| Key to ratings for biaxin: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
| Rating | Reason | Side Effects | Comments | Sex | Age | Time Taken | Date Added | |
| | F M | | | | ||||
| Change sort order by clicking arrow under column heading. | ||||||||
| 1 | bronchitis | terrible taste in mouth, couldn't sleep, crazy dreams, headache, no taste or smell | F | 42 | 3 days | 11/14/2009 | 5 | sinus infection | Nauseau, sweats, metallic taste, flatulence | After one day the horrible pressure from sinus infection was gone, and I could actually breathe from one side of nose. After 48 hours the nausea was gone, and my breathing was almost normal, sinus headache also gone. Had sweats off and on the entire time, but well worth it. I really liked this antibiotic. | F | 56 | 7 days | 11/13/2009 | 1 | Bacterial throat infection | metallic taste in mouth, stomach cramping, bad dreams, loss of appetite, nausea, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea | I couldnt wait for this medication to finish. I think it has given me c. difficile. Although it cleared up my sickness quickly, I would avoid going on this medication in the future. | F | 25 | 10 days | 11/11/2009 | 1 | Bronchitis, possible pnemonia | When I first started taking this, I felt so lousy. I was glad to be on something to relieve my chest cough. However, the metallic taste is horrid and set in within hours of beginning the drug. I am unable to sleep at night, then lathargecially tired during the day. My heart pounds, and I broke out into a full panic attack during church. Not pleasent. I didn't know what was wrong. I am in remission for cancer since last year. I thought for sure with all the side affects I was feeling my cancer was back and through my whole body, as I have been waking up in the middle of the night with intense body aches. Now, I think it is just the RX, and in a week or so most of this will go away. I will never take again. EVER. Horrible dreams, sick stomach, bad taste, panic, depression, anxiety. NOT worth the cure. | Read my other comments. DO NOT TAKE, especially children. | F | 37 | 10 days | 11/10/2009 | 1 | Bronchitis | oh my gosh I feel so bad. My 9 year old daughter was telling me she felt wierd,she was hearing and seeing things. Her eyes even swelled up and we thought it was pink eye. I wish I would have read this sooner. I made her an appointment with a psychologist as I thought she was developing anxiety disorders or worse. She was terrified. | F | 09 | 7 days | 11/6/2009 | 5 | gum infection | I did not suffer any side effects from this medicine | I was skeptical about taking biaxin because of this website but it turned out to be fine. i suffered no ill effects and did not have one side effect. please do not let this website sway your opinion on this medicine...everyone reacts differently to medicine. if i let this website stop me, i would have done myself a disservice. | F | 29 | 7 days | 11/2/2009 | 3 | Upper respiratory infection | I've taken Biaxin for years because I'm allergic to both penicillin and cipro. Biaxin has always caused me to have a bad taste on the back of my tongue, stomach and intestinal cramps, and occasional vomiting. But this time is the worst. I'm on Day 3 of 7 taking 500 mg 2X/day, and in addition to all the above my skin is crawling and painfully sensitive to touch in the way it is when I have a high fever (just took it, it's 99.3), my brain is foggy, and my legs and arms are so weak I can't walk or sit comfortably. Did they change the formulary recently? I've never known such awful side effects. | F | 46 | 3 days | 11/1/2009 | 1 | walking pneumonia | XL - 500 mg 2x's day. metallic taste that won't go away, abdominal pain, lightheadedness, severe anxiety, feelings of doom and death, crying, shakiness, fatigue w/insomnia | i will never take this drug again. i'm i feel like i need to go to the ER but i keep telling myself it's the anxiety. my body feels like it's burning on the inside. can only sleep for about an hour & 1/2 at a time. dream are so vivid and I'm calling out in my sleep. i'm done taking this. | F | 42 | 2.5 days | 10/29/2009 | 1 | stomach infection | Metallic taste that never, NEVER goes away. After 2 days started getting a pounding heartbeat that caused almost complete insomnia. I never have had a nightmare since I was a child...and as soon as I tried to doze off I'd dream I was falling or driving through a stop sign. Anxiety, shaking, teeth chattering. How in Hades does medicine like this make it on the market? | M | 53 | 7 days | 10/28/2009 | 1 | URI | For any old movie buffs out there, I would call this the "Dr. Phibes Antibiotic" (which means that it gleefully kills bacteria while leaving an horrendous wake of side effects behind it) | M | 26 | 3 days | 10/28/2009 | 3 | Pneumonia | Rage, extreme hunger about 2 hrs after taking pills but hard to gag down food and throat goes dry. Have to "iron fist" it to eat even when ravenous. Disconnected feelings, aggression, distinct metallic almost rank odor and taste in mouth, upset stomach that resolves with food, extreme fatigue, dizzy, staring off into space randomly. | Scary drug, I would only take it for extreme conditions. Don't like the mental health issues it can cause. The extreme emotional state and sudden rage are scary enough to avoid the drug even if it's extreme conditions. Oddly, did help costochondritis (I have chronic costo) as secondary effects. Got pneumonia from complications from H1N1 flu. On day 4 of medications at time of posting. | F | 30 | 10 days | 10/27/2009 | 1 | URI | Insomnia,muscle aches,frequent urination,tingling in feet and hands,fatigue | I could only make it four days and switched | M | 53 | 4 days | 10/26/2009 | 2 | Bronchitis | Anxiety!!!! Crying. Bad taste in my mouth. Mild sense of unexplainable dread. | Yesterday was day 7 of 500mg x 2 once a day of Biaxin. A couple days ago I had some anxiety because I was thrown a curve ball at work (or I thought that was the reason), but this morning I felt panicky and had to stop myself from crying before i went in. Not normal for me although I have had anxiety and depression before. This was like the same horrible feelings... all I could do to just stay there... but onset suddenly and with no real triggering factor. I also had a feeling of unreality probably because I was spending so much energy keeping my emotions in check. My cough is gone, so it did work, thus my rating of 2, but you'd think that with all the prescriptions doctors write for depression and anxiety meds, which myself, I don't take, they might think to ask when you go to a clinic, if this might be a problem?? I think 7 days is enough, and after reading a lot of these posts (thank you all!!!) I am kinda scared what else might happen. | F | 38 | 7 days | 10/25/2009 | 1 | Sinus infection | Extreme leg weakness and aching, crying and freaking out, wanting to die, lathargic, can't sleep, crazy dreams | Started taking biaxin 4 days ago...first dose made me feel weak with no energy. I am now on day 4 and feel like I have lost my mind. My legs are aching so bad I cannot stand it! I am also extremely depressed now; crying, screaming, thinking of ways to die. I am not taking anymore of this crap! It cost me $99 but I;m throwing it out! | F | 27 | 4 days | 10/20/2009 | 2 | Pneumonia | Muscle weakness and stiffness in hands and forearms. Dizzy. Numbness in neck. | It initally helped me...but then the side effects kicked in. I'm going to stop taking it and be prescribed something without the weird side effects. | F | 42 | 2 days | 10/18/2009 | 5 | Lyme Disease | Bad aftertaste. I found that it's whenever I haven't had enough fluids that I notice the taste. So, if I drink enough water, I don't get the aftertaste, and it's only when I wake up in the morning and haven't had a drink in eight hours that I have this side effect anymore. | After a month of intravenous antibiotics, my doc put me on Ceftin (closest to the IV stuff I was on), to finish killing off the Lyme. But the Ceftin severely affeced my lower G.I., and I had to go off it or risk colitis. So, the doc put me on Biaxin because of its ability to go intracellular (Lyme hides insides your cells), and I've been feeling much, much better. It seems to be doing the job without causing me any side effects other than the aftertaste, which is so minor that it's totally worth dealing with it if I'm feeling so much better. And I've had the pleasant side effect of not having had a sinus infection in months (I usually have at least four a year). | F | 29 | 5 months | 10/11/2009 | 3 | Sinus infection | Severe headache that will not subside. Lethargy. Chest pressure. | I was prescribed this for the first time instead of Zithromax and I still don't understand why. I paid $70 for a 10 day supply and I am stopping on day 5. I cannot handle these headaches-debilitating. Spoke to a different doctor who told me to stop ASAP. | F | 38 | 5 days | 9/24/2009 | 2 | upper respiratory infection | worked at first; then progressively became allergic | started with metallic taste in my mouth (which the doctor said was a rarity); helped stop the coughing and take away the infection; but the longer I stayed on it the worse some of my symptoms got. I ended up gasping for breath with my chest muscles tight squeezing my lungs and my throat closing up. The doctor refused to believe an allergic reaction; but I took some antihistamine and all of it went away; when I took the next dose after feeling normal - my throat started to close up within 10 minutes of taking it and my breathing was labored. Definitely not something to mess with. I won't be finishing it and am including it on my allergy list. This was a sneaky one so it almost seemed as if my symptoms were being caused by what I had, thankfully I had some perscription antihistamine on hand to counter it, OTC Benadryl didn't help. | F | 37 | 5 days | 9/23/2009 | 4 | Bacterial Tonsillitis/ Strep Throat | coughing brings up a bad taste in the mouth similar to chewing a tylenol, post nasal drip with that same repulsive flavour for the whole 7 days, Chest pains accompanied by racing heart beat for the first 2 days. Dangerous lack of appetite In the week I think I may have consumed about 2,000 calories and lost 10 Lb. | This medication was not cheap 50$ Canadian for 14 pills The first 2 days I experienced headaches, dizziness and fatigue as well but that very well may be due to the infection more than the medication. | F | 26 | 14 days | 9/20/2009 | 5 | chronic lyme | metallic taste, strange dreams and I GOT MY LIFE BACK!!!!! | this drug has saved my life!!!! regularly using it has allowed me to function with chronic lyme that had me almost totally disabled before I found this medication. | F | 56 | 4 years | 9/15/2009 | 1 | Bronchitis | Extremely rapid hearbeat. Nervouness, anxiety attack. Nausea, dizziness. | One dose of this medicine made me feel very sick. I thought I was going to die. My hearbeat was very fast, I began to shake and had to call paramedics because I thought I was going to die. | F | 48 | 1 days | 9/10/2009 | 1 | Severe Ear Infection | The first night after taking 2 pills I had insomnia, a VERY rapid heartbeat (I usually have a low BP),awful stomach pains that wouldn't go away, severe anxiety, I was afraid to fall asleep because I thought I might not wake up,felt worried for no apparent reason,vivid nightmares when I finally fell asleep, horrible taste in my mouth, dry mouth. Today after the second dose I have severe diarrhea with blood in the stool and the stomach pains are worse. | I plan to just see the urgent care doc who prescribed tomorrow to get a different medicine. IF ANYONE ELSE HAS THESE SYMPTOMS PLEASE STOP TAKING THE MEDICINE & CALL YOUR DOC FOR AN ALTERNATIVE. Judging by so many similar bad experiences, it seems the risks outweigh the benefits of this drug for many, many people. I sincerely hope the FDA is aware of all of this! | F | 23 | 2 days | 9/10/2009 | 2 | bronchitis | Long term loss of sense of taste and smell, mild nausea, loss of energy | It has been 3 full months since I took Biaxin and i still have no sense of taste or smell. I am very scared that I may not get it back. Any advice?? | F | 29 | 10 days | 9/1/2009 | 1 | sinus infection | After a few days, shortness of breath, then a moving rash like hives flaring up at night. Insomnia which was helped by the benadryl I took to eliminate severe itching. General depression and malaise never experienced before. Scary stuff which should not be on the market! | I also had an allergic reaction to Zithromax - tinnitus - a few years ago and told my physician who recommended Biaxin. I now see that the two drugs are pharma cousins which my physician should have known, so stay away from the entire lot. | M | 67 | 5 days | 8/30/2009 | 1 | Bronchitis | On day 8 and did not sleep a wink last night,woke up my husband because I was sure he was dead in the middle of the night.I woke up crying, re-living my past and convinced I was going to die and no one was telling me.Shaky, panic like no other panic attack and not feeling better. | I would never take this again unless I was very, very sick. | F | 33 | 8 days | 8/16/2009 | 4 | Sinus | Metallic tast in morning, went away once I ate breakfast. Food was tasteless. | I would use it again for my sinus infection | F | 50 | 10 days | 8/15/2009 | 4 | SINUS | bAD TASTE AND ACID REFLUX AT NIGHT ---BUT DID HELP MY RED RAW SORE TROAT AND SEEMS TO BE STARTING TO CLEAR UP THE EAR INFECTION--IT IS THE SINUS HEADACHES AND BODY ACHES THAT IS GOING TO TAKE LONGER. WANT TO ALSO ADD TO ALL TO TRY A NETI POT (MADE BY NEIL MED AND THERE ARE STORE BRANDS THAT DO THE SAME THING--CVS PHARMACY) FOR THE DRAINING OF SINUSES--THAT THING IS AWESOME!! GOT LOTS OF RELIEF FROM THAT AND FELT SO GOOD. GOT CRAP OUT OF MY HEAD USING THAT AND WILL CONTIUE TO. aLSO THE STEROID MEDROL PACK IN UNISON WITH THE BIAXIN IS GOING TO WORK QUICKER THAN THE ANTIBIOTIC ALONE. GOING TO GO GET THAT NOW. | SAFE--EFFECTIVE- AND ALTHO IT KINDA MAKES ME FATIGUED AND FEEL CRAPPY --IF YA HATE AMOXICCILLIN LIKE I DO --THIS IS A BETTER WAY TO GO. (AND RESTROOM TROUBLES YA JUST GOTTA DEAL WITH UNLESS IT IS ONGOING THRUOUT YOUR 10 DAY DOSE OR SOMETHING....) | F | 44 | 5 days | 8/14/2009 | 1 | sinus infection | about 4 days into it my glands in my throat swelled up, i had terrible headaches everyday, felt sick to my stomach and felt like someone was sitting on my chest.... | i have never had any sort of reaction to medication except for this one.. this medication needs to be looked at by the fda again | F | 27 | 5 days | 8/7/2009 | 1 | sinus infection | Horrible insomnia, nightmares, really bad metallic taste in my mouth.....awful!!! Dosage: 500mg 2x per day.....this is the 6th day of taking it and I will never take it again--have a call in to the doctor--I refuse to take anymore | will never take it again | F | 55 | 6 days | 8/4/2009 | 5 | Sinus infection | Worst for me: fatigue, insomnia,(waking every 20-40 minutes)& vivid dreams Other: spacy due to lack of sleep, normal loose stools as on other antibiotics, possible achey feeling. (have CFS so hard to tell) | I LOVE this antibiotic. It saved my life in 1993--I was on it for 1 year. On it NOW because of sinus infection. Am surprised side effects worse now--had NONE for the year I took it. But will always love Biaxin & works GREAT!!! | M | 55 | 5 days | 8/3/2009 | 3 | Bronchitis | Metallic, gross taste in my mouth on the last day I took it (7th day). I felt as though I had minor diarrhea throughout the week, but I wasn't eating much while I was sick so it could have been worse. 3 days after I stopped taking Biaxin XL, I started to get mini pimples all over my chest, shoulders neck and face. I don't have an acne problem so I'm 99% sure it's due to Biaxin as nothing else in my routine/diet has changed. | It seems to have cleared up the bronchitis, but the side effects are quite uncomfortable. The metallic taste only lasted a day and my digestion is fine, but the breakouts are still happening a week later - I hope it stops soon. | F | 24 | 7 days | 7/30/2009 | 4 | sinus/ear infection | Metallic taste and reflux at night. Severe yeast infection which required treatment. | Yeast infection is a know side effect form this drug due to its attack on Lactobacillus ......if you develop this be sure to report it to your MD promptly for treatment. If so Azithromycin may be a better drug. | F | 46 | 7 days | 7/29/2009 | 5 | Chronic Sinus Infection | Severe nausea and tenderness in the stomach even with food. | Had a sinus infection for 3 months. Nothing else worked. Took it for 10 days and was mostly cleared up. Call the doctor and took 5 extra days and it completely cleared up about 3 days after that. THRILLED that it's gone! | F | 34 | 15 days | 7/14/2009 | 1 | Bronchitis | dry mouth, metal taste in mouth, anxiety, crying, feeling sad, listless, not sleeping, tingling lips, dizziness. | Starting taking this med for Bronchitis. after 5 days still coughing. horrible metal taste in mouth, not sleeping even after taking sleeping pills...on 5th day was very dizzy... I was not told of any of these side effects.. Not a good experience for me. | F | 51 | 6 days | 7/5/2009 | 4 | bronchitis | No side effects. | This helped cure a bronchitis cough that I had for two weeks. I felt relief within 24 hours. | F | 26 | 10 days | 6/28/2009 | 4 | Sinus Infection | Metal taste in mouth,could not get rid of it! Stomach pain,nausea, and mood changes. | Biaxin did help get rid of my sinus infection very quickly. But the side effects were enough not to take it again! | F | 28 | 10 days | 6/22/2009 | 2 | strep throat | 5 days in and no relief. Cotton mouth, insomnia, but sleepy during day and had to pull over 2 days to take a nap in my car, loss of sexual dexire, sensitve to sound - watchn tv on mute, eyes burn, irritible and antisocial, no bowel movement in 4 days, sweating like crazy | taking 800mg 2 times a day | F | 29 | 5 days | 6/14/2009 | 1 | Bronchitis | Dry mouth and terrible bitter taste starting about the third day on the prescription Woke up often during the night. | I just tossed the last pill of my 7 day run in the trash as I absolutely can't handle the taste. Although this medication worked to clear the infection, I would rather take something maybe less effective for a longer time and avoid the bitter taste. As I write this, it's really annoying. | F | 55 | 7 days | 6/10/2009 | 5 | sinus | Very strong metallic taste in mouth, extremely hungry, very dry mouth at night, and REALLY HAVE TO PEE A LOT! | Even though I have these side effects, I gave this drug a 5 because it made me feel better. I am allergic to many other antibiotics and usually take this one when I'm sick and it works very well. My husband and I were both sick at the same time and on different antibiotics. I felt better days earlier than he did. | F | 37 | 10 days | 5/25/2009 | 5 | Sunus Infection | Bad taste in mouth; drowsiness, sleepiness in daytime; lethargy; heightened depression symptoms. | 2x per day for 10 days; Dr. said I needed something stronger this time. I am under Dr.'s care for depression, so the side effects were confusing - I slept a lot, but it did take care of the infection. | F | 54 | 10 days | 5/25/2009 | 5 | strep throat | completely cured my strep throat, but has left a bad taste in my mouth during the entire 7 days I was on it | F | 38 | 7 days | 5/24/2009 | 4 | strep throat and conjunctivitis | metallic taste, vivid dreams, lethargy, sadness | although the side effects were unpleasant, I felt it was important to finish the medication as it was making me better. | F | 53 | 7 days | 5/22/2009 | 1 | sinus | biaxin almost killed me ,I had 4 panic attacks and aniexty I thought I was going insane my whole face went numb and my head was tingling ,I thought I was having a stroke every other side effect you can imangine I had it . | Please do not take this medication It it pure rat poison It will make you very sick It is not o.k. Do not Take it If you are taking it sssssstop!!!!!! | F | 3.5 days | 5/18/2009 | 5 | Sinus Infection | None. Not even a bad taste in my mouth besides what the infection was causing. | I was checking on the drug to see if it was also used to treat an ear infection because I think I might have one as well. Found this website with mostly bad reviews and figured I should add a positive one for potential uses of this drug. 3 days ago I could hardly stand up due to severe pain in the back of my head, jaw and throat. Doctor prescribed this and within 8 hours was up doing house work and on day 2 was out of the house feeling 80% better. I agree most people leave comments if they had a bad experience but there are probably 20 times more people who had positive experiance. | M | 29 | 2 days | 5/17/2009 | 1 | Severe Chest Infection | Bold metallic taste, extreme vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, insomnia. | I also have Chronic Bronchitis and have been prescribed this medication multiple times, i hate it, it ALWAYS makes me sick and i can't stop vomiting. | F | 19 | 10 days | 5/16/2009 | 1 | Bronchitis | headache 5mins after taking it, night sweats,woke up several times during the night with dry mouth and just plain not being able to sleep! woke up with my legs covered in rashes and dark urine this happened after taking just one pill!!!!! | F | 17 | 1 days | 5/14/2009 | 5 | sinus infection | Just the bad taste in my mouth but cured my sinus infection right up. | F | 55 | 7 days | 5/13/2009 | 4 | Lyme disease | The only side effects I have had are hunger in the mornings and a slightly bad after taste, mostly after I go to bed. I am on a coated version of the medication and it tastes like vanilla. | I know I come to this site when I am checking a drug that I think I might be reacting to. Not everyone has a bad reaction to a medication and I caution anyone that comes on here and warns people not to take a certain drug. You don't want to discourage someone of trying something that may help. I take 2000 mg of this drug a day and it seems to be helping with my Lyme disease. | F | 56 | 58 days | 5/7/2009 | 1 | Tonsillitis | Really bad taste in mouth; racing heartbeat and heart palpitations; elevated bp (mine is normally very low); bad dreams (when I could sleep); nausea(even taking it with food didn't help the nausea); insomnia (very ususal for me I am usually out as soon as I lay down at night!); dizziness (extreme); some chest pains (probably from the racing heart rate);Feeling like I could not catch my breath; depression; feeling like I was going to die; will not take again EVER! | I will never take this medicine again, took it for 7 days before I could not stand it anymore. Nurse at drs' office said it was an allergic reaction to it. Guess I will add it to the ones I can not take (like any form of penicillin) Took about a week to fully clear the stuff from my system (this was not the generic form either) I just wonder if I would have had hives from it too if I had not been taking my Zyrtec for my allergies too. | F | 39 | 7 days | 5/6/2009 | 3 | sinus infection/bronchitis | strong metallic taste in the mouth, nausea, sleeplessness, vivid dreaming, loss of sense of smell, feelings of dread | It is more than 2 months since my prescription finished, and I am still experiencing loss of taste and smell. I suppose it helped prevent a secondary pneumonia, but these lasting side effects are difficult to deal with. I have an appointment with an ear-nose-throat doctor to see if there is anything else going on. I've read that biaxin can cause a secondary yeast infection, which may be the cause of the lingering dimished sense of taste. | F | 55 | 10 days | 5/5/2009 | 4 | yes | nausea, hedaches, nightmares, bad taste in mouth, fatigue and after 6 days i couldnt sleep. I felt completly unaware of anything and unwilling to to anything however, biaxin cleared up the infection very fast, so all the side effects i can handle even the ones that made me feel like i was going crazy. | i told the pharmacist how alot of anitbiotics like penicillin and biaxin cause me to have a bad taste in my mouth and he said to take it with orange juice and drink that if i had a bad taste in my mouth, now i dont really like orange juice but it deffinatly helped :) | F | 18 | 2 weeks | 5/2/2009 | 1 | Sinus Infection | I was up for three days straight. It was HORRIBLE! Get off this med right away. I was going crazy. | I have never had any side effects from a drug. This was the most horrible experience of my life. I didn't sleep for two nights straight. I started to think it would be better to die than to continue like this (I have no depression problems). I finally figured out it was the drug and stopped taking it. I was able to sleep the next night. | M | 30 | 3 days | 4/28/2009 | 2 | Sinus Infection | Extreme Nausea, little appetite, fatigue/weakness, mild diarrhea, bloating, bad nightmares (which I never have). The pharmasist told me to take it with food (which I did) but did not help. I have only been on this for 2.5 days and never had so much side effects with an antibiotic before:( | M | 36 | 2 days | 4/24/2009 | 5 | upper respiratory infection | The horrible metallic taste....always keep breath spray or tictacs handy. | My doc started me on Levaquin. Many side effects...and I specifically asked for Biaxin as a replacement. I've taken it before and knew how my body would react. But it's better than the respiratory stuff. As so many of you have stated, Biaxin is hard to tolerate. But in my opinion, it works for me. | F | 62 | 7 days | 4/19/2009 | 1 | lung infection | Terrible loss of smell, can't smell anything just five days after taking Biaxin slow release. The NIGHTMARES, ANXIETY, depression, crying fits are so scary. This medication almost sent me to the loonie bin. I had no idea that an antibiotic could do this. I have dry cough and a nose that is so dry it parched. the worst is the sick taste and smell of breath from this medicine. | I would like to know from others on this site what the doctor said when you tried to change the medicine. AND Could anyone who lost their sense of smell tell me if and when it comes back? AND What can you do to clear this drug out of your system | F | 47 | 5 days | 4/13/2009 | 1 | bronchitis | Panic attacks when I try to sleep. The only way I can cope is to plan to stay up all night. I can handle the bad taste and stomach upset, but I need to stop the adrenaline rush! | Unless you're desperate, ask for something else! | F | 48 | 5 days | 4/13/2009 | 1 | tooth and sinus infection | Hives and swelling on legs, arms, body and ears, Terrible itching, difficulty breathing and swallowing, swollen face and hands | I took only 2 tablets, one each 12 hours apart. The side effect started a couple hours after the second dose. I had benadryl allergy in the house so I took 2 tablets. I did not get worse after taken the benadryl but it took several hours for the hiven and swelling to go down. 12 hours after the initial swelling my hands were still swollen | F | 59 | 1 days | 4/13/2009 | 1 | bacteria infection | Stomach pains, diarrhea constant( all day and part of the night)ssleppnesness. Tired all the time, bad mood, not feeling social horrible taste in my mouth. Taste buds are weird. Not hungry | I hate it! I cant stand the bad taste in my mouth. Any suggestions? | F | 55 | 30 days | 4/12/2009 | 4 | sinus infection | Metallic taste in mouth, irritation when urinating on day 4 | The side effects were fine compared to amoxicillin - my doc switched me to this due to shortness of breath and hallucination in dreams (or so that is how it felt) | F | 37 | 7 days | 4/8/2009 | 1 | Sinus Infection | Severe dizziness and nausea within the first dose, diarrhea, nightmares about death the second night, terrible stomach cramping, severe bitter taste in mouth, paranoia, crying and scary hallucinations. | I have never felt so awful on a medication in my life. I have a history of anxiety and depression...I can't believe this was prescribed to me. All the symptoms I could live with except for the stomach cramping and the mental effects. I ended up in the ER this morning from hallucinations. I felt like I might die. The whole experience was terrifying; do not take it if you have a history of mental health problems! | F | 29 | 2 days | 4/5/2009 | 1 | Sinusitus | Constant dull headache, rapid pounding heart beat, tightness in chest, insomnia, | I lasted 7 out of 14 days on Biaxin XL (500mgx2) for a sinus problem. Sinuses felt better after the first couple doses, but I could not make it past day 7. Told my doctor about the side effects, and he said I was probably allergic. Its been 3 days since quitting: chest is feeling looser but I still get occasional bouts of rapid heartbeats around 100 bpm which is higher than my normal rate of 75 bpm. Hopefully things will return to normal once the drug has been completely eliminated from my system. | M | 35 | 7 days | 4/3/2009 | 4 | Upper respiratory infectn/sinusitis | Metallic taste in mouth (like chewing on aspirin), loss of hearing in one ear, insomnia, nervous feeling, fast heartbeat, mild abdominal cramps. | After having an allergic reaction to Levaquin, my doctor prescribed Biaxin for 7 days (2x a day).I am currently on DAY 5 and so far it has helped. I started noticing I was getting better after the 2nd day. The side effects started immediately after I took the first pill. I could deal with the metallic taste and even the mild abdominal cramps. What I hate is the insomnia (which started on Day 3)and the nervous feeling at night. If you have to take this pill, then I suggest taking it with food (it won't give you an upset stomach with food). Will I take it again??? I would probably try it again. | F | 28 | 7 days | 3/31/2009 | 3 | Sinus, chest, and ear infection | Strong metal taste in mouth, so disgusting and strong to the point where it woke me up in the night several times. Nausea for a good two hours or so before my body calmed down, and I'm usually not moody - but it had me feeling exhausted and crabby towards everyone. And also feeling useless, as if there was nothing I could do to feel better. Loss of appetite. And just general unhappy feelings. | If you're not strong at heart... back away. | F | 16 | 10 days | 3/31/2009 | 1 | upper respiratory infection | loss of appetite. loss of taste. stomach pain, which felt like a hunger pain that could not be relieved. unable to sleep. and worse of all: hallucination! | i will never take it again. i never had a such a reaction to a medication before. it was really scary. | F | 51 | 3.5 days | 3/27/2009 | 1 | Sinus infection, ear infection | Hives and swelling on face, difficulty breathing | I took only two doses and started having a severe reaction. I went to the hospital and they put me on an IV drip with a hospital strength benadryl and steriods. The taste in my mouth was metallic like putting keys in my mouth or a copper penny. | F | 34 | 2 days | 3/26/2009 | 1 | Mono/bacterial sinus infection | Constant Metallic/Crushed Asprin taste in mouth | Had the runs as well and a bad taste in my mouth. It has now been 2 months after I quit using the drug and my family is sick of hearing me complain about this "taste in my mouth." It was nice to see I'm not nuts! I'm curious to know, how long did the metallic taste persist in your experience with the drug? I would just like to get an idea of how long I've got to put up with this. I see that for some it seemed to go away rather quickly while with others it persisted. I will never take this drug again. If anything this experience has taught me to THOUROUGHLY question the doctor about side effects before I take his advice on using a medication for which he has posters all over his walls!!! | M | 29 | 2 weeks | 3/25/2009 | 1 | bronchitis | It's been 2 months since I took the full dose and my sense of smell has not returned back yet to normal. Weird thing I noticed after (not sure why I did it but...) put anti-persperant close to my mouth and the metalic taste was even more concentrated. Possibly the aluminum stuff interacting. Anyway, all that "metallic stuff" in your body can't be good. Trying to detox... | M | 36 | 12 days | 3/24/2009 | 2 | sinus infection | Increasing nausea, dizzy, lightheaded feeling. Extreme tearfulness and inability to concentrate and focus. Depressed mood. Blood pressure was elevated with ringing in my ears. All of this lead to an ER visit where my high blood pressure was treated with clonidine. Within 30 minutes the ear ringing had lessened considerably. I had also developed a severely painful herpetic ulcer deep in my throat and am now being treated for that. The anxiety and psychiatric symptoms are intense and frightening with this drug. I have never experienced a reaction like this with an antibiotic. | I will never take this drug again. I have been off of it now for 2 days and still am exhausted from what I went through. | F | 53 | 6 days | 3/23/2009 | 2 | ear infection, bronchitis | Metallic taste in mouth, especially late at night and into the morning hours. 24-hour headaches that started on the 3rd day. Dry mouth at night while sleeping. Irregular heartbeat at times. Night sweats. | Does not seem to have much effect on the ear pain or the bronchitis. Going to call the doctor and ask to stop taking it. | F | 68 | 7 days | 3/19/2009 | 2 | bronchitis brought on by flu | Tight chest, difficulty breathing, unusual fatigue which made it all but impossible to do daily exercise or make it through casual tennis match. Bad taste in mouth. Made me sleepy all the time and slightly depressed. Really sapped my energy and made it hard to tend to normal work and daily activities. | M | 43 | 7 days | 3/18/2009 | 2 | Sinusitis | Symptoms similar to very low blood sugar. Extreme hunger pains. Trembling hands and a headache that went away almost immediately upon eating. Symptoms worsened with caffeine. | I have taken Biaxin three times, and every time with the same side effects. I feel extreme hunger (almost to the point of nausea), even shortly after eating. If I try not to give in to the hunger, I get a headache, my hands start shaking, and I get very dizzy. If I eat something, within minutes, it all goes away, only to return an hour or so later. | M | 41 | 1 days | 3/16/2009 | 1 | sinus infection | tight feeling in chest, low level anxious feeling, badly disrupted sleep, bad taste in mouth, ringing in ears | Aside from some horrific nightmares that I experienced while on the drug, the worst part of this drug was that the side effects (other than the metallic taste) have not gone away. My sleep is still disrupted, my ears ring off and on, the tight feeling in my chest has not gone away and I feel anxious for no reason. It has been over a week since I stopped taking Biaxin XL. I noticed that other people had side effects for months after taking Biaxin. Do they ever go away???? The sinus infection was not entirely cleared by Biaxin XL either. | F | 39 | 10 days | 3/15/2009 | 1 | Sinus Infection | Was fine on this until the 5th day... today. I had a horrible metallic taste in my mouth all morning. Then terrible diahrea. Then I felt like my insides were having spasms, especially my stomach. I completely panicked and had to go to the ER. I felt pins and needles in both hands really bad... to the point where when they tried to take my blood pressure, my whole arm lost feeling and my hand uncontrollably cramped up. The whole thing lasted about 45 minutes and then I was fine. Definitely switched off the medication though. I don't EVER want to feel that way again. | Don't take it! | F | 28 | 5 days | 3/15/2009 | 1 | Acute bronchitis and sinusitis | Inability to sleep increased blood pressure of 148/104 and heart rate of 110T. Crying/sad spells and bitter taste in mouth after taking it and coming up in my mouth while sleeping. Thrush and then blisters on my tongue. Still didn't fix the bronchitis wheezing problem but I am not coughing up colored junk anymore. | This is my least favorite antibiotic but I have used many others in the past and did not want to take this one. Blurry vision and tiredness. Sticky sweat at night and have to get up and eat yogurt to rid the nasty taste in my mouth. It kind of cracked my tongue down the middle and then it had a whitish coating. I don't like this med. It makes me feel tired and grouchy and sad and nothing tastes right even coffee which I don't even enjoy drinking and I love coffee. I took 2x a day 500 mg. twice daily. | F | 34 | 10 days | 3/14/2009 | 2 | severe sinus infection | Thought I was losing my mind. Pounding head, heart felt like it was beating in my head, felt extremely anxious, antsy after taking it and then feeling like I couldn't move, hearing things, loss of appetite, red, flushed face, tingling hands, major insomnia. | I have missed a whole week of work with just the side effects. I am sure this is helpful for some people, but I am never taking it again. I have never had such a reaction, I thought I was going crazy. I was so glad to see others experienced similar problems and that I was not imagining it. | F | 36 | 4 days | 3/13/2009 | 2 | Sinus Infection | Really really horrible taste in mouth, extreme hunger, and terrible gas pains | Taste was so bad after three days that I got another prescription for Keflex, but it didn't do anything for the infection so now I'm back on the generic clarythromycin. The hunger is awful too because I can be extremly full and still have strong hunger pains. Wouldn't recommend it unless you really have to have it. | F | 19 | 7 days | 3/13/2009 | 3 | pneumonia | dry mouth, horrible metallic taste -- licked off the floor type, insomia, nightmares, anxiety, some abdominable pain, chest twinges | Did seem to help the pneumonia, but the side affects are horrible | F | 56 | 12 days | 3/10/2009 | 5 | Sinus Infection | Thanks for this website. I believe I discovered why I had a great experience with Biaxin 3 years ago and why I am having a horrible taste in my mouth, coated tongue and just unpleasantness this time. I'm using the generic! I'm going back to the pharmacy to exchange--I don't care if it costs more money. Biaxin is the only antibiotic that knocks out a bad sinus infection for me. | Try to avoid generic if you can. I think this is a very good antibiotic, so put up with the effects if you can. They are temporary! | F | 54 | 1.5 days | 3/8/2009 | 1 | Chest infection | Biaxin was prescribed to my mother in June of 2002. While on the medication she experienced sleeplessness, paranoia, anxiety, confused thinking, and a horrible taste in her mouth. She also lost her sense of smell. After she had finished taking it, the side effects continued. We went on a weekend trip in October of 2002 and while travelling she became very ill with severe nausea. She began to vomit, and it was pure bile. When this began, instead of going to our original destination I took her to the nearest hospital -- I didn't think she was going to make it there. She was admitted, bloodwork was done (which showed impaired liver function) and diagnosed with several large cysts on her liver, three of which had burst and caused her symptoms. She still, at this point, had the awful taste in her mouth that had started when she was taking Biaxin. When the doctor asked me to list any recent, new medications she had been taking, I mentioned the Biaxin she had taken several months | I would never, ever recommend that anyone take this drug. Yes, some people may not experience side effects, but it seems as though those who do experience severe and lasting side effects that impact their lives, and health, in a majorly negative way. | F | 57 | 10 days | 3/8/2009 | 3 | Pneumonia, ear and sinus infection | Largely psychological: Anxiety, depression, paranoia, hopelessness, negative rumnations. Possible loss of hearing, though I cannot attribute to biaxin at this point. My ear infection had reduced my hearing, possible I'm just not well yet. | I am so relieved to find I am not the only one who had emotional issues while on Biaxin. I started searching today because I was feeling really hopeless. I just couldn't get myself "up". Even though I have some negative thoughts, at least I can comfort in knowing they are probably due to medication and will resolve upon cessation. I actually started the search to see if hearing loss was a possible side effect. My wife lost most of her hearing due to aminoglycoside antibiotics (neomycin) and I was concerned that my hearing is not improving. I found the emotional sides by accident and am relieved. i thought I was going to need an antidepressant or antipsychotic. While I certainly cannot say 100% it's due to the medication, it's amazing an antibiotic could have this sort of effect. | M | 38 | 9 days | 3/6/2009 | 3 | upper respitory | HEADACHE, HEDACHE, HEADACHE!!!!! NAUSEA, NAUSEA, NAUSEA!!!! DIZZY DIZZY DIZZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEED NOT SAY MORE!!!! AFTER THE 7TH DAY- I STOPPED!!! I COULD NOT TAKE ANOTHER DAY OF A HEADACHE BUT THEN, THE DIZZINESS SET IN AND I FELT AS IF I WOULD PUKE AT ANY MINUTE!!! BEEN OFF OF IT FOR A DAY AND A HALF AND I HAVE DIARRHEA REALLY REALLY BAD!!! AND THE WORST GAS I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!!! THE GAS BUILT UP SO MUCH THAT MY STOMACHE WAS HARD AND ROUND! MY HUSBAND WAS ASTONISHED!! I LOOKED PREGNANT!!! AND THEN THE GAS STARTED AND LASTED FOR HOURS..THEN THE DIARRHEA SET IN AND THAT IS WHERE I AM WITH IT NOW!! MY DOCTOR PRESCRIBED MECLIZINE FOR MY DIZZINESS AND NAUSEA..IT SEEMED TO HAVE WORKED!! | I WILL NEVER TAKE THIS DRUG AGAIN!!! | F | 38 | 9 days | 3/5/2009 | 1 | Sinus Infection with Pink eye | Chemical/Metallic taste in mouth. Stomach Cramps. Paranoia. Slight insomnia | I am going to stop taking Biaxin mostly because of the horrible taste. the only reason I was put on this medication is because i broke out in hives last time i was put on Amoxicillin. I would rather have hives though than the stomach pains and taste. | F | 16 | 3 days | 3/5/2009 | 1 | Bronchitis | Severe metallic taste in my mouth 24/7. Insomnia, up all night. I would only sleep for 1/2 hr intervals. Stomach cramping. Very vivid dreams when I did sleep, I remember like it was real. | The mettalic taste and insomnia are severe. This is the first and last time that I take this medicine! I want to go off it but am supposed to be on it for 14 days! I don' think that I will last that long. | F | 36 | 7 days | 3/2/2009 | 3 | bronchitis | anxiety, tearfulness, nervousness, fast heart rate and palpitations, waking up feeling uneasy, BP elevated, negative thoughts coming at me, inability to cope | Had been taking Biaxin a number of times over past year and a half due to bronchitis. I liked the drug because it worked right away. I had no clue that this medication was contributing to the symptoms i was having, but now i realize the pattern. My side effects always occurred in conjunction with taking this medication. Try to take another antibiotic (not sure which one is better) if you are prone to anxiety or depression. | F | 46 | 10 days | 3/1/2009 | 3 | INTENSE HUNGER PAINS! | F | 18 | 30 days | 3/1/2009 | 1 | ear infection | really bad stomach pains, emtional problems | i hate taking this it has made me so miserable for the last couple of days and i dont think i could take this fr 7 days..its a horrible drug. it doesnt make you feel better it makes you feel worse | F | 18 | 3 days | 3/1/2009 | 1 | sinus infection and bronchitis | I am the female poster of 1/2/2009. Most of the side effects continue. My question for those who have experienced similar side effects is HOW did you overcome them? Was it just a question of time? I am being followed by a naturopath, who has me going through a detoxification process. I am surely not alone in wanting to learn about what others have done. | F | 53 | 5 days | 3/1/2009 | 2 | Sinusitis | Diarrea, woke one night and red faces were pouring out of my walls and my carpet was on fire. Never hallucinated before in my whole life. Dreams of my own death, death of those closest to me. Extremely bad taste in my mouth. Kept me up for 48 hours with the first dose... I'm glad I'm not the only one who had these symptoms. DO NOT take unless you are in bad, bad shape. | Avoid this drug. Dangerous, in my opinion. | M | 25 | 5 days | 2/28/2009 | 3 | 2nd sinus infection in a month | HORRIBLE taste in mouth, could be described as metallic or kinda like aerosol spray on your tounge | I have the generic (clarithromyc)500 mg, 2X a day for 2 weeks.currently on day 3, I thought I was CRAZY... never heard of this side effect!! Worked wonderful for infection, felt better the 2nd day. Dont think I would take again, I will try another... Taste is THAT BAD!! | F | 30 | 14 days | 2/26/2009 | 1 | upper respiratory infection | severe anxiety, muscle cramping, heart palpitations, increase in blood pressure, pressure in ears, nausea, dizziness, | symptoms persist months after completion of medication | F | 45 | 5 days | 2/26/2009 | 5 | Bronchitis | Metallic taste, slight anxiety (nothing I couldn't deal with) | I'm on day 6 of 10 and so far so good. The mettalic taste is annoying, but the side effect of cleaning out my sinuses has made me discover a new drug, oxygen. | M | 39 | 6 days | 2/24/2009 | 1 | Lyme Disease/Babesia | Emotional outburst, insomnia then deep, deep sleep with extreme vivid dreams. Could not determine between reality and dream states. Began to become paranoid, hallucinate and had extreme anxiety and delusions. I saw visions of myself dying and was having suicidal thoughts and desires to rage. I cried for 3-4 hours straight and felt complete insane. I am a strong person and never expected a medicine to have such a negative effect. The Kaiser doctor tried to say that suicidal thoughts were typically not a symptom but I have seen it on many sights!!! | I ended up in a pysch ward for the first time in my life. I completely lost my sense of reality and admitted myself because I was worried I was a danger to myself or society. This drug was HORRIBLE and we need to gather for a class action suit!!! This drug should not be on the market if other antibiotics can be used to clear up the infection. | F | 27 | 9 days | 2/24/2009 | 1 | Pharyngitis | Heart palpitations - extreme dizziness, felt disconnected from the world - anxiety/panic attacks for 4 months, tingling on left side of body, zero white blood cell count after taking biaxin and having lab work done | horrible medication - I would not recommend this medication to anyone!!!! | F | 40 | 4 days | 2/23/2009 | 1 | Sinus Infection | Insomnia, nervousness, stomach aches, bad taste | I quit taking after 3 days. Two days later I am still feeling the effects. | M | 33 | 3 days | 2/23/2009 | 2 | Sinus infection | insomnia, and as a result, clinical exhaustion | I would wake up after less than four hours of sleep and could not return to a sleep state. I would go to work wired, return home exhausted and repeated the cycle until I experienced complete exhaustion to the point of extreme mood swings and hallucinations. My infection symptoms were relieved within a few hours, but since rest is needed to the road to wellness, I could never achieve that with this drug. | M | 40 | 3 days | 2/22/2009 | 1 | Pneumonia | hallucinating, really bad taste on tounge, rash, decrease in heart rate, mind raceing thinking my heart going to stop or stop breathing, veins hideing, stuck gas that hurts to get out, dizziness, fainting, really small puple's, feeling like some one was stabbing my stomach many time with a needle, tingleing in hands and feet, tense stomach mucsle, trouble focusing eyes, auras like no tmr, heart pain, thrash, yeast infection, back pain, sever stomach cramps and shape pain, purple feet, loss of sight. cannot go number 2, hearing loss, and ringing, numbness in legs, pores opend up, shaking of the eyes, rib and chest pain, cough syrup not working, sharp pain in lungs when ares are down, joint pain, siatice nerve pain, twiching, loss of words, boan pain, itchy, pee uncontrolably, yellow pee when i drink 8 glasses, spiting up foam, troble, constite uncomfortable, high high anxiety, crying for no reason, loss of time, black circuls under eyes, lost color in skin, craving fresh air, loss of m | Biaxin is somthing you never want to be taking. I have already been diagnosed with high anxiety, to where after taking biaxin xl I started having suicidal thoughs. The first night of taking it I hallucinated seeing my deceased father as an angel. I dont not recomend taking this drug! My mother has taken it three times and now scares me of how her behaviour is, thinking the devils after her. I dont know why this medication is still subcribed. It helped with the fluid on the lungs, but the hallucinations are become far worse than it ever was and I only took it for five days today is day six.... please dont take it! | F | 18 | 5 days | 2/22/2009 | 1 | H. Pylori | Awful metallic taste in mouth, extreme nausea, heart palpitations, chest tightness, anxiety-related symptoms. | Do everything you can not to take this medication. Its really awful. I should have listened to the other postings. I almost ended up in the ER with my heart racing/chest palpitations. Day 3 was the worst with the taste in your mouth. So bad you cant sleep. I tried to suck it up but I had to quit on Day 6. Not worth it. | M | 38 | 5 days | 2/18/2009 | 1 | Terrible side effects Became very very sick. I have not felt the same since I stopped taking it 2 months ago. | F | 36 | 8 days | 2/17/2009 | 1 | sinus infection | bad insomnia. can't shut my brain off, but am getting physically tired. wierd dreams. wierd taste in mouth. To the lady that almost passed out. that can be serious---an abnormality in the heart rhythm. don't re-start this drug. | F | 36 | 7 days | 2/16/2009 | 1 | Lyme disease | extreme emotional outbursts, sudden shrieking, zero emotional control, felt like I was going crazy, no metallic taste | My Lyme doctor said my symptoms were just a Lyme die-off reaction (herx), but these are not typical herx symptoms for me, and after seeing this site, I believe my symptoms are from Biaxin | F | 23 | 15 days | 2/15/2009 |
| Key to
ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
