I have been on biaxin (500mg 2x/day) for 2 months now (abx for 5 months total so far), and lately I've had some very disturbing sleep.
Sometimes I hallucinate (while sleeping, never while awake thank God), sometimes I sit up or stand up and mumble like some kind of ghost, sometimes I just talk in my sleep.
I remember the hallucinations, but I don't remember anything else. I have woken my husband many times and he's actually scared of what I could do in my sleep.
It's quite scary. I have a call in to my LLMD, but she hasn't called me back yet.
Has anyone else experienced this? If so, how did you deal with it? Did you change meds or tough it out?
Thanks. hatpianka Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I've heard of others who had that problem. You might want to do a search here of past discussions.
Let us know what your LLMD says.
Posted by justwondering (Member # 12813) on :
I am glad you posted! I am only on Day 2 on Biaxin. My first night last night was pretty terrifying, so I can't wait for tonight... I had terrible night sweats several times and woke up from the most vivid nightmares. One was of a man chasing me through the streets with a gun. I googled side effects today and you wouldn't believe the amount of people who experience the same problems from Biaxin, including violent and gun-filled nightmares. Strange!
I hope you can hang in there. I am going to try. Funny, though, b/c this morning when I woke up I felt GREAT! As soon as I took it again, though, I was couchbound with profound fatigue and nausea.
Keep me posted, I am curious to see how it works out for you!
Posted by hatpianka (Member # 12244) on :
I did a search and didn't come up with much. A couple of threads mention that others have had this problem, but I couldn't find any that gave any solutions. I'll try using different wording...
I haven't heard from my doc yet, but I'll post on here when I do.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Are you on an SSRI antidepressant? It can interact with Biaxin.
I just did a search using "biaxin and insomnia"....found about 10 threads. Here's one:
the killing bb can cause severe hallucinations and nitemares with drenching sweat.
this is part of the herxing process and maybe some biaxin.
you need to try to get a mild sleeping pill, i've tried all and have used clonazepam for several years. still get some nightmares and weird dreams but the clonazepam lets you sleep the full 8 hours without hangover.
don't use ambien, ambien in itself causes severe hallucinations. both my wife and i took this and woke up together sweating.
1mg clonazepam should allow you to fall asleep, then stay asleep. this may be too much or not enough for you. i take 4mg. but your body gets resistant to it over time. i started at .5 mg.
you can't really get rid of these "bad dream" but you can mask it with meds. you may also want to try tylenol pm, works for some people.
docdave.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I don't remember disturbed sleep other than not sleeping well.
I do recall having this horrible taste in my mouth that would actually wake me up.
Hope you get past those nightmares soon.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by hatpianka (Member # 12244) on :
I just wanted to update. Despite calling my LLMD twice yesterday, I have yet to get a return call.
After having a heart-to-heart with my husband, I think I may have released some of the emotions that may have contributed to the sleeping troubles.
Having LD is so hard. It's not that my symptoms are so incredibly horrible, it's the fact that it takes so long to get better. I am better than I was this summer, but it's really hard being sick for so long. Preaching to the choir, I know.
Take care, all. hatpianka
Posted by hatpianka (Member # 12244) on :
I haven't talked to my LLMD yet, but I did get a call from her office telling me to stop taking the biaxin.
My doc doesn't see patients on Wednesdays, so she'll call me tomorrow so that we can figure out where to go from here.
Here's to improvement for everyone here! Posted by EWT1638 (Member # 11315) on :
I've been on Biaxin for 3mos., I fall asleep ok, it is just staying asleep! My LLMD put me on 2 tabs Flexeril on top of Klonipin. Vivid dreams, nightmares...I've had to deal with it. Maybe yours' will stop!?
Good Luck to you. Don't do anything that causes you to have to think. Let your brain shut down a little.
Posted by Looking (Member # 13600) on :
The FDA info on Biaxin lists these symptoms as part of the possible side effects of Biaxin use:
Transient CNS events including anxiety, behavioral changes, confusional states, convulsions, depersonalization, disorientation, hallucinations, insomnia, manic behavior, nightmares, psychosis, tinnitus, tremor, and vertigo have been reported during post-marketing surveillance. Events usually resolve with discontinuation of the drug.
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