posted
Hello! So I started Azithromycin a few weeks ago and had to stop a few weeks in because it was hurting my stomach so bad. The day after stopping my stomach was fine.
I went to the doctor yesterday and he prescribed Biaxin to see if I could tolerate that instead of the Zith. I had really bad diarhhea after the second dose this morning then my stomach went back to normal this afternoon.
I want to be clear and say that when I stopped the Zith all my symptoms stopped. Right now I haven't taken Biaxin since the morning and have no stomach symptoms or diarhhea.
I called the doctor about the Biaxin and he wants me off my meds and that I may have to test for c-diff if the diarhhea continues. BUT I haven't had diarrhea for 8 hours.
I'm really nervous to stop all my meds as I am supposed to be starting school again on Monday.
Has anyone had this reaction to Biaxin/Zith simply because they could not tolerate that class of drugs? Did it get better after a few days?
I'm bugged that my doctor wouldn't just take me off the Biaxin and see if it got better. I know c-diff is nothing to mess around with but wouldn't the diarrhea from c-diff continue even after stopping the meds?
Posts: 24 | From United States | Registered: Mar 2015
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
If the diarrhea is from the Biaxin, then it will NOT continue and you will not have to test for C diff.
Diarrhea is a common side effect of biaxin and requires that the med be stopped. See this website:
Your doctor is being cautious for your safety. Looks like he is going to have to find some other antibiotic alternatives for you.
What disease is he treating? Lyme? If so, there are many, many meds to choose from.
Let him assure himself that you don't have C diff. He will NOT prescribe anymore antibiotics until he feels sure that you don't have it.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Okay this makes sense. I am finishing treatment for Babs and beginning treatment for Bartonella. I could not tolerate zith (stomach issues) so he wanted to try this.
I'm just nervous about stopping everything else I am on when I'm pretty sure its from Biaxin. Do you think it would be okay just to stop the Biaxin?
They told me to call on Tuesday and tell them if I am having diarrhea still. I already don't have it as my last dose was over 8 hours ago.
Posts: 24 | From United States | Registered: Mar 2015
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Ellie, I had C diff. You are going to have to go all the way through tomorrow without diarrhea to know that you are in the clear.
Mine used to stop by afternoon but start up again in the middle of each night.
If you have C diff and you take more antibiotics now, you could make your C diff so much worse that you will kick yourself for the rest of your life.
And, if you have C diff, you won't be starting school on Monday or any time soon. So, play it safe.
A few days break in meds is no big thing. Call him on Tuesday and if you haven't had diarrhea for a few days, he will happily allow you to start back up on antibiotics.
Don't be a fool and take antibiotics before Tuesday.
And do NOT take anything that stops diarrhea either.
This way, you can go to school, and by Tuesday you will be back in treatment.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Ok thank you for the advice!
Posts: 24 | From United States | Registered: Mar 2015
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WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
My son is allergic to Zithromax and vomiting was one of his symptoms. So yes it's possible to be allergic to that class of drugs.
I don't know anything about c. diff but being off of your meds for a few days due is not going to hurt you. Lyme treatment is a marathon, not a sprint. It's very common to have side effects of some sort from meds, have to stop for a little while, then start up again.
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
Thank you for your response as well! I don't feel well on zith or biaxin at all beside the stomach issues (toxic like) so that may be the case. I have stopped my meds and thank you for reassuring me it will be okay for these few days.
Treating Lyme is definitely a marathon...it's also much harder and more discouraging than I thought it would be. My first doctor said he thought I would be on meds for about 6 months and obviously that didn't happen because it's almost been a year now and I still have a ways to go. I have also been having more anxiety in general lately so I sort of freaked when he told me to stop everything.
Is your son doing better?
Posts: 24 | From United States | Registered: Mar 2015
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Keebler
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