Biaxin and anxiety

I was told at the doctor's office that I had bronchitis and I was given Biaxin 500mg x 2 a day (generic form is Clarithromycin), I took it the first day wasn't sure if the side effect was from the bronchitis or from the medication. By the 2nd day, I took the first pill, after that it was downhill from there. I suffered anxiety, metallic taste in mouth, severe nausea, dizziness and vertigo. I feel completely horrible. I stopped taking the medication yesterday and I still have vertigo and nausea feels awful. The side of effects are worse than the sickness itself! Never again will i take this horrible pill!

I was prescribed biaxin for bronchitis a little over a week ago. I took the first two pills and the next day I had a sore tongue with red patches and ulcers all over it and I felt like I had bladder infection. I didn't stop taking them. I took 2 more of the pills and woke up the next night with severe depression and anxiety. I stopped taking the pills altogether and I haven't slept good, it has been a week. I have anxiety every day, panic attacks and nightmares in the night. I am extremely moody, irritable, I have crying spells for no reason. This is really scary, I will never, ever, ever take this medication again. The doctor gave me lorazepam to help with the anxiety and told me it would take 2 weeks to leave my system, one can only hope and pray......

This reaction is to the entire "PrevPak", vs. just the antibiotic Biaxin. The PrevPak, used to treat H. Pylori, also contains another antibiotic, Clarithromycin; along with 2 capsules of Prevacid in prescription strength, "these are proton inhibitors" which reduce stomach acid by preventing certain actions to take place in the stomach. The side-effects of the proton-inhibitor include the potential to block the absorption of Vitamin B, calcium and an enzyme needed to process and use iron in your body. Therefore, the following symptoms or behaviors may occur, once you begin the Prevpak. a) anemia/tiredness (take some slow-release iron) b) confusion and anxiety..(B12 deficiency); c) craving for milk and dairy (calcium deficiency).

Long-term, bone breakage, and other issues arise if you continue long-term use of a proton-inibitor.

I am posting this here as many of the reactions people are associating to Biaxin seem more attributable to the Proton-inhibitor that usually accompanie's Biaxin's use for gastrointestinal issues.

Biaxin's reaction, in my case, I would say was isolated to sleeplessness feelings, strange nightmare-like wakings, disorientation, a metallic taste in my mouth, and dehydration.

All of these are considered traditional symptoms of Biaxin.

I also had itching on day 12-14 for the PrevPak dose. This is probably attributable to the proton-inhibitor possibly affecting my histamines. However, it could also be an allergic reaction to either Biaxin or clarithromycin.

I am on biaxin xl...2-500mg once a day. started it today and have nasty taste in my mouth, feel like my heart is pounding, mild headache, anxiety, increased salivation, increased urination....this sucks

So I just finished a 10 day supply (20 pills) of this stuff. I was prescribed Biaxin twice a day for 10 days to clear up a minor sinus infection. I had no idea that this stuff caused so many issues, but now I know first hand. This medicine gave me pretty bad insomnia. I could fall asleep but would wake up at 2am/3am in the morning and couldn't fall back asleep. Of course lack of sleep, then gave me anxiety and minor depression like I've never had before. I will never take this stuff again. Not to mention, the bad taste that's in your mouth constantly. In retrospect, I'll take a sinus infection anyday over the side effects of this medicine. Maybe it's okay for some people, but I'll never put Biaxin in my body every again. I took my last dose yesterday evening and I've been drinking tons of water ever since to try and get rid of this stuff as soon as possible.

I'm on Biaxin for a MRSA staph infection. And I have had the worst anxiety. Heavy breathing and insomnia. I wake up all the time in the middle of the night and in the morning my hands shake and I have so much anxiety related energy. I do not like this medication.

Also, google Biaxin Heart Attack, Biaxin Anxiety. You will see the countless others who are having the same reactions that we have all had. I was unfortunate enough to have practically every reaction on the insert. My body has never been the same and I still worry about my heart, but the mental effects were debilitating. Here I am two years later and I can't believe how this drug nearly destroyed my life. The countless medical bills - we also had to relocate and lost everything so my husband could move me next to family to help in my recovery. I wish someone would take my case...

One week ago I started a 10 day Biaxin 500MG 2x daily for a sinus infection. 4 days after beginning the Biaxin, I started a cough syrup with codeine. I am sleeping deeply at night, no more coughing keeping me awake, have dreams- but not nightmares, but am still tired all day long. No energy at all. My appetite has increased tremendously - which doesn't thrill me! The good news is, NO metallic taste, no stomach problems, no anxiety, etc. I will complete the rx and hope it knocks out the infection. Some are super-sensitive to meds, others just mildly affected.

Ive been taking Biaxin for 11 days now - about to finish up my 12 day course of the stuff. The doctor gave it to me to treat a staph infection on my leg. Staph infection appears to be going away.
I haven't noticed the metallic or gross taste at all, which is weird, because of so many accounts of it here. I have noticed an increased appetite and really intense gas - sleepiness, lack of motivation, dreaminess, blahness. My dreams have been vivid too, but not nightmares. I just noticed swollen gums today. Its strange that I didn't experience the anxiety that is frequently reported - as I used to have panic attacks and constant anxiety back in the day. I guess a mild restlessness is pervasive.
The main thing is the increased appetite and the gas... But this could be possible tapeworms or parasites as I just got back from Guatemala. Maybe I got off easy with this drug? After reading this, not sure if I want to take the last 2 pills in my possession. hmmm..

Hello,

I was prescribe Biaxin 8 or so days ago for a rather severe infection of the sinuses. Two pills a day, which I took both at once, I have stopped after the 7th day for the following reasons. Here I will discuss the worst side effect of the drug for me so far. Along with paranoi and anxiety, and an in general spaced feeling, Im having the worse insomnia of my life.

Ive always had sleep issues ever since I can remember, but on this stuff I got NO SLEEP AT ALL for two days. After that I quit the medicine altogether as the doc said it would be ok. My last dose was yesterday, its 2:28 AM now, I couldn't sleep so I got on the computer to look for reports on this drug.

Hopefully since I quit the meds this insomnia thing will lift. God I hope so. Anyway, If anyone else has had this kind of terrible insomnia from Biaxin post your experience please.

Thanks,
Me

I just want to sleep!!! I've been taking Biaxon for four days. There is a bad taste in my mouth but not too bad. Sometines my throat feels strange. It's as though my wind pipe wants to close up. This doesn't last long and I wonder if it's anxiety...I've never experienced this with any other med. I have an aweful ear infection and plan to suffer through these side effects unless they worsen. I just wish I could sleep...I don't know how I'll work tom.

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

I have been taking Biaxin for 9 days now - 2 pills a day at the same time. I have been taking it at night - and have had the worst experience with the medicine. Along with everyone else, the metallic taste is awful... I taste it really bad in the mornings, then it seems to go away as the day progresses. I am incredibly emotional, depressed, lots of anxiety and panic... All of which started when I took the first couple doses of the medicine. I was prescribed Biaxin due to a severe upper respiratory infection and a sinus infection. Both of which seem to be improving - I still have a cough with some wheezing and chest pains. Also, my lymph nodes are still swollen and very tender. They hurt to the touch. I don't know if it's the medicine or if there is something more serious going on. I have 2 days left on Biaxin and will NOT be taking them. I will never ever ever take Biaxin again..

Anxiety here too. Just want to say I took a dosage of Boaxin last June 2005 and it took 10 months to get close to back to normal. I experienced panic and fear of just about everything. The wind would blow and it was somehow a scary experience. Had trouble sleeping, heart palpitations, thoughts of going crazy. 12 months later and I would say that I still think about what I went through every day. I am 95% back to where I was before. Wondering how long it took others to get back to normal?

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.