Biaxin and metallic taste in my mouth

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 have REALLY extreme metallic taste in my mouth..

I went to the doctor's office recently because I was pretty sure I had a sinus infection...and it turns out I did. My doctor prescribed me biaxin and told me that I should stay on this for at least 3 weeks until the infection clears up.. When I first started taking this medication, everything was fine....but now things seem to be worse.. I am on week two of this medicine, and my sinus infection has developed into a terrible cold.. I have a funny smell in my nose(I don't know if it's because of the cold or the medicine) I have an AWFUL metallic taste in my mouth, sometimes I have severe abdominal cramping, and for the last two weeks I've had difficulty sleeping.. I will fall asleep around 12:00 p.m but find myself awake by 4 am and then I have trouble falling asleep(when I do sleep I have terrible nightmares).. Almost every time I wake up in the middle of the night, I have this nasty taste in my mouth... I do find that when I eat certain foods it helps to stop the metallic taste.. I have adhd/ocd and I have noticed that this has gotten much WORSE since I started taking the medicine...I feel space out all the time and dizzy and my vision is blurry.. I have a funny smell in my nose right now and difficulty breathing sometimes.. I am about to call the doctor and find out if I should stop taking this, or just keep taking it for the next 5 days.. I just can't handle it anymore because I feel like I'm going insane.. I don't even know as of now if I still have a sinus infection.. Please do me a favor-if you are considering taking this medication please avoid it at all costs because it will make you feel like complete crap.. There are other medicines that you can take I am sure.. I don't even know why this is on the market....it's worse than the birth control pill!

I was prescribed Biaxin XL 4 days ago for sinus infection ( 2 -500mg tablets taken together once per day). The side effects were worse than the infection for me. I became extremely anxious and panicky, nauseated, sweaty, tired but unable to sleep and I lost my sense of smell and had a terrible metallic taste in my mouth. By the third day, I could tell the infection seemed a little better, but then I took my third dose and within 30 minutes I got the shakes, suffered diarrhea with terrible stomach cramps, vision problems, loss of appetite and a terrible anxiety/panic attack where I felt that I was losing it. I had to leave work to get home quickly. My blood pressure kept going higher and higher and I started to get teary. This was one of the worst days of my life. I have stopped taking this medication and have replaced it with amoxicillin. Today I feel much better and blood pressure has gone down. I will never take Biaxin again. Continuing on this medication for 10 days could have led me to suicide. If you feel these things when taking any medication, stop taking it right away and speak with your doctor and pharmacist. When I contacted my doctor;s office they said it should not make me feel anxious. They should obviously do more research on the drugs that they prescribe. I hope no one else experiences these terrible side effects.

I was glad to read this, I thought I was crazy. Been taking Biaxin for 3 days for a bad sinus/throat infection, BP today went up to 130/100, took my blood pressure meds (which I had been able to stop taking several months ago) but it just went up on the top to 150/98. My heart is racing and I'm so tired but can't sleep. Severe metallic taste in my mouth. Skin is burning, temperature is 100 and profuse sweating as mentioned above...I'm calling the Dr. now to get something else. Does anyone know how long it takes to get this out of your system?

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'm on my second day of Biaxin. I have chronic sinusitus & am currently being checked for sinus cysts.
I have never had so many side effects from a drug before.. I was given Biaxin as a last resort because nothing else seems to work.

On the first day, I noticed a tightness in my chest, similar to a mild asthma attack. Later in the evening I kept having premature heartbeats (which isn't entirely unusual for me, but I haven't had them in a long time). Then I noticed this really bad metallic taste in my mouth like pennies & earwax.. really gross. And it got steadily worse until I felt like I was going to be sick. Also I couldn't get to sleep until the early hours of the morning. Another strange side effect is vivid, strange dreams.. no nightmares so far. My sister is also taking this and we compared dreams in the morning.
Now it's the second day and I still have the bad taste in my mouth, along with a strange giddiness. And lastly, nausea and headaches.

I cannot believe this medicine is still being given!! I am taking it for an infection. This is my 5th day on this medication because after extreme nausea, stomach pain,diarrhea, metallic taste in my mouth, and a mild headache, I was told by the doctor's office that I should finish this medication, and that it would get better. I don't know why I listened, I will be stopping today. I actually did get better for about 2 days and now all the symptoms are back with a vengeance. I felt very sick last night after I took it and this morning even worse with extreme nausea and dry heaving. I never cry and I cant stop crying now-for no reason at all I am extremely emotional. I would much rather be naturally sick like I was before than feel like this, I am a wreck.

On day 2, I started crying uncontrollably. Feelings of depression. I have never felt mentally unstable before, and the feeling is alarming. I am stopping this medication now! Sleepwalking. The metallic taste in my mouth is awful. Do not drink alcohol with this medication, I believe the makes the nightmares and depression worse.

first night on biaxin, had increased heart rate, 100 resting. I woke up in the middle of night last night with severe metallic taste in my mouth, checked web for metallic taste in mouth and this web site came up for side effects of this medication, how strange.Felt better yesterday.T his is my 3rd day on, so wondering what is next. I guess its better than the infection, but I wonder if I should change after reading other comments.

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.

After two days of taking Biaxin XL, I feel much better physically; the metallic taste in my mouth is tolerable. A possible side effect that concerns me is I've since been experiencing sleeplessness, increased energy and an incredibly good mood (I like the good mood and energy) but is it facilitating a move into a manic phase? (similar to what Prednisone has been known to do) I'm otherwise a healthy person with no hx of depression or any other mental illness. Anyone else experiencing this?

Currently on Biaxin XL on a 14-day regimen for a sinus infection. Experiencing piercing headaches on the top of my head, increased heart rate, diarrhea, insomnia, tongue discoloration, and horrible metallic taste in my mouth. I can't imagine finishing out this 14-day regimen the bad taste in my mouth is enough to gag me. Call into my doctor today for something else as I have never had a problem with side effects in the past on cephalexin or z-pak.