Anxiety and Zithromax Link? Help please!

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stephen1970

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About 6 months ago I caught pneumonia and was given Zithromax from my doctor. I had a nightmarish reaction to the drug. I had a full on panic attack every night I was on it and the anxiety and fear of impending doom didn't leave me for weeks. I also had shakes, pains, diarrhea, inability to focus or think clearly, dizziness, heart palpitations and the list goes on. It took about 2 weeks for me to get somewhat back to "normal". I remained feeling sort of fine for about a month, then I noticed I was increasingly becoming irritable and dizzy for no reason. Each day would get worse and worse until I completely hit rock bottom. I couldn't sleep well, my appetite went away, my heart felt like it was pounding all the time, started having panic attacks every day, and the impending doom feeling came back. I was a total wreck and had to quit my job. I tried Xanax and although it did stop the anxiety the strange slight dizziness remained. I couldn't use Xanax for long cause I found that I was becoming physically dependent on it after only a week. It's been about 5 months since this all started and I still can't hold down a job or go out of the house without some bad reaction. I try to exercise everyday and eat right but basically I'm a ruined person right now.

My doctor listened to my story and thought it was best to take Zoloft to rebalance the chemicals in my brain. Well I'd be fine with that if I knew for sure the chemicals are to blame but I'm not sure if that is what's wrong. I'm afraid of taking something like Zoloft and going down that path when the problem might be something else.

I would like to know if anyone else here has had the same experience or knows of any link between Zithromax and anxiety/mental health problems. Any and all information would be greatly appreciated!
 
Stephen,

I don't think it was the Zithromax that caused your anxiety. Something else is going on. Just with all the symptoms you had from your pneumonia, it would definately make me nervous and on edge.
I am on Z-pak right now and it seems that every ache, pain or cough I have makes me worried that I have some lung issue or blood clot, but its a common thing for me to worry, so I doubt its the antibiotic.
Its a good thing that you are trying to exercise daily, because it will help. I also reccommend seeing a therapist that can help find the cause of your anxiety.
I thought I was getting anxiety because I have SVTs when infact it was my mother who was causing my anxiety. After finding out the cause, my therapist helped me to control my issues with my mom and stop me from freaking out.
I still have relapses when my mom tests me, but I just have to continue to stop her from getting me upset. And yes, I have even hung up the phone on her before because she is very good a guilt trips!

good luck
lyl
 
Thanks for the reply Lylone,

I didn't mention that it was the 2nd time I had taken Zithromax. The first time I took it was for an ear infection and had the same reaction except that I stopped taking the the drug before things got too bad and the side effects went away in a day. Also, I have read a few other comments on different website message boarRAB that have reported the same side effect issues. So I'm fairly certain there is a link between zithromax and anxiety, even if it's only to have made me more susceptible to developing anxiety disorder.
 
HI dude,
I am currently going through exactly what you suffered and would like to know I mean HOPE you have recovered!!!! :) I would like to know how long it took for yuo to completly recover???
Cheers
 
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