution.

I've been taking Biaxon XL for the past week for strep throat. It has given me terrible nausea and diarrhea for most of that time. Called the doctor, but they claim there aren't a lot of antibiotics that treat strep and they won't give me anything in the penicilin family because I once had a rash. At this point I would risk the rash to not feel like crap.

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.

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.

When did the dizziness and vomiting start for anybody here?... The only side effect I've found so far--and I just took my second dose a few minutes ago--is paranoia. And this paranoia AND anxiety seems to be about the drug itself and side effects. Normally, I don't gie these things a second thought and have never had side effects to any antibiotics before.

Just wonderig when these things set in and any early warning signs of them.

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 took my first dose of Biaxin XL (1000mg) about 7 hours ago, for a ear/sinus infection. Approximately 4 hours ago, I felt severe stomach cramping, gas, jittery/shaking hands and havent been able to fall asleep. I made a huge dinner and that seemed to help a little, but I'm nervous about taking the next dose tomorrow. If it wasnt a Saturday, I would be calling my dr first thing in the morning to try something else. Antibiotics are supposed to help infections, not create a greater state of discomfort.