Biaxin and pills

Just finished my 4th pill-500mg. each. Woke up to ringing in my ears, panicky feeling, and horrible taste in mouth. Am concerned b/c am on pills for blood pressure, and don't want it going up! Will not take 3rd day dose before getting my blood pressure checked and talking to pharmacist. The drug has already cleared my sinuses and my upper chest infection, though.

I'm only two pills into Biaxin for streptococcal pharyngitis (Allergic to Penicillin). Prescribed 2 pills a day for 10 days. It's 5 am and im really happy I found this site. Thank You all to start. After my 7 am and 7pm dose, I have already noticed insomnia and restlessness. Physically lethargic, but mentally energized. Like some others, I find I can't stay in one position in bed long before I have to move. One person noted sharp pains in legs and arms. I'm actually not looking forward to 9 more days of this. After only one dose, I experienced a sharp pain in my skin above my ankle. Felt a lot like a small hot ember was on my skin or a insect was stinging me. I have never felt something like this except for a time or two where I actually had an ember on me. I had no clue what it was and chalked it up to "getting older". I'll post again in a few days. Going to call my family Physician tomorrow since I was prescribed this in emerge away from home.

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've been taking Biaxin XL 500 mg. 2 pills together once a day for a sinus infection. Today would be day 4. The infection is improving but since I've started this drug I've been feeling totally crappy. I've had a headache and haven't been able to sleep at all for 3 nights. I lie there with pressure on my chest. The pharmacist said that is a very potent antibiotic, hard on the body but they said it's best antibiotic - but at what cost? I certainly don't want to feel like this for another 7 days. After reading all these postings I'm definitely calling my doctor to chance medications. Thanks for all the postings.

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.

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.

This stuff is DISGUSTING. I hate the taste in my mouth and it seems like if i cough or breath in threw my mouth the taste intensifies. I'm only on day 2!!! I was wondering if the insomnia was from the pills and now I know it is. It's 3am and i don't even feel tired. Last night I took some Nytol to help ease my headache and body aches. Woke up in a major sweat, changed clothes, went back to bed an hour later and continued to sweat. Had crazy dreams about dating Tom Cruise and Nico, the winner of So you think you can dance Canada and spent the evening looking at pics of him on facebook and joining multiple groups for him, like a crazy stalker, lol. And to think, this is only day 2!!! I'm going to lose it. Had diarrhea also today. Oh, and last night had a major meltdown and cried into the bathroom towels when I felt like my boyfriend wasn't being sympathetic to my illness (respiratory infection) even though he has a cracked rib and is in major pain himself. Crying lasted for about 20 mins. I think I'm going to take more Nytol just to try and get to sleep, meeting family members for brunch that i haven't seen for about 20 years, this is going to be interesting... good luck to the rest of you! Oh and I'm super hungry all the time, but hate most of what I eat probably because of this damn taste in my mouth.

I'm on my seventh day out of 10 with BiaxinXL 500mg for pneumonia. I take 2 pills at supper time and so far so good: only 1 diarrhea 12 hours after the first dose. No metallic taste at all. I do drink a lot of water as is recommended when you have any infection to help your body eliminate it. I sleep well and after only 2 days of treatment my secretions were clearer. I took Advil for the first four days to help me with the side effects of the disease. I take medication exceptionally because,fortunately, I am rarely sick but I will take all of the pills prescribed by my doctor because I don't want to deal with some super resistant bacteria later on.

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.

This is my second day on Biaxin for pneumonia. It is horrible. I hate taking it. The taste in my mouth is horrible. The worst thing is not being able to sleep. I feel like I have taken an upper or something. My eyes won't shut and I watch the hours pass by. I don't feel tired at all and I know my body needs to rest to get better. The other thing that was really bad was the for about two hours after taking it I will sweat and feel hot and then I get the chills. It has happened with all four pills I have taken.

Prescribed for sinus infection/flu; stomach cramps developed, metallic taste, spacey. I'll try some lacto pills (to replicate the good bacteria found in yogurt to protect my stomach. I tried to use hard candy to combat the taste in my mouth to no avail...) Hope everyone feels better soon.

hi,
I was on Biaxin for approximately 6 days, by the 5th day I noticed a lot of pain in my gums, and it was like my gums were receding. I quickly discontinued use and it took like 3 weeks for my gums and teeth to stop hurting again.
It has been probably 6 years since this incident, and gradually year by year and especially now my teeth have been rotting out of my face. I have good oral hygiene, and I am positive that Biaxin has caused this. Unfortunately I can't do anything about it.
Please reconsider before taking these pills!!!!!

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..

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.

Sleeplessness. Strange dreams. Dizziness. Ears feel strange, can't quite explain it. My moods have also been strange, very easily angered. I am being treated for sinuitis. I am taking 500 mg twice per day.