Zithromax not helping? - Headaches & Migraines Message Board

Dark Stranger · 12-31-2006, 11:23 PM

Maybe I'm just being impatient, but I recently was put on Zithromax for what doctors perceive to be a sinus infection. Please bear in mind that I have not yet seen my doctor and a doctor I have never met before called in my prescription last night. I don't know if this is allowed or not, but I digress. I know it takes a bit of time for any medication to kick in, but I recently read that Zithromax is a rather potent antibiotic and should begin taking effect within 24-48 hours. It's been a little more than a day and I still feel the pain and tenderness all over my head.

Is there a possibility these antibiotics are not working? I'll give them one more day and if I still feel no improvement, I'm calling my ENT first thing Tuesday to see if I can make an appointment and find out how bad of an infection this is and perhaps get a stronger medication. I'm also taking Robitussin four times a day and Advil three times a day to help with decongestion and pain relief.

Am I just being a little too anxious or impatient? Or should I have noticed an improvement in my condition by now?

ihaveaheadache · 01-01-2007, 11:03 AM

I was recently put on a Z-pack (Zithromycin) for sinus infection. It did seem to work pretty quickly however, in the past I had a three month sinus infection that no antibiotic could get rid of. I finally saw a doctor at the clinic who suggested I use salt water nasal drops and as soon as I did that it cleared up. Sometimes you have to remove the breeding ground for the bacteria to grow. You can also find salt water nasal pots for cleansing at the drug store that do the same thing basically. I find those more effective.

Dark Stranger · 01-01-2007, 02:26 PM

Thanks for the feedback, Ihaveaheadache. I'm still feeling no improvement and if this continues into tomorrow, you can bet dollars to donuts I'll be on the phone with my ENT asking what I should do.

Ihaveaheadache, when you were on Zithromax, did you ever notice a change in your appetite? Ever since the first night I started on the Z-pack, my appetite has decreased noticeably. I still get hungry, but not as often or as easily as I did prior to taking it.

BioAdoptMom3 · 01-01-2007, 08:36 PM

Zithromax has never helped me very much, nor was it very effective when our DD had an ear infection and was on it. Amoxicillin or regular penicillin has always been the most effective when I have had a sinus infection, so you might just need something different. I would also ask for an antihistamine/decongestant like AllegraD or whatever they can give you.
Hope you feel better soon!

Nancy

Dark Stranger · 01-02-2007, 11:31 PM

Thanks for the information, BioAdoptMom3. I spoke to my doctor today and she explained that, if the Zithromax was not helping me by now that I either need a stronger antibiotic or that I don't have a sinus infection at all. She prescribed me amoxicillin/clavulanic tablets, which appear to be quite powerful (875 mg amoxicillin). I was told that if I see no improvement with this new medication that I probably have migraines and to see a neurologist. I'm hoping that's not the case, but at the very least she did reassure me that whatever is ailing me is not something dangerous or threatening (tumor, cancer, stroke, etc.) because if I was experiencing something of that nature I would have different symptoms.