Zithromax (z-pak) experiences anyone?

[tiina]

Hi!


I wrote a post about possibly having an ear infection. Today I went to the doctor and he said it is an ear infection. He prescribed me zithromax and of course I'm afraid to take it in case it might make me throw up. Have any of you taken this med before? In the leaflet from the package they don't even mention vomiting as a side-effect but several websites I found about it do. Also on one website it said to take it on an empty stomach and I was gonna take some of my dose now but I just ate before I read the website. I thought it would have been better to have eaten so it maybe wouldn't make me sick but maybe it's just the opposite.Can you think of why it said to take it on an empty stomach? Am I more likely to vomit if I take it too soon after I ate? Any info would be appreciated.


Tiina

[giff1949]

Tiina,

I am currently taking zithromax for an infection that I have and have been on it for over two weeks. In fact, I have to take it for a month or two and not just the 5 days. I have had no problem with nausea at all. I think it is a pretty safe drug. I do take it with a little bit of food which the pharmacist said is ok. My doctor said it does not matter if you take it with food or not. Try not to be afraid to take it.

Hope this helps.

Debbie

[tiina]

Hi Debbie!


Thanks for your reply. I'm not trying to scare you but I found a site where people were talking about their experiences with zithromax and some of them were talking about liver damage and some were saying it was causing psychological symptoms for them. So I was thinking maybe it isn't a safe drug. I guess I'll take one tablet at first and see how it makes me feel. I'm supposed to take two the first day and then one a day. Or maybe I should wait til tomorrow before I start on it so I could wait longer after the first tablet to see how it makes me feel. It's 10pm here now so I wouldn't be able to wait long before taking the second one cause I'm not gonna be awake that long anymore. I don't know what I'll do...


I find it kind of odd that the leaflet lists all kinds of neurological side-effects as possible side-effects. I wouldn't think an antibiotic could cause nervousness or sleeplessness for instance. I don't know if other antibiotics can cause that stuff as well.


Debbie why are you taking this med for so long? Is your infection so bad that you need to take it longer than usual?Edited by: tiina

[giff1949]

Tiina,

Thanks for the information. I am taking it for an infection in my lungs which has been very hard to clear up. I go back to the doctor on June 8th and hopefully he will take me off of it then.

The doctor mentioned the liver issue so he has done blood tests to keep track of the liver funtions and so far so good.

I have not experienced any psychological side effects or sleeplessness on zithromax so far, but I will keep what you have said in mind.

You should probably be ok if you are going to only take it for 5 days.

Thanks,
Debbie

[blood_tears]

hey, im on the med as well right now. actually my last day is tomorrow (thank god!) and im hoping it will get me off meds for a while. this is what i have found. take the first, double dose with food. it will absorb slower and be less of a shock to your ssytem overall.


do not mix this stuff with milk or dairy products. it makes you dissociate and be really unsure of reality.


take a gravol in the evening and avoid food the later it gets. im finding my stomach is off with this but only in the evenings, that could be nerves or it could be that it ake the meds in the evening and the amount of drug in my bloodstream is dropping, both are possible. take single doses without food


drink alot, this stuff makes you thirsty, however it does seem to work on infections

[lilbopeep]

I have taken zithromax on 2 seperate occasions. The first time I had no problems. The second time, I had severe stomach cramping and diarrhea. I talked to my doctor, and he said zithromax can cause stomach cramping in many people, and to just try and finish the zpak. I finished it, and never vomited. I did still have stomach cramping, though. I never had any weird psychological problems with it, though.

[skinnyme]

Both me and my dd had taken it this winter... her for strep and me for bronchitis. I never had a problem but she had tummy upset. The dr said this is very common and to take with food. I guess everyone is different.

[swiftette]

I took it for bronchitis in February every morning after breakfast at about 7:00a.m. and at about 1:00p.m. every day, I'd get a bit of an upset stomach but no nausea or v* and thestomach upset was'nt bad enough for me to want to stop taking it.

[blood_tears]

im coming off the drug now and thought i would report the rest of my story. if you had side effects (for me, d* and stomach upset in the evenings) they will continue for a few days. the upset lasted about 3 ays after i got off meds, and i still have the d* (but that could be from being on meds for so long that i'm still trying to repopulate stomach bacteria that went on vacation...