Clarithromycin User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2019

For Sinusitis "I was sick with extreme flu symptoms for over a week, so went back to the doctor and was told to take clarithromycin 'just in case' it got worse and it developed into a chest infection. Prescribed dosage: 2 x 250 mg a day before food. I was reluctant to take them as I react to most medications and cannot take Augmentin as it makes me pass out. Mind you, I’ve only begun reacting to medications in the last 5 years. I felt so ill that I thought I have to take them hoping to feel better! Well, only 3 days in and I feel worse! Will never take them again. Brain fog, tinnitus, severe fatigue, muscle aches, dizziness. Feel like sleeping all day and insomnia all night. I also feel like my insides have been poisoned. Obviously, every person reacts differently and not everyone will be affected in this way. Though, for me, this medication is pure poison."

• ano...
• April 30, 2013

For Sinusitis "I suffer from chronic sinus infections and have been treated with clarithromycin. While it got rid of the more severe issues (facial pain, horribly stuffed nose), I still didn't feel great after. Both times I ended up having to go to an ENT afterwards and start a stronger steroid and antibiotic. To top it off, when I was on clarithromycin, I had that terrible metallic taste in my mouth that would actually wake me up in the middle of the night."

• Anonymous
• August 31, 2009

Clarithromycin for Sinusitis "I have chronic sinus infections. Over the last 20 years, I have tried everything including surgery, allergy shots, and many different types of antibiotics. Since I am allergic to Penicillin, I have limited choices, but I think I have tried them all. Biaxin is the only thing that works for me."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 20, 2018

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am on 1000 mg clarithromycin, 2000 mg amoxicillin, and 40 mg omeprazole a day. I only just started the treatment, and I have been feeling a bit sick and have had a bitter/metallic taste. My advice is: do not read reviews. Every time I get sick, I look online and terrify myself. I’ve been told not to, but I’m a curious person. This time, reading these reviews, I cried, and I never cry. EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES is what I’ve learned. The success rate of this plan is 85%, so no matter what you experience, it WILL be better than ending up with something much worse, like stomach cancer or a stomach ulcer."

• Jan...
• February 7, 2014

For Sinusitis "I was prescribed clarithromycin for a sinus infection. I have been battling this for four weeks and two prescriptions before this. I am on day three and feel only a little better. I have read it takes 4-5 days to feel better, especially if you have had it a while. The sinuses are hard to penetrate. I have had no stomach problems, I recommend probiotics. A nasty taste in my mouth... Gatorade helps a bit. I have also had fatigue and headache, but I am unsure if this is due to the antibiotics or that my body has had it with medication. Hope this helps someone."

• Lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2014

For Bronchitis "It is efficient for bronchitis and does the work better than any other antibiotic, it is fast, but it made me sleepy, weak, dizzy, drowsy, vomitous because of the metallic taste, and you get some bloating and diarrhea sometimes. You also get very weak from it that you want just to lie down, perhaps it's from the big fight between the medicine and the virus/bacteria! I want just to mention that tea with mint helped with the bad taste, 2 tablets of Panadol/Tylenol daily for the drowsiness, and vitamin C daily to get some energy."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2020

For Sinusitis "I suffer from chronic sinusitis with around 4 flare-ups if acute each year. My sinuses are so painful that a metallic taste from clarithromycin is worth having. I am on the second day of this course, clarithromycin 500 mg twice a day. I can already feel some improvement, and I have 12 days to go. I have a lot of underlying health issues, including cancer, and side effects are a given for strong medication. I usually take doxycycline, from which I have far worse stomach symptoms. I think this drug is great for clearing up severe infections. I have taken both with and without food. The only thing I religiously do is drink a full glass of water with them."

• SBc...
• June 1, 2016

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "The side effects of this medication were unbearable to the point where I thought I wasn't going to be able to finish the whole 10-day course. It left a disgusting metal taste in my mouth for hours. Strong nausea started on day 2 or so, but subsided around day 5. It can be best described as almost like morning sickness a pregnant woman would have. On day 7, it actually gave me acid reflux, which was worrying since I thought the medication wasn't working. I stuck with it and made it to the tenth day, words can't describe the happiness I felt throwing the pill bottle away. As horrible as it was, I got retested, and H. Pylori is officially gone!"

• Anonymous
• December 29, 2009

Clarithromycin for Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "I cannot tell you how worried I was about the side effects of this drug after I read the reviews and listened to what some of my friends said. I ended up not having any. I was prescribed Augmentin first for my upper respiratory infection/ear infection, and it didn't work at all. I took some advice from a nurse where I work about how to take Biaxin. I ate my meal first, then ate about 3 small pieces of dark chocolate and took the pill after that. Let me tell you the dark chocolate is a miracle worker. One time I ate chocolate after I took the pill and I got the nasty metal taste. It is TERRIBLE, and you can't get rid of it for hours. So, remember...DARK chocolate BEFORE the pill."

• Sin...
• December 2, 2015

For Bronchitis "I was prescribed clarithromycin and prednisone for my sinus infection and bronchitis. I was told by my pharmacist to take the clarithromycin with food. Then she told me to eat something like Activa yogurt about 2 hours after taking the clarithromycin because clarithromycin will tend to kill the good bacteria in your stomach, which is what brings on the diarrhea many complain of. The Activa then helps rebuild the good bacteria in your stomach. On my third day and feeling a little better, and never any diarrhea. I attribute the good experience to good pharmacist suggestions. I make sure to eat food and the Activa yogurt 2 hours later, and no side effects yet, and I am feeling on the mend."

• Han...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2021

For Sinusitis "Run don’t walk away from this medicine. I have a terrible metallic taste in my mouth and the awful nausea that goes with it. I would honestly rather have the worst sinus infection in the world than take this medicine for another day."

• Anonymous
• June 27, 2008

Clarithromycin for Sinusitis "Biaxin (or the generic) has always worked WONDERS for me in treating chronic sinusitis or sinus infection (also concurrent ear infection). It smacks it right out of you the 1st time, you don't wind up at the doctor's again after taking something less effective. I ask for it by name (am allergic to penicillin and sulfur, so neither of those are ever an option for me)."

• DrS...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 12, 2014

For Sinusitis "Third day on clarithromycin, it has worked so far, clearing up my chronic sinusitis. My voice is back and my sense of smell is back. The only bad thing about it is the bitter taste in my mouth and lips. I don't know what to eat to change it. I make sure that I take my 2 500 mg tablets right after supper. I haven't had trouble with my stomach."

• Dap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2019

For Sinusitis "I have recurring sinus infections, and I'm currently taking this drug for the 4th time. Before I took it, I was reading reviews of how awful this drug was, and it totally freaked me out. The side effects are not ideal, but you'll survive. I've always found clarithromycin to be super effective, and my sinus issues usually improve in two days. The metallic taste is pretty bad, I'll admit that. Sleeping is difficult, but I take mine with some milk before I go to bed, and it keeps the stomachaches at bay."

• Bea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2021

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am currently dealing with gastritis and just found out I am positive for H. Pylori. I was prescribed omeprazole, two 500 mg amoxicillin, and 500 mg clarithromycin. My 1st dose was yesterday at noon. I got bad nausea that didn't go away even with medication, a metallic taste, and severe stomach cramps that did not go away. I ended up at the E.R. at 2:30 a.m. During all this, I felt a racing heart, shaking, and I was so anxious! NOTHING was helping! After the exhausting day of physical and emotional symptoms, I couldn't sleep at all! I only slept 3.5 hours, now round 2 for the medications again! I tried to just take the amoxicillin, wait to see if anything, then took the clarithromycin, and right after that, everything is coming back from the day before! I can't handle this medication. I was prescribed it for 2 weeks, 2 times a day, and I can't with these overpowering side effects! I was completely debilitated all day after the 1st doses! I feel so hopeless right now."

• Ord...
• December 1, 2015

For Sinusitis "This medicine is awful. First night, awful taste in mouth, couldn't get to sleep and woke up with a racing heart. Day 4, woke up at 1 in the morning, extreme anxiety, pounding heart, sweats, shaking, couldn't think straight. GP has told me to stop taking it, and it should be out of my system in 27 hours."

• Sas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2019

For Pneumonia "I read the reviews on this site and was absolutely terrified of taking this drug. I had pneumonia, and amoxicillin had no effect, so I was prescribed clarithromycin. However, thank goodness, as it was amazing. Within less than 12 hours, my fever (of 39.5) had completely gone, and from then on, no fever and almost back to normal! The only side effect was a bitter taste, which was strong and woke me up at night. However, I found that mixing rice milk and honey literally took the taste away! So I kept a cup of it next to my bed, and if I woke up with the taste, I just drank it! It was amazing. I wouldn't advise having cow's milk in this case because it creates mucus, but any milk alternative and honey should work! Just wanted to let you know in case it is helpful! Wishing you better."

• Jim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2013

For Tonsillitis/Pharyngitis "I'm allergic to penicillin, so this is pretty much my best option. I'm terrified of the long list of side effects on most medicines, but I've had this 3 times before for various conditions, and it hasn't killed me. It works really well, but it's so important that you keep taking it for the full duration. It usually starts working in 2-3 days. As for side effects, I always get the metallic taste (I don't know why they list this as an uncommon side effect instead of common), as well as stomach pains and nausea. Never had diarrhea from it. My advice would be to take food with it or 30 mins before, and sit/stand for the next few hours. When you lie down, the symptoms are much worse, especially the nausea, cramps, and metallic taste."

• Whe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2017

For Bronchitis "Was prescribed this after a 5-day, then a 7-day course of a different antibiotic each time led to bronchial symptoms (with increased body temperatures) never fully going away and strongly reasserting themselves in a few days. The 500 mg tablets are a pain to swallow (you need lots of water to flush them all the way down) and, as most respondents report, cause a permanent nasty bitter taste in the mouth. However, by Day 3, I was feeling much better, and now mid-way through Day 4, coughing nearly gone and phlegm much reduced. Temperature also back to normal. In short, feel practically ready to resume working."

• Cat...
• February 24, 2014

For Sinusitis "Took this medication four times for sinusitis, and it works the best for me. I feel so much better within 24 hours. It's fast acting, the only side effect I experienced was a bad but tolerable metallic taste in my mouth."

• Sta...
• January 10, 2014

For Bronchitis "I had a horrible sore throat and pain in all my body. After using the first tablet, I noticed the difference. By night, I had no sore throat and no muscle pain. It worked amazingly fast, but the side effect I experienced was extreme bitterness in my mouth, which caused me to wake up in the middle of the night, wash my mouth, eat some fruit, wash again, and go back to sleep. But the next morning, I woke up with the same taste in my mouth, and it continues the same way all along. I also experienced some nausea."

• Mrs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2014

For Bronchitis "My ailment wasn't actually bronchitis, but tracheal irritation - it wasn't in my lungs. I started taking it after being exhausted from coughing. I had diarrhea after the first day because I took the first dose too late after breakfast. Since then, I took it in the middle of breakfast and haven't had any GI symptoms since. My cough and chest showed an almost immediate improvement! What a difference! I have also been limiting my sugar intake (to prevent a yeast infection), eating yogurt every day and taking acidophilus to prevent further bowel irritation. So far, so good. I have 4 days left. I noticed a bitter taste in my mouth about 2 days ago. I felt reassured after reading some of the comments here that it is a side effect."

• cmp...
• August 6, 2009

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "10-day run to get rid of H. pylori. In those 10 days, I seemed to be one who experienced negative side effects but continued on for the eventual benefit 'for me.' I experienced extreme fatigue, ringing in my ears, forgetfulness, migraine headaches, and a nasty taste/smell. I had thrush on day 7, and day 10 is here. I feel like I was hit by a truck. I have a follow-up to see if H. pylori is gone and will come back to update."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2018

Clarithromycin for Bronchitis "After suffering what seemed like a never-ending flu, I was put on Biaxin. I have always been sensitive to medications and suffered severe allergic reactions that put me in the ER. So I have never been a fan of antibiotics and avoid them unless on the verge of death...which I definitely was this time around. Biaxin gave me a horrible, bitter taste that was constant and could not be eliminated or masked by any food. I did religiously eat yogurt while taking it so I did not have any stomach upset. I noticed a steady improvement within 48 hours. The horrible, bitter taste lasted the entire 10 days, but nothing I couldn't put up with knowing I was improving and death was no longer imminent. My specialist said I had a bacteria related to Legionnaires, so I pretty much owe my life to this antibiotic. It is now my 'go-to' antibiotic if it is determined I need treatment for any bacterial infection. Biaxin pulled me through and I am so thankful they made this medicine!"

• Tri...
• July 11, 2015

Clarithromycin for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I have terrible anxiety and was very afraid to take Biaxin because I'd never taken it before. I worry about crazy things like having an anaphylactic reaction to medications, throat swelling shut, not being able to breathe, hives, etc. I was on a triple antibiotic treatment of Biaxin, Flagyl, and Prilosec twice a day with Protonix taken alone every morning. I always ate yogurt twice a day with the medication as well as a meal so my stomach wouldn't hurt or be upset. I never took the medication without food as instructed, so I never had any stomach problems at all. The only side effect I had was an odd taste in my mouth, but it wasn't overwhelming or bothersome."