Clarithromycin User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2019

For Sinusitis "I had a pretty serious sinus infection. I was having minor fevers every few hours and was as congested as I've ever been. To its credit, it has all but killed the sinus infection in 3.5 days. HOWEVER, I've been nauseous for 3 straight days. It feels like I have rocks in my stomach and a lump in my esophagus. This metallic taste never leaves my mouth. Diarrhea 3x a day. Occasional headaches. And I still have 6.5 days left on this questionable medication. I would rather have the fevers and congestion back. I am never getting this medication again if I can help it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2012

Clarithromycin for Bronchitis "Been on Biaxin earlier in the year for a sinus infection, worked like a charm then, and the side effects were slight. (Just the metallic taste.) Got prescribed it for bronchitis a couple of days ago, and I've got the worst nausea, can't even look at or smell food."

• dsi...
• June 10, 2009

Clarithromycin for Pneumonia "Being asthmatic, I often suffer bronchial infections. I had borderline pneumonia a few months ago, a one-week course of Biaxin XL cleared it up. I am now taking Biaxin XL again because I have bronchitis, and after two days, I am breathing much better, it is also clearing up my ear infection. The only downside to this medication is the metallic taste in the mouth and some wild dreams. I recommend drinking plenty of water to keep you hydrated while on Biaxin XL."

• Sha...
• September 13, 2019

For Sinusitis "The doctor prescribed clarithromycin for a sinus infection. I was really concerned after reading the reviews. My experience was positive. I only took the tablet with food, the nausea sensation only when my belly was empty; I had the metal taste in my mouth, but sucking a lollipop that quickly went away. I was very fatigued on this medication and my knees ached. It was hard to concentrate as well. The medication itself was a 7-day course, and it took the full 7 days to clear my sinus infection, where my tonsillitis, etc., went after day 1. I found breathing eucalyptus oil in my handkerchief dried my sinus really fast as this is a natural remedy to soothe inflammation. I also massaged my sinus each night after a shower (googled how to do this), and that really worked too. All in all, the combination of the above worked, but it was really, really slow to recover. Don’t expect to feel great after a few days."

• Anonymous
• October 6, 2011

For Bronchitis "I couldn't believe how quickly clarithromycin worked. After two days of two a day, I felt better than I had in weeks. There are side effects, though, such as the dreadful taste that appears to last the entire time you are taking the medication."

• roc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2015

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Terrible taste in my mouth from this medication! It also dries you out! One of my chief complaints before being prescribed this med was a bad taste in my mouth. It was found to be from H. pylori. I do feel better in the stomach due to this medication, but the horrible taste is way nasty!"

• Mar...
• March 9, 2022

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "On day 9 of 14 for H. Pylori. Clarithromycin, Pantoprazole, amoxicillin, metronidazole, and Pepto-Bismol treatment. You will lessen a lot of symptoms if you eat with your antibiotics and take them as far apart in the day as possible. Also avoiding things that can cause stomach irritation, like coffee, tea, chocolate, greasy food, acidic drinks like orange juice and soda. Side effects are pretty severe. Suffering with black tarry stools, stomach pain, dry mouth and throat, insomnia/fatigue, gastric bleeding, hemorrhoid flare-up, ulcers in mouth, swollen sore throat and mouth, oral thrush, cough, reduced vision, the worst for me being my angry dry inflamed mouth and tongue. The doctor was not sympathetic to my symptoms, told me to take it anyways for the 14 days, otherwise, I would have to do it again. In most people, this won't cure the Pylori, and you will have to do this again. Side effects so severe and painful, I had a Covid test (negative). You can get reinfected by others' saliva, etc."

• Anonymous
• December 24, 2010

Clarithromycin for Bronchitis "I have been on Biaxin for 3 days now. I have very loose bowel movements, a horrible taste in my mouth, and I can't sleep. I have been eating Tootsie Roll Pops to combat the bad taste in my mouth. I am going to stop Biaxin immediately and call my doctor first thing in the morning. Up at 2:00 a.m. now, wide awake with diarrhea and a Tootsie Roll Pop!"

• Me1...
• July 29, 2015

For Bronchitis "Got prescribed clarithromycin for bronchitis. I have never felt side effects taking other prescriptions like I feel taking this. I have the horrible metallic taste in my mouth, gassy, diarrhea, upset stomach, and now on day 5 and having nightmares. It has helped the bronchitis, but I don't think I can handle the side effects anymore."

• Jay...
• February 9, 2017

For Sinusitis "I got hit with chills, body aches, and an extremely high fever out of nowhere (started and skyrocketed in an hour). I went to my doctor, and she prescribed clarithromycin - 500 mg for 7 days, a nasal spray, and ear drops for an ear infection. The first night I took it, I did not feel any side effects, the 2nd and 3rd night I felt nauseous, a lot of pain in my abdominal area, and could not fall asleep. This drug tastes like horse poo mixed with garbage, it leaves a vile taste in your mouth. However, it has helped with my infection, I am starting to come back to normal, and general weakness has left my body. *Someone recommended swishing salt water to help with the taste, if you do this 3-4 times a day, it will help. Good luck to you all."

• gtm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2017

For Sinusitis "Only on day three of this medication and having occasional relief from my sinus infection pain. The only side effect I've had so far is this horrible taste in my mouth. I read on this site that someone used a saltwater swish in their mouth to cover it, and it really works. Just 10 seconds of swishing and the taste is gone. I've had to do this every couple of hours, but it's better than that terrible taste."

• F77...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2015

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "Worked well as an antibiotic, however, the side effects were very distressing. Nausea, heart palpitations, severe anxiety, and feelings of impending doom. Unsteadiness. The worse side effects were the awful feelings of fear, which were out of proportion. I felt as if I was about to faint because of the anxiety. I felt very upset and tearful about half an hour after taking them, and the mental symptoms just escalated for a few hours. I will report these side effects to the GP, and hopefully, there is an alternative if I ever need antibiotics again for a severe chest infection."

• Mel...
• April 28, 2014

For Sinusitis "Been taking Biaxin for my 4th day. I got a really bad cold, which left me with a sinus infection. I'm allergic to many things, and I always have issues with my sinus. This has worked great for clearing it up and relieving the pressure, but like everyone else on here, I too am experiencing the awful taste it leaves in my mouth. It also has wreaked havoc on my stomach. My mother is being treated for the same cold, and she was up all night, the first day on them, vomited a lot. You have to suffer something in order to get the best results. This works, and I'll deal with whatever side effects it dishes out if it means I can breathe again!"

• Wan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2016

For Bronchitis "Thank goodness I found this site. As a person who avoids taking antibiotics, I thought I was going mad. My doctor prescribed clarithromycin after a ten-day course of amoxicillin failed to shift bad bronchitis. The vile bad taste in my mouth is with me most of the day and wakes me up at night, it's so horrible! I have been alternating between insomnia with adrenaline rushes (just couldn't sleep, whatever I did to try and relax), but then the next day, although I felt exhausted, I just couldn't sit still and cleaned the whole house! My eyes are dry and gritty, but no tummy upsets. I usually have a probiotic drink each day, though. I dream vividly all the time, but had some awful scary nightmares with this antibiotic! Only three tablets left."

• bri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2016

For Pneumonia "After being laid low for a week with agonizingly painful throat and ears, plus coughing up gunk and fever, took myself to a walk-in medical center (live in the UK) on a Saturday and was prescribed amoxicillin 500 mg as an ear infection, although I was told my chest was clear (very surprised). Got progressively worse, coughed all night and struggled for breath, plus pain in ears and throat was horrendous (I do have a high pain threshold too!) and ended up getting an emergency GP appointment Thursday morning and was diagnosed with pneumonia and prescribed clarithromycin 500 mg for 7 days. Feel better already! Yes, odd taste, but I can swallow without grimacing and aren't taking max painkillers per day as I was, plus can eat again and chest is so much better. No other symptoms. Good antibiotic :)"

• Anonymous
• July 13, 2010

Clarithromycin for Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "Worked great for infection, but side effects were becoming disturbing after three days - bad taste always, couldn't sleep, too much energy - couldn't sit still, strange mental clarity and deliberate movements, frequent urination. After 3 days, I didn't feel sick anymore, but the side effects were too much."

• Mun...
• October 24, 2015

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "I was prescribed clarithromycin for my lung infection, and after taking this medication on my second day, I started feeling better. But on the fourth day, I couldn't believe how my breathing improved. The only side effect is the taste in my mouth in the morning, but that is tolerable. I am so happy that it worked and that I feel better."

• kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2015

For Bronchitis "This is my third day taking this antibiotic. It gave me really bad body aches and nausea. The third day, I literally felt like I was dying. I always eat before I take it. I had to make myself throw up. My body was just going numb. It was sending shocking pains throughout my body. I was going in and out of consciousness. I highly don't recommend this medication. Everyone's bodies are different, though. It was definitely not worth it for me."

• ste...
• March 25, 2015

For Sinusitis "The day after, I was completely not congested anymore. The headache was still present, though. It took three days for that to go away, but I was still able to go to work and school by the second day. The only downside was I experienced extreme dizziness within the first few days, and it left a terrible bitter taste in my mouth all day."

• Anonymous
• November 24, 2009

For Sinusitis "I have been on clarithromycin for about 4 days now. It gives me a terrible taste in my mouth. I'm constantly thirsty, which leads to frequent bathroom breaks, and the second night I was up most of the night, sleeping very lightly and having anxiety. I haven't slept well at all in the 4 days that I have taken it, and I notice it's causing my heart to palpitate. I have a terrible sinus infection and do want to stop the medicine, but I feel like a zombie, and I'm looking quite pale."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2015

For Bronchitis "I was prescribed 10 days of clarithromycin for a respiratory infection. Since Day 3, I've been experiencing a lot of fatigue, abdominal swelling/discomfort/pain, intermittent diarrhea, constant severe heartburn, and a constant, nauseating taste that keeps me awake at night. It's also triggered the worst asthma attack of my life (probably because of the heartburn). Each day is worse than the previous day, and it's unlikely that my doctor will want me to suffer through the full course. When my doctor and I are done treating this bug, we'll get to focus on treating the damage this drug caused."

• NiN...
• February 14, 2013

Clarithromycin for Strep Throat "I have had this medication prescribed to me twice now. Both times, within less than 24 hours of taking it, I experienced a metallic taste in my mouth, nausea/vomiting, headache, and the worst of all side effects, uncontrollable diarrhea. When I say this, it's not the 'let me run to the bathroom quick' kind of diarrhea, it's the kind that, if you're not within 5 feet of a washroom, then you're basically out of luck. The medicine itself works really fast (my throat started feeling better after one dose), but there's no way that I can be on this medication and go to work for a full day... unless I take a few extra changes of clothes with me. I, unfortunately, seem to be experiencing the worst of the watery diarrhea symptoms associated with it."

• ana...
• July 23, 2016

For Sinusitis "I just wanted to thank everyone who has posted on this site about clarithromycin and the side effects they've had, as I thought I was losing my mind from the hallucinations and crazy dreams this antibiotic has caused me. It's a relief to know it's not just me, although obviously I don't want others to suffer! After two days on this antibiotic for sinusitis and an inner ear infection, I have literally felt like I was dying: fever, chills, anxiety, and then at night hallucinating, which is really scary, especially when you don't know what's causing it. So thank God I found this site and now can link the clarithromycin to the side effects of the last two days. I have now stopped taking it and am going to ask for a different type of antibiotic."

• mis...
• June 20, 2015

For Sinusitis "Been on clarithromycin for 5 days and have to do a 7-day cycle - only 4 tablets left. I would advise anyone not to Google the side effects you are getting from this job because some websites say pregnancy! I have the most vile taste in my mouth, which gets worse as I cough. I wake up with my tongue stuck down to the bottom of my mouth, and I feel extreme hunger pains/stomach pains. Saying that, I would say this drug works very well. I have vivid dreams and can't sleep at all at night."

• Bad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2015

For Pneumonia "I was sick for a year, a year, coughing up sticky yellow mucus relentlessly. I was put on 4 allergy medications, acid reflux medicine, and put through voice therapy (it was making me gag) and multiple other specialist visits. They thought I had asthma. Nope. After multiple antibiotic tries, my ENT put me on this one, and it cleared within two weeks. No more problems. Yes, it tastes like I ate a pile of crap, but worth it. So worth it."