All day yesterday I was throwing up. I couldn't even hold down water. I'm trying to figure out if it's a herx or side effect.
I started Zithromax Sunday night. So I'm guessing that was what caused it.
I don't know if I should continue taking it. I'm so scared of having a repeat of yesterday. It was AWFUL! I was throwing up, having chills and heat flashes.. and my whole body was aching, especially my back.
Has anyone else experienced this with Zithromax?
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using azithromycin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects: diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
chest pain, uneven heartbeats; or
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Continue using azithromycin and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or stomach pain;
dizziness, tired feeling, or headache;
vaginal itching or discharge; or
mild itching or skin rash.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
In clinical trials, most of the reported side effects were mild to moderate in severity and were reversible upon discontinuation of the drug. Potentially serious side effects of angioedema and cholestatic jaundice were reported rarely. Approximately 0.7% of the patients (adults and pediatric patients) from the 5-day multiple-dose clinical trials discontinued ZITHROMAX (azithromycin) therapy because of treatment-related side effects. In adults given 500 mg/day for 3 days, the discontinuation rate due to treatment-related side effects was 0.6%. In clinical trials in pediatric patients given 30 mg/kg, either as a single dose or over 3 days, discontinuation from the trials due to treatment-related side effects was approximately 1%. (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION.) Most of the side effects leading to discontinuation were related to the gastrointestinal tract, e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. (See CLINICAL STUDIES IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS.)
Clinical Adults:
Multiple-dose regimens: Overall, the most common treatment-related side effects in adult patients receiving multiple-dose regimens of ZITHROMAX were related to the gastrointestinal system with diarrhea/loose stools (4-5%), nausea (3%) and abdominal pain (2-3%) being the most frequently reported.
No other treatment-related side effects occurred in patients on the multiple-dose regimens of ZITHROMAX with a frequency greater than 1%. Side effects that occurred with a frequency of 1% or less included the following:
Cardiovascular: Palpitations, chest pain.
Gastrointestinal: Dyspepsia, flatulence, vomiting, melena and cholestatic jaundice.
Genitourinary: Monilia, vaginitis and nephritis.
Nervous System: Dizziness, headache, vertigo and somnolence.
General: Fatigue.
Allergic: Rash, pruritus, photosensitivity and angioedema.
Single 1-gram dose regimen: Overall, the most common side effects in patients receiving a single-dose regimen of 1 gram of ZITHROMAX were related to the gastrointestinal system and were more frequently reported than in patients receiving the multiple-dose regimen.
Side effects that occurred in patients on the single one-gram dosing regimen of ZITHROMAX with a frequency of 1% or greater included diarrhea/loose stools (7%), nausea (5%), abdominal pain (5%), vomiting (2%), dyspepsia (1%) and vaginitis (1%).
Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
I can't take oral zith. It caused GI upset and hearing loss.
If you are taking this with mepron or malarone you can switch to ketek or biaxin.
I found these two drugs much easier to tolerate.
Posted by sonwithlyme (Member # 10942) on :
When my son was on Zith he experience terrible GI issues, ended up in the ER 3 times in 1 week with stomach spasms. His dr switched him to Biaxin which is in the same drug family as Zith, but it is a medicine that releases slowly. My son has been on this now for 9 months and has done very well. You may want to check with your dr to see if you can switch to Biaxin. Good Luck
Posted by LaurenTurner (Member # 12320) on :
Thanks for the advice.
I wasn't sure if it was the zithromax or a stomach bug.
I took zithromax for the first time Sunday night. I didn't start getting sick until Monday afternoon. So I don't know if that's what caused it.
I decided to take my zithromax tonight. I'm hoping I don't have a repeat of the other day. If I do... I'll call my doctor and get switched. I was on doxy and had no problems.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Dear Lauren,
I had to switch from zith to biaxin due to ear ringing.
My husband couldn't take zith due to horrible stomach aches/pains.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Ellie K (Member # 12056) on :
Lauren,
I have no experience with Zith, just wanted to say I'm sorry you're feeling so awful.
I too got stomach-sick this week from a new drug combo.
It sounds like it's hitting you really hard-- I wonder if you should pause until you can talk to your LLMD?
Sometimes I wonder whether severe nausa/vomiting is really a herx-- I tend to think it's more of a bad reaction telling you to stop the drug.
Posted by EyeBob (Member # 12572) on :
Azith at 1000mg per day made my ears ring, that's about it. I'm back to 500mg and no ringy dingy.
BT
Posted by Paula Carnes (Member # 10912) on :
I took Zithromax at 500 mg a day for years and had no problem. BUT you can take this with a full meal. I would certainly try the next pill with food to see if that helps.
Paula Carnes
Posted by tailz (Member # 10014) on :
I have mega bloating, loose bulky stools, and feel hungry on zithromax. Is severe hunger a side effect?
My stomach hurts some, but mostly because I'm retaining water.
I think it gave me a yeast infection, too - this may explain why I'm suddenly able to tolerate apple cidar vinegar.
It seemed to unclog my sinuses and ears initially, but now it feels like some other bug took over.
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
I took it for years with no problem too but this sounds like a side effect!!! Hope you switched to another*)!!!