special offer

Generic Name: Zithromax for Bronchitis (azithromycin)

Zithromax for Bronchitis Reviews

"The only medicine that works on my bronchitis. I've tried others and suffered more. For me, it starts working in 2 days. No side effects for me, just relief. I love it. But I really need to quit smoking. I wouldn't get it so often, get it at least 2 times a year."


"Zithromax works. I see a lot of websites stating that bronchitis is usually caused by a virus. The fact is, that although the triggering mechanism that brought on the bronchitis may be a virus, a secondary infection of bacteria is common. My entire family had bronchitis for several weeks. Zithromax will get rid of it in most cases. Don't believe the nonsense that you don't need antibiotics - after a couple of weeks of this, go get some Zithromax. It works!"


"I suffer from asthma and would frequently come down with bronchitis. This Zithromax is a lifesaver. I love how it helps me get over it quickly, and I am on my feet again within the week. Best prescription ever."


"This stuff starts working on Day One. Within a couple of hours of taking it, I already feel like the congestion has halted and just needs to clear up. Make sure to take the whole pack, but all three times I've ever had bronchitis sneak in during a cold, Zithromax knocks it right out. No side effects for me."


"Got a regular head cold about a week ago. The cold is better, but the cough got much worse - so violent I can't talk. Went to Urgent Care - they gave me Lortab for coughing, a Z-pack & an inhaler. It's been 2 hours and I am already feeling an improvement. This is the second time in 2 years that this happens to me. I only wish that I could prescribe it to myself at the onset next time instead of trying every other medicine!"


"Used a number of times over the years and always found it to work better than anything. 250mg capsules (6), 2 to begin then 1 per day, 1 hour before, or 2 hours after eating. Lots of coughing up phlegm but clears the chest so can breathe properly. Keep lots of tissues handy. It ought to be available over the counter, as in some foreign countries."


"I had the most horrible case of a bronchial infection. I was sick for almost a week. I went to the doctor, and I was prescribed a 250mg Z-pack. I began to feel better on the second day, which is where I am now. I am beginning to cough up some phlegm that was making my chest feel so very tight. So far, I am not experiencing any side effects. I do take it during a midday snack. I have rated it a 10 so far based on my personal experience. I just hope it clears this completely up."


"I'm on the 3rd day of the 5-day treatment (2 pills on day 1 and 1 pill each of the next 4 days) and have had no bad side effects when taking this medication. My bronchitis finally seems to be clearing up and I'm pleased with this medication."


"For about 10 days now, I had a very bad cough and severe congestion in my lungs (coughing so much that I thought I was going to actually break a rib). I went to my local emergency room, where the attending doctor sent me home with a 'Z Pack' (5-day regimen of the Zithromax, plus a bottle of guaifenesin cough syrup). I'm now on my third day of these antibiotics and am not, thankfully, coughing as much as I did."


"My bronchitis was so severe that the only way I would be able to board my flight to South America in 3 days was with the Z-Pack. I took 2 pills right at the doctor's office and headed back to the office. I was in complete disbelief when, within 3 hours of taking the first 2 pills, my overall condition had improved tremendously. I am glad that I didn't experience any adverse symptoms while on it, but I know of some people that unfortunately are not able to take this medication."


"The z pak cleared up my bronchitis right away. However it almost instantly caused symptoms of gastritis and pancreatis that made me very ill for five months. I could eat very little but was rapidly losing weight. My doctor found low liver and kidney enzymes and suggested futher tests. A endoscopy, colonoscopy, ultrasound, several lab tests and $1700 later there was no diagnosis but after five months i gradually got better. The next winter I got another cold that turned into bronchitis and was again prescribed a z-pak. Almost immediately the same symptoms occurred and I was just as sick for another 5 months. This time the connection was clear - Z-PAK."


"I would be very careful taking this antibiotic if you have heart issues. I have mitral valve prolapse and tachycardia and this antibiotic made it worse after one dose. I asked my doctor 3 times if it was okay to take if you have heart problems and she said yes. I’ve since read that it could cause an arrhythmia issue. Well great I already have that. Thinking about changing doctors now. Definitely will avoid this antibiotic in the future."


"I took a total of two doses: two caplets day one and one caplet on day two. That night I had horrible night sweats that soaked through two sets of pyjamas. My heart was racing and I had a metallic taste in my mouth. Stopped taking it. My bronchitis has been going away without it and finally one week after I stopped taking it I'm no longer sweating, bad taste is gone and my heart rate is back to normal."


"Zithromax is one of the worst medications I have ever taken. This drug gave me acute liver damage with Liver function readings of 560 @ ferritin of 3000, also acute pain had to go to emergency, This is a dangerous drug , I took it for several weeks 3 times a week for prevention of chest infection at dosage 250mg"


"I came down with bronchitis and was prescribed Zithromax. I was prone to ear infections when I was younger and was always prescribed this because I was allergic to penicillin. I had no side effects then, but now I have bad stomach cramps and diarrhea."


"Overall, the medications I was prescribed by the doctors worked pretty well. I had an awful cough for a little over two weeks, constantly coughing up phlegm, and had horrible wheezing. It says online to try and wait it out for two weeks but since nothing was getting better I went to the doctors. I was prescribed the z pack, a 5 day dose of prednisone, and an inhaler. After about 3 days on the medications there was a significant difference. I no longer was experiencing cough attacks and the amount I was wheezing diminished. I've been off the medication for 3 days now, and a majority of my bronchitis is gone. I experienced no side effects with any of the medications and am overall happy with the results."


"OMG never again. Within 30 min of taking the 2 pills for the first dose, I experienced a feeling of being intoxicated. It is now 12 hrs later. I still feel high or intoxicated like I had a couple of heavy drinks in me. I'm stumbling, cannot operate a vehicle, walk, or even take a shower or stare at this screen or type on my phone. This drug is horrible. I am jittery and I feel like I'm dying so bad that I just had to call an on-call DR to prescribe me some Augmentin, which I know I can tolerate. I'm taking panic attacks and I feel I am in a brain fog and "comfortably numb". Cannot concentrate or think on this drug. Its the same feeling like right after a percocet, but the high feeling hasn't let up. I hope this feeling goes away soon!!"


"I took a full course of the 250mg 5 day pack with no ill effects except for a metallic taste in my mouth but then the bronchitis came back, so was prescribed the 500mg 3 day course. On day two, I got severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. I am not going to take the final dose, because although the bronchitis is better, I can't deal with the intense stomach discomfort."


"I went to the ER after I coughed up blood a few times thru the day, and I was diagnosed with acute bronchitis. I was prescribed the zpack 5 day regimen. After a couple of days I began feeling a little better, but by the 5th or 6th day, I felt worse. I had severe nausea and became anorexic to the point that I lost 14 pounds. It took about another 4-5 days until I could eat more than a bite or so of food at any sitting. It's been around a month and a half since this happened, and I'm still having issues with my appetite and weight. I'm still down the 14 lbs, and my energy flags easily. I'll never EVER take that med again due to such an experience. I've had fine success with other antibiotics, without them being this hard on my gut."


"This medicine worked the first time on me with no problems. The second time I used this I had a severe reaction which caused very low blood pressure, I could not feel my pulse, in which I had to go to a Dr. I now am allergic to this medicine. This medication works very well if you can use it. It works very fast."


"I was diagnosed with bronchitis (even though I wasn't coughing) and prescribed zpak. Within 3 hours after first dose, I was shaking all over uncontrollably, blood pressure and heart rate increased significantly. Ended up in Urgent Care, where testing showed no infection in my body and clear lungs. Told to stop the med, drink lots of fluid and wait for med to flush out of my system. Shaking subsided in about 2 hours, but racing heart continued for several more. I'm also unable to go to sleep now. Don't need an antibiotic, but won't ever take this one again!"


"Wow, after reading the comments here, I am thankful to say I've had very little in side effects. Had worsening bronchitis and sinusitis for over a month. Finally called the doc for antibiotics. Within 24 hours I could feel it working. Had a short spell of my temp going up the first day. I'm on day 5 and almost clear of infection and thankful this med will keep on working for a while. Each day I've had a short spell of belly cramps but that's it. I generally eat a lot of yogurt so that may help. I react very badly to plain erythromycin so however this is different it's a great improvement."


"I was given 2 tablets the first day followed by 1 tablet for the next four days. I was coughing so hard I could not get out of bed. The only thing it did for me, now on day 10, is it eased up the cough so that I did not lose my breath and vomit phlegm but I just called the doctor again today because I am still coughing up very thick Phlegm. It helped but it did not work that great at all. Now the Doctor is calling in Tessalon pearls. We will see if that works."


"Diagnosed with bronchitis on Friday, started the zpack and I've taken them to the end and still very sick after an entire week! I realized I needed to be seen when I woke up this morning with terrible chest pains especially when I breath. I went to urgent care this morning and the doctor said that I was the second patient he had that took z pack and had no effect. I am disappointed to say the least! Now I am on a different antibiotic. If I could give zero stars I would"


"Was given Z pack for Bronchitis. Didn't really help with it. Made me have diarrhea. Made me sick to my stomach, terrible metallic taste and sinus mucus. It was like it was toxic on my system. I also got a bladder infection after taking it. Probably killed all the good bacteria in my gut. Never again."

More about Zithromax (azithromycin)

  • Check interactions
  • Compare alternatives
  • Pricing & coupons
  • Reviews (127)
  • Drug images
  • Side effects
  • Dosage information
  • Patient tips
  • During pregnancy
  • Generic availability
  • Support group
  • Drug class: macrolides
  • Breastfeeding

Patient resources

  • Zithromax drug information
  • Zithromax IV
  • Zithromax Z-Pak
  • Zithromax Tri-Pak (Advanced Reading)
  • Zithromax Z-Pak (Advanced Reading)

Other brands

Azithromycin Dose Pack, Zmax

Professional resources

  • Zithromax prescribing information
  • Azithromycin (AHFS Monograph)

Other brands

Zmax

Related treatment guides

  • Bacterial Infection
  • Bacterial Endocarditis Prevention
  • Babesiosis
  • Bartonellosis