Azithromycin for Bacterial Infection User Reviews (Page 2)

• CGa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2020

"This is by far the worst antibiotic I've ever tried. I got the 3-pack today. I took one 500 mg pill for my bronchitis. Within 90 mins, I started having severe dizziness, nausea and vomiting, stomach pains, headaches, and nervousness."

• Bes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2023

Azithromycin "I’m allergic to many antibiotics, and the ones I’m not allergic to make me physically ill with nausea and terrible stomach upset. This is the only antibiotic I can take without worrying about horrible side effects. I highly recommend it. It’s also easier to take than many other antibiotics that you have to take multiple times a day. Don’t let any bad reviews scare you, this is a great antibiotic! I’m currently on it for a root canal. But I’ve had it a couple of times in the past for other issues."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2022

"I took azithromycin for a UTI. Never again. I took it with food. Two hours later, I had the worst stomach cramps, gas, and diarrhea, feeling hot and shaking, and experiencing really bad anxiety along with it. I'm never taking this antibiotic again."

• arc...
• October 8, 2017

Azithromycin "Brand name Zithromax works better than the lower quality generic, however, I've found that Zithromax isn't the greatest when you have infections of both upper and lower airways. It may be due to antibiotic resistance. Same thing with amoxicillin alone happens: not as effective as it used to be years ago."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2019

"I was prescribed 1 dose of four 250 mg tablets to be taken at one time. The doctor did tell me to eat something with this. Thankfully, I ate an actual meal with it and not just a snack because I could only imagine how much worse I would have been if I didn’t eat a full meal. I took this around 7 PM, and by 10 PM, I was getting the stomach gurgles and cramps. It was bearable, and I fell asleep. Let me tell you, I woke up at 3 AM with the worst diarrhea of my entire life and almost passed out in the bathroom from the pain. I went ghost white pale and started to sweat from the pain. I spent a good 30 minutes almost dying in the bathroom and slept on a couch in the living room in case I needed to crawl back in the bathroom and die again. This medication has the worst side effects."

• Nev...
• July 20, 2017

Azithromycin "Took first dose of two tablets for bronchitis and lost all ability to taste food in a few hours, also had to leave work as I felt very tired. No change to bronchitis symptoms. Day two, continues to have no ability to taste food and headache (5/10) began after the second dose. Bronchitis symptoms mildly improving. Following the third dose, severe headache and earache, took tramadol, which made it manageable. Not taking the fourth dose, currently experiencing horrific stomach cramps and diarrhea. Still can't taste anything and have a significant headache. Felt much better with bronchitis symptoms, feel like death. Never again."

• Ava...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2021

Azithromycin "I was experiencing a tension headache off and on for close to two weeks. I suspected I had a sinus infection and went to the ER because I couldn’t get in to see my PCP for weeks. I took the Z-Pak as prescribed (my last dose was last Thursday). I still feel like I have a sinus headache in addition to dizziness, fatigue, diarrhea, and anxiety. I felt worse after taking it, I ended up back in the ER and was told they didn’t find a sinus infection at all, and I need to follow up with a neurologist because they couldn’t find anything on the CT that could cause the headaches either! I had a horrible reaction to a medication last year (Lexapro), which increased my anxiety symptoms. I have been in therapy and doing well with no panic attacks in months. I feel like I possibly set myself back taking the Z-Pak. It was my first and last time taking it, I never experienced these side effects taking Amoxicillin. I had to take time off from work to recoup, I want this out of my system as quickly as possible!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2016

"My doctor prescribed azithromycin for a bacterial infection that appeared to develop as a secondary infection after having flu-like symptoms. Once you start an antibiotic, you should notice a slight improvement, if not noticeable improvement. However, after taking the first two pills, I started having chills, fever, aches, trouble urinating, earaches, back pain, red irritated eyes like a sand feeling, along with uncontrollable coughing and a severe headache. I felt worse than the day I went to the doctor. So I contacted the doctor, and he thought it was a little premature, with less than 24 hours into the medication, to keep trying it. So I did, and on day 2, I was miserable. I contacted the doctor to give him an update, and he changed the antibiotic."

• Hon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2019

"Had to take azithromycin for bacterial infection as no option for bronchiectasis. I'm on a long-term low dose. Been taking since July. Have some tummy pain on the days I take them, but nothing extreme. My cough has reduced greatly and phlegm has also reduced. My energy levels have increased, and I am able to function in a semi-normal way again. No other antibiotics worked. Five chest infections in a year and four other antibiotics had no effect. I cannot knock this drug, it works for me."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 29, 2019

"I had a real bad chest infection and was spitting blood every day with foul-smelling yellow mucus. After taking the first dose of azithromycin pills, I haven't seen any blood in my mucus whatsoever. I'm so excited! I've had some kind of infection since taking Dulera, but my only symptom was bloody mucus when I woke up. No cough, no fever, nothing. Well, my chest hurts, but the steroid is taking care of that. Four months ago, I had a clear chest CT scan and a clear laryngoscopy just recently. I've been dealing with this for four months and had no idea what it could be. Apparently, some sort of bacterial infection because I'm only spitting yellow today, no blood! Thankful to God!"

• Jaz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2020

"My doctor prescribed me this medication for an infection I had. The SIG was to take 2 by mouth at one time (both 500mg tablets). So I took them after I ate food. About 5 minutes later, my whole body was sweating, I became weak, had horrible stomach pains, and I felt like I was going to throw up everywhere. My mom said that I got pale looking in the face. I wanted to go to the hospital so bad, but I just calmed down. I went to my room and instantly fell asleep and woke up feeling way better. THIS MEDICATION HAS HORRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS, NEVER AGAIN!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 2, 2014

"Started with clindamycin, stopped after 4 days because it wasn't doing the job. Dentist switched to azithromycin, and to much surprise, it has been a good experience! My ears are clogged, but I'm not sure if that has anything to do with the med. This experience has really helped me and my anxiety about taking meds."

• Mmw...
• June 12, 2016

"Started this medication yesterday, and on other antibiotics, I usually start feeling better by now. If anything, I feel worse, and I have every side effect. I mean the runs, the cramping, the gas, the bloating, the head pounding, the dizziness. I don't know if I can choke the third pill down tomorrow. I am just miserable. Oh, and I'm taking it for a middle ear infection, and the pain is still so great, it just adds to the other side effects, and it's rendering me useless for things I need to do, like go to work or function in general. My advice: see if a different kind of anti can be given to you."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2020

"Had to take this medication twice now. Every time, no matter how much I eat with it, I get absolutely some of the worst stomach pains of my life. Everyone is different, and it seems my stomach is particularly sensitive in general. If you have a sensitive stomach, avoid this medication if possible. I’m experiencing the stomach pain and diarrhea right now from only 500 mg, and I am in absolute agony. This is a super consistent side effect for the many doses I have had to unfortunately take. Cured the infection quickly, though."

• Sud...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2021

"I was recovering from a long COVID/flu infection and feeling much better, but I thought I should be retested before going to the dentist. But instead, the NP put me on a Z-Pak, saying retesting was not recommended this soon. (?) I was told the azithromycin would prevent any possible lingering bacterial infection in my respiratory system. I took only the first two tablets, then had a horrible night trying to sleep, hurt all over, developed thick, heavy drainage which I'd never had before, and woke up exhausted and in the deepest, darkest depression I've felt in decades. Then I read that this drug can also cause hearing loss, and I had already lost the hearing in one ear two years ago. Then anxiety through the roof! This whole ordeal was like a waking nightmare! (Had to cancel the dental appt.) I will never take this stuff (for me) again! Had it put on my 'DO NOT PRESCRIBE' list! And changing my PCP."

• Str...
• May 16, 2016

"Was prescribed this medication for a case of strep throat because I'm allergic to amoxicillin. Took two pills, as directed, at noon with my lunch. Within two hours, I was on the toilet with the runs. I don't feel sick. Will take one more a day for the next four, so hopefully, I don't have to run to the bathroom every afternoon!"

• TJ2...
• April 22, 2015

Azithromycin "I love this stuff! I am a smoker, so I am prone to getting bronchitis more. Getting sick stinks, but when I get bronchitis, which is almost every year, I get this medication, and by the 2nd or 3rd day, I am feeling much better, and by day 4, I don't really feel like I am sick anymore. But you need to finish the meds! That is a must. I have also been told that it might not work the first time around, so you need to take a 2nd round of the meds. I call it the miracle drug!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 1, 2018

"So far, this antibiotic is working, considering that I was a little nervous to take it since I had never taken this before. I was prescribed this medicine for my ear infection. The only thing that I've really experienced last night, which was my first time taking (500 mg), was that I was a little itchy, with no hives, rash, or swelling of anything. This is day 2 of taking it, and I haven't felt the itching again (probably because I took half of the original dose, which is what I'm supposed to take). I feel like if something more serious was going to happen, it would've happened last night, but you never know, I am only on day 2, lol. But so far, nothing serious has happened, which I'm thankful for. I've never really had a bad reaction to antibiotics, I've had amoxicillin a million times and erythromycin once for a kidney infection, and never really had any serious side effects to it. It does depend on the person, though."

• Cru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2016

Azithromycin "Got rid of my very bad case of bronchitis in 4 days. I was given a 5-day treatment plan. So I took all the antibiotic pills. My doctor also gave me just 1 antifungal pill because I get thrush in my mouth and/or a yeast infection. I took that on the 3rd day of the antibiotic pills. And it worked!"

• Tar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2018

"I was prescribed a 1 g single dose. My urine culture was positive for the bacteria Ureaplasma urealyticum, and I had urinary burning. Two weeks of doxycycline did nothing to the symptoms. So, I took the dose right at the doctor's office and was checked after about 15 minutes for signs of allergic reaction. After that, I was getting progressively 'high,' like I was in a dream. The first day, there was very mild nausea and stomach pain, also gassy. Two days after the dose, my liver began to hurt, up until day 7 post the pills. I also spent two days mostly sleeping, I was so high/relaxed. I can't say that the burning is gone, so I will request additional tests to check for other infections. Everyone, keep in mind that STI clinics only test for the most common or dangerous infections. If you are negative for them but still suspiciously symptomatic, it's time to Google and ask for additional testing. Oh, and I used a condom EVERY. SINGLE. TIME."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 16, 2018

Azithromycin "I am now to the point where I specifically ask doctors not to prescribe Z-Paks for me. Sometimes, they argue and say, 'it will work.' Of course, it doesn't, and then they give me a second Z-Pak prescription. It still doesn't work, then finally they relent and prescribe something that does!"

• sic...
• August 29, 2017

"I was given azithromycin for a bacterial infection and strongly regret it. I continued with the medication for four of the five doses, finally stopping upon a call to the pharmacist. I quickly lost all taste and desire to eat food and became very drowsy. The next morning, I was much worse. I could not get out of bed without falling over because of severe dizziness and a headache. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, I realized I had thrush on my tongue and a rash all over my body. This was soon followed by cramps and diarrhea. I wish this nightmare upon nobody, and apparently, this reaction is not that uncommon. I wouldn't risk it."

• Hul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2020

"I took the first dose of azithromycin, and it gave me an irregular heartbeat and palpitations. I suffer from panic attacks, anxiety, and depression, and I don’t know if this is the cause. I have taken it before and it has given me anxiety, but never an irregular heartbeat."

• lav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2017

"NP put me on Zpack for 5 days. I took the first dose (500 mg) yesterday at 4 PM. I have diarrhea about 2 hours after I took it. I get home from work at 10 PM and start having the most severe abdominal pains that moved up to my upper abdomen, chest, and wrapped around my back. I couldn't sleep, no position helped alleviate the pain I was in. It felt like my lungs were tightening to the point I couldn't breathe normally, nor talk in full sentences to tell my boyfriend what was wrong. I'm not one to go to the ER over anything, but I made him drive me, and on the route there, the pain stopped, and I was fine. So I never went to the ER, but the pain was severe enough to make me go. I ate a full meal before and drank plenty of water. I won't take it again. So scary."

• Oli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2019

"Worst experience on an antibiotic ever. I usually have bowel issues as a common thing, but this medicine gave me stabbing pains in my gut and watery poops. After I took the med, I went to sleep and woke up the most nauseous I’ve ever felt in my life. This med does help with whatever you’re dealing with, but you gotta work through these horrific side effects."