Zithromax Z-Pak and antibiotic

I am a 24 year old female. I got diagnosed with walking pneumonia after having a chest X ray at my doctors office. The doctor prescribed z-pak. I went home and took the first 2 pills and about 2-3 hours after taking it I suddenly experienced uncontrolled rapid heart rate. My heart was pounding so hard i almost fainted. I work in the medical field, and knew immediately that I was in trouble. My husband drove me to the ER, where I was admitted with a heart rate of 186 beats per minute, I honestly felt like i was going to faint, or die. Once they ran several tests and ruled out anything major IE blood clot, they determined I was having an extreme allergic reaction to the z-pak. They gave me IV benadryl and steroids, which immediately started to bring my heart rate down. I do not take any medications ever, other than supplements, this is the first time in 9 years that I have had to take an antibiotic, and this was the only prescription I was taking that day.

EXTREME PSYCHOTIC SIDE EFFECTS

I want to preface this by stating that I have never had any mental problems aside from occasional depression, and I have never taken any anti-depressants, or similar drugs, or even ever done any illegal drugs, nor do I drink.

I never would have thought in a million years that an antibiotic would have given me such extreme mental side effects. I was given Z-Pak after a tooth extraction as I had a bad (and similar) reaction to Clindamycin.

I was on the 250 MG X 3 days. After the first day I started to suffer from depersonalization. Depersonalization, in my opinion, is the worst thing that can happen to anyone. Essentially I felt like I was dead, in limbo. Nothing mattered. I questioned reality. I felt like a ghost. It was so bad that I had to break out the Bible.

I had to take Valium in order to sleep, as I would wake up in the middle of the night and have an utterly terrifying feeling of dread. I would wake up and "realize" that I did not exist and have a panic attack.

It has been since December 2nd and only now am I feeling anything close to normal mentally.

Ever since day 5 after taking the drug, I have a burning sensation in my upper abdomen on both sides and a pain in my right side. I just pray to God that this damned drug has not burned out my liver.

Worse yet, I had to be put on Doxycycline, as the Z-Pak did not work, and my extraction site became reinfected.

Thank God the Doxycycline is apparently working with no side effects.

The only positive thing about my horrific experience with Z-Pak is that I went to confession and communion and have accepted Jesus as my savior again in my life.

I also have realized that hell does not need the fire and brimstone. The depersonalization I suffered was the same as separation from God. It was the worse experience ever, and I have been through some tough stuff.

I realize that each drug affects everyone differently, but I have read too many posts listing mental side effects to think that my experience was an anomaly.

If you must take this antibiotic, be sure you understand that it can knock you on your ass if you are not expecting it.

Started the z pack for bronchitis and sinus infection. First symptoms was stomach cramps, diarrhea. The next and most disturbing symptoms were extreme agitation, anxiety, depression. Have finished the last of the medicine 4 days ago and am still feeling the residual anxiety, agitation, general feeling of unease. Will never take this medicine again.

I'm a 32 year old male. This is probably the 5th time I've taken Zithromax. Unlike previous experiences, this time I got a horrible rash on my face, chest, neck, and little red spots all over my body. They itch horribly and I'm hoping they go away on their own. I am going on week two and they are still around. Last year, I was given a very strong antibiotic for an infection that just wouldn't go away. I took one dose and threw the rest out because the resulting full-body rash was horrible. I think that some of us may develop an allergy to certain families of antibiotics as we age. Either that or our immune systems are degraded. Who knows. I've also been dealing with chronic anal itch for 2 years now, and that is a horrible thing to live with. FEELING OLD!

Ok, I took this because I needed to feel better fast for a weekend with all my guy friends. I am a single girl and I was actually HOPING to come out of this weekend with a boyfriend outta one of 'em...so I wanted to be over my yucky cold/flu symptoms so I could have a good time! Ok...I was NOT feeling well after the third day, my stomach was killlllling me, and I wasn't over my cold stuff either. So by the weekend I was finally feeling a little better but I had started having diarrhea and (even worse!) TERRIBLE GAS. I should have just stayed home, but I went on this roadtrip anyway. I was thinking I would be able to hold it until we stopped, but I started having terrible gas buildup and I just had to release it or I thought I would get sick. Ok, let me just say that we had to pull the jeep over so one of my friends, the really cute one that I liked, could throw up. It was terrible....and even worse they all knew it was me. In my opinion, the slight relief I got from my cold was not worth the tradeoff in side effect. So thanks to my Z pak experience, I was called "Hell Raiser" and other nicknames the rest of the weekend. I will not be using this product again.

I was prescribed the 5-pill course where you take two pills immediately and then one a day for the next three days. By day 2 I had stomach pains I called the Dr.'s office for a different antibiotic. Since I wasn't throwing up or anything they encouraged me to tough it out and finish the course. I did, but boy do I wish I hadn't. Now like someone else described I feel like someone is stabbing me in the stomach with knives. Unlike other's instead of diarreah I am all blocked up. With god as my witness, I will never take Z-Pak again!!

This is my second Rx for this stuff, only 250 mg., but I'd hate to see what would happen with a stronger dose! I was given this Rx to prevent infection after oral surgery. Within hours of taking it, that familiar itchy, burning sinus sensation started. I took an antibiotic to give me a sinus infection?? I already have tinnitis, and it is worse than usual. I feel awful with this stuff. I will tell my doctor that I will NOT take it again.

Prescribed 3 day z pak after Thanksgiving 2004 for strep throat and sinus infection. Had severe abdominal pain during course and a couple of days afterwards. Also had swollen glands a few days after taking. Ended up back at the doctor for severe vertigo and headaches two days before Christmas. After all of the pain I went through the z pak did not clear up my sinus infection and I was put on another antibiotic.