Biaxin and sinus infection

I was so glad to find this. Since insomnia is not listed as a usual side-effect, I had no idea why I could not sleep. When I saw the entries and called the pharmacist, she verified it for me. I have been on 500 mg twice a day for a week and I have another week to go. I originally had a bad cold for 2 weeks which developed into a seriuos sinus infection. Amoxicillan did not work and I cannot take sulfa antibiotics or Cipro so I think I am stuck with it for another week, but have called to ask the Doctor for something to help me sleep until then. I have been so tired and worn out probably due to lack of sleep. And I agree that taste in my mouth, especially in the morning, is awful. I am also still congested but it is better than before.

Wow, thank you for all these comments......... Ive been on Biaxin for 5 days now for bronchitis and sinus infection, but also taking loratadine and premarin and a decongestant. I couldn't figure what was making me so nauseated. And major indigestion... its unreal! I haven't slept in 2 days and last night I heard Christmas music, let it snow, let it snow over and over in my head. No music was playing. So as of today, I'm not taking it anymore. I'm still congested so I guess I have to cal the doctor again. This stuff isn't for me. No metal taste at least. Thanks everyone, at least I know I'm not going nuts.

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 day 1.5, 500MG Biaxin. I've been prescribed this medication for Bronchitis and a sinus infection. I just took my 3rd pill and I feel just fine, I was having some heat type fever flashed just before taking the 3rd pill but it's gone away. I've had some pains in my stomach which turned out to be a my body getting rid of the infection....spent a few minutes on the toilet but seem to be better now. The taste in my mouth is very bad, I woke up in the middle of the night with a watering mouth as if i was going to throw up but seem to be good as of now. I'm feeling better thus far.

To start off i'm a 16 year old male, I had a very bad sinus infection that crept up on me. I left school at 10:00 AM and went to the doctor, she prescribed Biaxin 10 days 500mg a day I took the pill around 12:30 after eating some soup. The first day I took this medication was not "horrible" I was still feverish from the sinus infection and was just generally not feeling well...

By day 2 I was starting to feel not as great about it, I experienced for the first time the "horrible taste" that everyone else seems to experience, and quite frankly it sucked. All day any food I ate would burn through me within a half an hour of eating, I had to use the bathroom constantly and my stomach would hurt between trips. My sinus infection was beginning to clear up at this point, but I just didn't feel like myself, I attributed it to being sick. I went to bed and woke up several times throughout the night, in between I had very vivid dreams, fortunately they were not nightmares.

Day 3 I began to get all teary eyed for no reason, I don't remember the last time I cried so this was kind of confusing to me, I woke up very dehydrated and realized my bed was soaked through with sweat, I still didn't feel like myself and began to research the side effects of Biaxin. My stomach settled for the most part but I had those other symptoms to deal with.

Day 4 I felt normal for the most part, at points in the day I would get extreme vertigo, nausea, stomach pain, intense sweating at odd periods and once again the tearing eyes came back. Got a bad nosebleed during the day, but that was because I was blowing my nose so much. I told my mom that I wanted to stop taking it and she said I still had to (I was on a 10 day pack)

Day 5 Nausea, more extreme sense of vertigo, did not feel like myself, felt dazed and confused, sinus infection has degenerated into a cold, but the cold isn't budging. Stress of life is getting to me a lot more than usual

Day 6 I am really stressed, I keep getting nauseous, cant think straight, constant headaches, dehydration no matter how much water I drink, food goes right through me, overall it's a bad scene, tearing eyes have stopped however, more depressed than usual, later that evening (I took the meds on a full stomach) after I ate dinner I was sitting in bed finishing a paper for school when I was hit by a bout of vertigo and nausea so bad that I couldn't even get to the toilet before I began throwing up, this throwing up opened my nose bleed again so it became difficult to clean up... I told my mom I was done taking the medication at this point.

In review, my taste is severely altered, food doesn't taste as it should, I'm still dizzy (on day 8 now but not taking it anymore) still headache and the vertigo is finally starting to fade. I lost almost an entire week of work at school because I was unable to retain the information in class (im normally a good student).... totally screwed totally stressed and the Biaxin is just making the stress harder to handle... I'd give it a 0 out of 5...

Any questions shoot me an email at - ******

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 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 took biaxin for 10 days in early June for a sinus infection. The side effects I noticed at the time were the yucky taste in my mouth and extreme fatigue. However, I also lost my sense of smell. It's been almost two months, and now I can smell some things, like ground coffee or ammonia, but not the more subtle scents, like flowers, light cologne, etc. At the time I was taking the drug, I discovered I couldn't smell vinegar; now I can smell it faintly. I visited my nurse practitioner yesterday, and she thought it might be a residual effect of the biaxin, but didn't find anything about loss of smell as a side effect. She advised me to wait one more month, and if the sense of smell hasn't returned by then she'll refer me to an ENT specialist. I'm just wondering if anybody else has noticed a loss or change in their sense of smell. (Smell and taste are closely related, so it's logical that it could be a result of the biaxin, since I experienced the yucky taste that so many people complain about.)

I was prescribed Biaxin for a sinus infection and I was only able to take it for 3 days (out of a 10 day prescription) because of the ungodly taste it left in my mouth. I couldn't sleep at night because the taste of hot garbage in my mouth would wake me up. I tried chugging water, gargling with Listerine - NOTHING helped. It was so disgusting! I will NEVER take this nasty med again!

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.

I have a sinus infection, and my doc gave me biaxin. My first dose didn't affect me, I went to bed as soon as I got home from the urgent care center, I slept well into the afternoon. When it came time to rest, I went to bed at midnight, laid there restlessly, with a very sore throat even more sore than I began with. I grabbed a throat lozenge, fell asleep for 30-45 min, weird dream but I can't remember it well. I woke up with a sore dry throat again, not even tired, frustrated, I decided to take my meds again, not having checked this website first!!! D: now my heart is racing, I'm wide awake, its 4:45 in the morning. I am crying on and off. The pain in my throat has subsided, its still scratchy, and my lymph nodes are very swollen. I can't breathe through my nose and it feels like there is still drainage in the back of my throat. I have no appetite either, I force my self to eat b/c I get stomach pains. I am wondering if I should hold off the biaxin for a couple of days and see if I improve.. because I feel like I'm simply getting worse.

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.

I felt the same as many of you, a little heart fluttering, never have this usually with any other medications. Nervousness, but also could be caused by reading too much about the medication, etc. I felt very tired, again could be caused by sinus infection, but very lethargic, couldn't turn off brain as someone mentioned above, very good analogy, exactly how I felt. The taste is unbearable alone and then I am not sure if this is connected, but I discover a bump on the back of my tongue, which made me feel funny swallowing, after taking medication for 3 days, and called pharmacy, b/c of symptom , they told me to lay off of it, horrible feelings!

I've had a HORRIBLE nasty iron taste in my mouth. Tastes like I have morning sickness again but I can't get rid of the taste. YUCK.

Also, I think I had a panic attack yesterday evening. I've never had one before but I couldn't seem to catch my breath and started freaking. It was not an asthma attack, I've had those before. This was different.

I feel jittery and light-headed too.

I don't like this and I'm thinking about stopping the prescript. My sinus infection was not worth this.

I was freaking out wondering what was causing the lightheadedness/difficulty breathing and after reading all the side effects on here I see it's normal. Doctors should warn of all these side effects. I wouldn't have started it.

I was prescribed the XL 1000 mg for bronchitis and sinus infection. I immediately did searches on this medicine before taking it because I hate taking meds. Well I read some of these and IT FREAKED ME OUT. I needless to say still took it but instead of taking it all at one time. I take it once in the morning and once at night. It is giving me headaches I am pretty sure but it could be the sinus too. It messes my stomach up too. It makes my mouth really dry for a while after taking it too. I have noticed a few heart palpitations too, but I am very prone to having them. I am supposed to take it for 10 days but I might just hand in there for 5 days with it. Reading these messages SCARE ME TO DEATH. Then of course I think that we are a few out of thousands that probably do fine on this medicine. I bet every drug gives certain people side affects?? I HATE BEING SICK. I wanted him to give me the Z pak but he said biaxin works better and more for a sinus infection than z pak.

I have been taking biaxin for 8 days for a URI and a sinus infection. The metalic taste in my mouth is awful. I taste it all day and night. I can't sleep good. It takes hours and hours to fall asleep. I have been very depressed. I didn't even want to be around my husband. I felt strange feelings about him. Like he just gets on my nerves, etc.... I am very tired all the time. I am not a napper, but have been finding myself just wanting to lay in bed and try and fall asleep during the day. This morning I woke up with a terrible stomach ache and has been hurting all day. I have 5 pills left and have decided to stop taking them. I thought I would go online and find out if this is what is making my stomach hurt. I am shocked about what I read. At the time time I am relieved to know that the depression and imsomnia are due to this drug. I will call my doctor tomorrow and let him know that I will not take this again.

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..

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.

It's 2:47 AM and I can't sleep, have been taking this horrible drug for 4 days for a sinus infection. I have constant drainage in the back of my throat and a bitter taste in my mouth. Insomnia and when I finally sleep, nightmares and crazy dreams. The prescription just went in the trash can, I would rather have a sinus infection than to deal with this. I couldn't understand why I felt this way until I found your website. Thanks so much, never will I take this again.

I am on 500 mg x 2 and feel very tired.

Cannot sleep, have awful headache and to top it all off my sinus infection is worse than before I started meds.

My upper respiratory infection is better, but I don't get the worsening of my sinus infection

The most frightening side effects I have ever had from a med. Biaxin XL for severe sinus infection. Stomach very sick,headache,muscle aches, increase in blood pressure. The scariest of all, profuse sweating started on 4th day. I cant seem to do anything without sweating.I also take beta blocker for arrythmia.
So at first I thought it was heart related. Pharmacist
tells me Biaxin Xl is very very potent and has more side effects than we know.It can raise bp and cause severe sweating and hundreds of other things. I am stopping today with or without Dr.'s approval. Supposed to take another 5 days. Insane

Biaxin is by far the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I was presecribed it two days ago for a sinus infection and bacterial pneumonia. My heart beats extremely fast at night and it is impossible to sleep. I woke up this morning to violent dry heaving, while ever bite of food is a struggle to keep down. I have been sick for 3 weeks prior to this, and I can honestly say that Biaxin has made me feel so much worse. It really makes me feel like I am dying.

I am SO glad to see that others have had similar problems with Biaxin. I thought I was going crazy! I am taking it for a sinus infection and feel almost manic. Yesterday - I did some things that were totally wild and out of character for me and it has got to be the biaxin. I felt moody, irritable, emotionally up and down and haven't been able to sleep. I also haven't been able to eat - I'm not nauseous - I'm just not hungry. Thanks everybody so much for sharing.

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.

I was given Biaxin along with Fluzone 3 years ago for what seemed like just a nasty case of the flu. After a few days I felt 200% worse and wasn't sure if it was the Biaxin or the Fluzone, so just stopped them both and began recovering completly within 24 hrs. However, it was while I was taking the meds that I had my fist panic attack, and I continued to have them intermittently for over a year. I found out later that Biaxin is an erythromycin, which I've never tolerated well. If I had known that to begin with I would not have taken it. My husband tried Biaxin this last winter for a sinus infection. After his first dose, he vomited violently and felt like he was getting the flu. He skipped the 2nd dose and began feeling better. The next day, he took another dose and the same thing happened. He threw up within an hour and felt lousy for the rest of the day. Forget this stuff!

I am in day 9 of a 10 day prescription. The metallic taste was bad at first but has gotten extreme. I feel better physically but I will not take this medicine again. It was prescribed for a sinus infection that followed the flu.

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.

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.

Otherwise healthy person. Was on Biaxin XL 1000mg once a day for 10 days for sinus infection. Had 2-3 second long vibration feeling over heart every 4-5 minutes after about 3 days of drug and continued until 2 days after 10 day course completed. Had diarrhea and weird taste in mouth. Now (10 days after Biaxin course was completed) have fatigue, low WBC for no apparent reason. Not sure if related.