Cefdinir and Itching: What Users Say

• Liv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2019

For Sinusitis "Sinus infection right now. I was given cefdinir to take twice daily. I'd never taken it before, but I do not like it. I swear it's making me dehydrated, tired, itchy, diarrhea the first 2 days, lots of side effects. I've taken amoxicillin before, so I am not sure why I was given this drug. My doctor told me to continue taking it for now. I have 4 days remaining, but I'm done with it. Oh, and my head still hurts, not as bad as it was, but it's still there."

• Fan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2019

For Sinusitis "Within 6 hours of the first dose, intense itching of nostrils, face, scalp, chest, bottoms of feet, palms; pins and needles on back, inner thighs. Stopped taking it as an allergic reaction. Was to start Prednisone tomorrow, but at 2:45 am got up to take the first steroid dose, hoping to thwart these horrendous side effects. I pray the intestinal effects don’t hit me like they have others. I’ll NEVER use this drug again."

• Vtc...
• March 8, 2016

For Sinusitis "Diarrhea after day 2, I stopped after the 7th day when I started vomiting. By then, the sinus infection was twice as bad. This med added bronchial infection, sneezing, itchy eyes, and nose. I feel like the doctor prescribed it to watch me like a guinea pig. The doctor’s office just said, well, those are the side effects."

• Vtc...
• March 8, 2016

For Sinusitis "Diarrhea after day 2, I stopped after the 7th day when I started vomiting. By then, the sinus infection was twice as bad. This med added bronchial infection, sneezing, itchy eyes, and nose. I feel like the doctor prescribed it to watch me like a guinea pig. The doctor’s office just said, well, those are the side effects."

• Dus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 21, 2015

For Sinusitis "Within 4 hours of taking the first dose of this medication, my coccyx began to itch, which was odd. About six hours after taking the first dose, I had terrible, intense, painful itching that was uncontrollable throughout my groin area, including vaginal and anal itching. The more I scratched, the more I itched. I tried ice and Benadryl, which helped a bit, so I didn't go to the hospital. In the morning, the doctor changed the antibiotic, and I was also given something to successfully treat the worst yeast infection I have ever had. Several years later, I had the same experience (I forgot), and now list cefdinir as a drug allergy. I am not allergic to any of cefdinir's relatives or penicillin."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2015

For Sinusitis "I have been taking this medicine for seven days now for bronchitis and an ear infection. I felt better after two days, then everything hit me again. Now I have been having persistent diarrhea, gargling stomach, and itching."

• Mom...
• June 17, 2016

For Middle Ear Infections "My 6-year-old daughter was given this medication for supposed wheezing in her lungs. 3rd dose she broke out all over her face and body! Itched horribly. Ended up taking her to an ER, and the doctor said to immediately stop this medication and had to give her a cortisone shot to reduce the rash. :( I strongly advise reconsidering if given this medication and you have other options."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2019

For Middle Ear Infections "First 3 doses had itching, but no rash. After that, no more itching for the rest of the course. No other side effects. Worked great. As I was sure I wouldn't get anaphylaxis or Stevens-Johnson syndrome from a new drug, I opened the capsules, poured out the contents, licked my finger, and dipped it in the powder, licked the powder off, then downed it with 2 cups of water. Had no itching after the first 3 pills, so I eventually stopped worrying and took whole capsules at once. Cefdinir isn't like ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, or moxifloxacin (fluoroquinolones) -- those antibiotics leave people permanently disabled for the rest of their lives."

• Mim...
• November 22, 2016

For Middle Ear Infections "Had a sinus infection. Dr. prescribed cefdinir, got a shot, and prednisone. Three days of treatment with cefdinir, no better and feeling worse. Lethargic, dizzy. Stopped cefdinir and started getting better. Two days later, I broke out in horrific, painful itching hives on my entire body!!! ER visit. Steroid shot and hydroxyzine, two days and still suffering unbearable pain and itching! Saw my GP today. She's never ever seen an allergic reaction this severe! Just have to wait it out, and in the meantime, suffer!!! Do not use this drug!"

• dea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2021

For Skin and Structure Infection "Every time I took one of these antibiotics, I would get a distended stomach, itching, sleeplessness, migraine, and flu symptoms, including a sore throat, cough, raspy dry voice, stuffed/runny nose, fever, chills, and horrific body pain. It took me 3 days of taking these pills to realize I always got significantly worse right after taking the pill but would get a little better before the next dose was due. I thought I had COVID and was dying, that’s how severe the symptoms were. I could barely get out of bed to go to the bathroom. Never again."

• Man...
• June 13, 2015

Cefdinir for Middle Ear Infections "My daughter has had over 6 ear infections, only being 22 months old. She took amoxicillin for all of them, but it just didn't work. The doctor gave her cefdinir (however it's spelled), and I'm pretty sure it hasn't worked. It gives her red diarrhea, and horrible diaper rash, and she itches that area quite a bit. She's getting tubes put in next week, so hopefully that ends this horror!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2016

For Tonsillitis/Pharyngitis "After 3 days of taking this medication, I was suffering from constant gastrointestinal issues, which is something I have never experienced on antibiotics before, even with probiotics. On day 4, I began with severe itching, burning, and hives and returned to the doctor. This antibiotic also seemed to have little effect on my original illness. I am now on a Z pack and feel much better. Now I have to be on a long course of Prednisone for my allergic reaction, which has yet to subside. This by far has been the worst antibiotic I have ever taken in my life. Never, ever again!"

• Bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2021

"I unfortunately experience UTIs often. This was the first time I have ever been prescribed this medication for a UTI, so immediately I was skeptical. I made sure to take this with food at every dose and drink plenty of water. It did alleviate the UTI symptoms within a few days, but the side effects I experienced were unpleasant. Luckily, I've never experienced side effects with any antibiotics until this. At first, the side effects were mild, then started to intensify around the third day. I started feeling much more anxious, losing sleep, my skin felt itchy all over my body and started feeling hot. I was more than relieved when it was over. This experience has really affected me. Hopefully temporarily, but I am afraid of taking any antibiotics now."

• DWR...
• July 7, 2021

For Tonsillitis/Pharyngitis "I had a nasty throat infection and was prescribed this. It cleared my condition up in a few days, but it gave me horrible anxiety/anger episodes. Plus, I could only sleep 3-4 hours a night. If you have anxiety issues and are allergic to penicillin, please try another antibiotic. This one is pretty rough. It also made my legs itch and gave me weird pains in my legs."

• 7...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2017

For Middle Ear Infections "Son took this, and it worked well until day 8. He was supposed to do a 10-day course. Then he broke out in a horrible rash: itching, burning, throat swelling, vomiting. Highly allergic to this drug. Currently taking 5 days of steroids and back-to-back Benadryl doses. Complains often of aggressive itch and burning. Seek a doctor immediately if your child breaks out."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2023

For Sinusitis "I have only been taking this drug for my allergies for about 4 days, and so far, it has really helped me. No more itchy eyes, runny nose, really bad headaches, and phlegm. All of those symptoms were severe and life-alerting. I even had a big lump in my right nostril, and it is gone now. So I give it a huge thumbs up."

• Goo...
• March 31, 2016

For Bronchitis "Day 10, my 10-year-old son started painful itching. Took Advil, Zyrtec, and called Dr. Instructed to give Benadryl. Next day, welts all over, hot red rash coming and going in waves. Severe joint pain, cough, and puffiness around eyes. Dr. reluctant to classify reaction as allergy to antibiotic, pointed out that he'd taken same antibiotic 5 months prior and had no reaction. I suggested that first exposure = sensitized and second exposure elicits reaction. Pedi finally agreed with Mom's assessment, prescribed oral steroid. Six days later, moderate symptom control on double dose Benadryl, 20 mg prednisone, albuterol for shortness of breath. Dr. says not anaphylaxis. I suspect otherwise and have EpiPen. He's only comfortable when medicated. Bad drug!"

• Kay...
• February 26, 2018

For Sinusitis "I was given 300 mg of cefdinir 2x a day for 10 days. It took a while to actually start working, and everything was going fine until day 9 of antibiotics. I started itching, but didn’t think much of it as I have dry skin. However, I have completed all of my medicine, and my itching has gotten worse. I would not recommend this medicine. I have NEVER had a reaction to medication before."