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Cefdinir User Reviews & Ratings

Cefdinir has an average rating of 4.3 out of 10 from a total of 369 reviews on Drugs.com. 28% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 55% reported a negative experience.

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Reviews for Cefdinir

  • Rya...
  • September 14, 2019

For Sinusitis "I’ve taken this medicine before but I guess I was very sick. That I never noticed the side effects or maybe didn’t get them till now. I was on 300mg cefdinir 2x for 7 days. By day 6, I finally realized I was having adverse reactions and not just feeling sick. From a severe headache that nothing is helping, which includes pins and needles, with an extremely ITCHY SCALP all still present 24hrs after stopping! It’s driving me mad! It made my anxiety go through the roof, I felt pressure in my ears with tinnitus, intestinal distress, lack of appetite, thirst, feeling irregular heartbeats, feelings of overall malaise & doom. I seriously contemplated going to the ER thinking I was having a major health crisis until I looked at my date book & everything started on day 2 of antibiotics. I doubt it helped at all, as I tried hiding in bed most of the time. I hope this helps someone. Always journal when you're sick;)"

1 / 10
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  • Kim...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 8, 2020

For Bronchitis "Hi. I have a 15-year-old daughter with congenital heart disease. In March, right before everything was closed down due to the pandemic, she got really sick. Her INR was off, it was actually the first clue we had any idea something was wrong. She was admitted to the hospital to get that under control. They found lung effusions, abdominal abscesses, and she was having SVT. She ended up in ICU on pressors and major heart drugs, and had the effusions tapped. Here's where cefdinir comes in. They put her on cefdinir in the hospital and sent her home on that. (She also needed oxygen in the hospital). She was on cefdinir from March until around May 10th. Her lungs and abscesses cleared up, and she never got C. diff. 300 mg twice a day. I'm thankful this drug worked and didn't contradict any of her heart meds she's on. She did have occasional nausea and occasional diarrhea, but not C. diff. This was a very long-term use with a good outcome, and I just wanted to share."

10 / 10
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  • Ben...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 30, 2019

For Sinusitis "Let me just say first, I was really scared after reading all these reviews, and was very reluctant to take it. But I really wanted to knock the sore throat and sinus problem I had had for 3 weeks at that point. I had taken amoxicillin and felt better for a week, but it came right back, so I was put on Cefdinir. I took it 2x a day for 10 days. I took it with a daily probiotic and Greek yogurt, and even Garlic Pills, and Pepto-Bismol when necessary. The only issue I had is one day I decided to eat buffalo wings about 3 days in during a football game... regretted that the next day. Other than that, I have zero complaints and my infections were finally knocked out. If you are reading the reviews and are reluctant, check with your doctor that you aren’t allergic to any medicines like this, and if you aren’t, go for it."

9 / 10
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Frequently asked questions

  • aub...
  • March 29, 2020

Omnicef (cefdinir) "This drug cefdinir makes me feel like I am dying. I was prescribed Omnicef for a severe UTI that traveled to my kidneys. By day two, I am vomiting profusely, I cannot stop having diarrhea, and I genuinely feel like I am hallucinating and dying. I want to stop taking this medicine, but I cannot deal with the pain of UTIs. I’m lost. Please say no to this medication and stay away at all costs."

2 / 10
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  • The...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 15, 2020

For Middle Ear Infections "This is by far the worst medication I have ever been on. I’m allergic to amoxicillin, so cefdinir was prescribed to cure my ear infection. I can’t begin to explain the horror with this medication. I had awful chest, back, and arm pains. I had this pain when I would breathe in the back of my throat that was almost similar to how it feels with my asthma attacks. I had ringing in my ears, awful anxiety (which really sucks because I was finally doing better with my panic attacks), fatigue, and stomach burning. I stopped the medication after 4 days. This drug is definitely a nightmare! I’d prefer the ear infection."

1 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 10, 2018

For Sinusitis "I had severe sinusitis/throat infection, and within 24 hours of taking cefdinir, I felt 1000 times better, literally. I could finally drink water without being in pain because I could barely swallow beforehand. Yes, the side effects definitely suck, especially since I have the worst yeast infection due to the antibiotics, but I recommend cefdinir. Don’t let others' experiences with it scare you from taking it. Everyone’s different."

10 / 10
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  • May...
  • October 17, 2019

For Sinusitis "I’m a healthy 22-year-old female with no health problems. The pharmacist gave me an antibiotic called Encef to treat a flu, it contains cefdinir. Thirty minutes after taking it, I started to feel anxious and discomfort. I started getting shortness of breath, and suddenly my heart just pumped one really strong pump and continued with extreme fast heartbeats. I fell to the ground and couldn’t get up anymore, I couldn’t breathe well, and it felt like I was having a heart attack. After being taken to a hospital, two hours passed, and the nurse told me that my heartbeat is back to normal and that I can take the antibiotic again, and that it wasn’t the cause of my incident. The next morning, I woke up fine, and when I took the second pill of the antibiotic, I experienced the same thing again after thirty minutes exactly-the sudden pump of my heart and fast heartbeats with shortness of breaths and severe anxiety. It felt like I was literally dying for about thirty minutes. I never took this medicine again."

1 / 10
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  • Rob...
  • November 17, 2019

For Sinusitis "I was prescribed this medication to fight sinusitis back in August 2018, but all it did is kill pretty much my intestinal system. I have the worst diarrhea I have ever had in my entire 50-plus years. For the past 15 months, it has been living an awful life. I have had to take anti-diarrhea medication almost daily. Some days it is so bad I can't leave my house for fear of an accident. There are times I don't make it to the bathroom. I have been seeing a gastrointestinal specialist multiple times trying to get this resolved. They are still trying to figure out how to stop the episodes. I have taken antibiotics in the past with no side effects, but this is the worst. The negative side effects from cefdinir will make a big impact on your quality of life. It has affected my personal and professional life as well as my finances. I can only hope that more people read the warnings of any drugs so you can avoid potential issues that pharmacists or doctors don't tell you about."

1 / 10
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  • avn...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 27, 2020

For Bronchitis "On cefdinir 300 mg twice daily. I had a sinus infection that I left untreated for a few months, which turned into acute bronchitis. I was on this pill before and it worked great the first time. Only on day 3, but not too many side effects, just insomnia and mild stomach cramps are common. But geez... the reviews on this drug are scary as anything, lol. I think it’s a good alternative to amoxicillin (I’m allergic). Don’t let the reviews scare you!"

9 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 4, 2021

For Sinusitis "I took cefdinir for 7 days. My first symptoms were hives that started on the 6th day. Since I'm allergic to ampicillin, I decided to stop taking cefdinir because of the hives. Once I stopped taking it, I had two migraines. I've been having anxiety every day since I stopped cefdinir. Even today, a slight cough and also weird back and chest pain when I breathe. Has anyone else experienced any of these symptoms?"

1 / 10
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  • Mbk...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 16, 2019

For Sinusitis "Every winter, I end up with sinusitis/infection that triggers intractable migraine. It’s beyond miserable! This is the first year I have been prescribed cefdinir. I was very nervous to try it after reading reviews, but I am happy to report, so far, I have no issues aside from a noisier stomach. To be fair, I am also taking prednisone. I feel SO much better on just day 3! I will update if I end up with bad side effects, but so far, so good."

9 / 10
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  • Ste...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 15, 2017

For Bronchitis "Do any of you people whining about diarrhea realize that all antibiotics can cause diarrhea? Would you rather have loose stools or die of pneumonia? Seems like a no-brainer to me. It is not the doctor's job, more like the pharmacist and your own, since you are your own advocate for your health to adequately research the drugs you put into your body! Yikes! Your doctor is attempting to help you get better."

10 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • November 23, 2019

For Middle Ear Infections "I'm stunned reading the bad reviews. I've taken this drug on two different occasions for sinus infection. No side effects, and infection cleared up. Anytime I take an antibiotic, I always take probiotic supplements. On the norm, I eat Greek yogurt (not low fat) every day for breakfast. So sorry for all those that had such bad experiences and adverse reactions."

10 / 10
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  • Kee...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 8, 2019

For Middle Ear Infections "I should have reviewed this terrible medication, cefdinir, months ago. I know I will never take this medication again. I have never had any reaction to any other antibiotics before. Healthy 50-year-old. I tend to resist new medications just because of reading side effects. I did not check this prior to taking it. I was prescribed this for an ear infection. I did not research this medication before because I thought it must have only happened to me, but now my grandson was prescribed this as well, and I needed to see if anyone else had my experience. Too many reviews with similar experiences. I was able to take it nine days until excessive diarrhea, vomiting profusely, temperature, and abdominal cramps. Four days clear liquids, five days of the BRAT (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) diet, two trips to the ER. Bottom line, destroys the good bacteria inside you, and the bad bacteria takes over. Intense stomach pain lasted 14 days. I hope this review helps someone before they start taking it. Stick with the basic antibiotics."

1 / 10
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  • tig...
  • November 2, 2013

Omnicef (cefdinir) for Sinusitis "Fantastic at clearing the sinus infection. I'm on day 4 and it's almost completely gone. The first two days were miraculous. But then, starting day 3... My stomach and intestines are rumbling almost constantly and I'm 'pooping' brown water 5+ times a day. I'm also utterly exhausted and weak, making it virtually impossible to actually do anything. If this gets much worse, I'm going to have to stop using this before the 10-day course runs out."

4 / 10
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  • hel...
  • February 7, 2019

For Pneumonia "I was prescribed this medication for bacterial pneumonia in my left lung, 2x per day for 10 days. I have to say the reviews of this antibiotic are quite scary. I am extremely sensitive to medications of any kind, and I have had very minimal side effects with this medication. I am currently on day 7 of my prescription, and aside from a little stomach upset here and there, I have really had no other issues. My facial skin has been drier, more irritated, and a bit more blotchy than usual, which I guess I attribute to this prescription because nothing else in my day-to-day life has changed. It took about 3-4 days to notice the medication helping to any degree. Pneumonia does take time to heal, so I didn't expect a miracle from this drug. It had helped clear the infection with very minimal side effects. Don't let the dramatic reviews scare you as I did."

7 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • December 12, 2011

Omnicef (cefdinir) for Strep Throat "Omnicef worked, but it took until the 5th day on it to finally feel a tiny bit better. I had some side effects, and my throat hurt so bad I couldn't sleep for three nights. I saw no visual difference until the 9th day. It almost looked as if on my third day it had gotten worse."

5 / 10
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  • Whi...
  • January 31, 2020

For Sinusitis "I was prescribed this cefdinir for a sinus infection. Supposed to take one 300 mg pill twice a day for 7 days. I took the first pill around 7 this morning, and by 11, I had horrible cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. It’s now 1:30, and I cannot leave the toilet. I will not be taking another pill if I survive this day. If you’re looking for a good colon cleanse, try these. Otherwise, AVOID AT ALL COSTS."

1 / 10
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  • Ran...
  • August 20, 2018

Omnicef (cefdinir) for Sinusitis "I started taking this for a sinus infection. The first 5 days I was fine and just added extra yogurt to my diet to be safe. By day 6, I had a little bit of diarrhea, which was expected. It turned into diarrhea every 45 minutes until I had nothing left for the next 24 hours. Then it was like my bowels were being turned inside out, and all that came out was black mucus. I immediately stopped the medication. I’ve been about 36 hours without it, and things are slowly looking up. But I have had to miss work and other events because of it. My doctor said this was safe for those that are allergic to amoxicillin, but apparently not. I do not recommend this to anyone. If you read most other reviews, it’s about the same thing."

1 / 10
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  • Rob...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 11, 2018

For Sinusitis "This was my 3rd trip to the doctor. First, I was given 875 mg amoxicillin, but 3 days later, I was worse. Went to an urgent care clinic and was given a shot of Rocephin, a steroid, and another antibiotic. Those 3 things cured the sinusitis and the bronchitis I had, but I was still sick. The doctor this time prescribed cefdinir, and it took 5 days, but on the 5th day, my pneumonia was gone - finally relief! Now, I get to see how long it lasts. 3 days not sick so far (I'm one of those unlucky people that are sick more than they are healthy), and the cause is 9 times out of ten, sinusitis. If it progresses without infection, well... let's put it this way. I have sinusitis 9 to 10 times a year, bronchitis 7 to 8 times a year, and full-blown pneumonia at least 3 to 4 times a year. I live with this as normal. Cefdinir really helped me this time."

10 / 10
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  • Eva...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 16, 2020

For Sinusitis "Second time I’m on this cefdinir at a dose of 300 mg for ten days, twice daily. Worst medicine with horrendous side effects: light-headed, acid reflux, inability to sleep, nausea, with severe reactions. Almost lost consciousness several times, inability to control urine, and of course severe diarrhea. Horrible stuff."

1 / 10
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  • Ell...
  • February 11, 2020

For Sinusitis "I took this medication, cefdinir 300 mg, dose 2x a day for a sinus infection for 10 days. I have a VERY VERY sensitive stomach-I didn't have ANY stomach upset (maybe just some gas). Don't let the reviews scare you if you haven't started them yet. I tend to be the 1 in 100 people that have reactions, and I was fine. By day 10, I did end up with a yeast infection-woohoo for being female. After day 2/3, my face felt better. Make sure you take them with a meal, and you'll be fine. Tip: take a probiotic 2 hours after your antibiotic. Although it didn't touch my ear infection, I'm now on a round of amoxicillin."

8 / 10
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  • Che...
  • February 5, 2014

For Sinusitis "I am on Day 6 of this antibiotic. I am not a huge fan of antibiotics, but my vertigo and head pressure from the sinus infection were enough to get me on them. For the first 2 days, I had no vertigo and head pressure, but now I experience some of it on and off throughout the day. So, I use a Neti Pot to clear out my sinuses. Two days ago, I had post-nasal drip, where I ended up throwing up mucus in the middle of the night. With my experience, I have noticed a loss of appetite and have lost about 5-6 pounds. If I do not take the capsule with food, I will end up with heartburn. I am looking forward to being over with this (4 more days to go). I take a probiotic in between the doses for my digestion."

6 / 10
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  • Emm...
  • August 5, 2010

Omnicef (cefdinir) for Sinusitis "I have taken it many, many times for my chronic sinus infections, and it seems to be the only thing that ever gets rid of the infection. I do get stomach aches from it and nausea, but it does what it's supposed to."

7 / 10
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  • Mrs...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 7, 2019

For Pneumonia "I was prescribed the cefdinir antibiotic to treat pneumonia. Day 5 and no serious side effects whatsoever. Penicillin-based antibiotics generally are super harsh on my stomach. Other than some gas and mild constipation, I have had no issues. I’ve been taking it with a probiotic daily."

9 / 10
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26 Report
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.