Clarithromycin for Helicobacter Pylori Infection User Reviews (Page 3)

• Bia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2020

"At the age of 1, I received an operation. In and out of hospitals, somewhere along the line I picked up the H. pylori virus. Ever since then, I’ve had it treated a couple of times, but it keeps on coming back. At some stage, I had a total of 10 bleeding ulcers in my tummy. I’m now 18 and have the virus again (also had it last year). These pills work temporarily for me, and honestly, the side effects are so brutal I don’t even know whether it’s worth taking. Last year’s treatment had me throwing up almost every day, gave me diarrhea, an awful bitter taste in my mouth, loss of appetite (but found that eating makes me feel a little less nauseous), tummy cramps, and made me feel super weak. I will continue to drink it and hope that this time is more permanent and actually worth the suffering."

• Ste...
• July 3, 2015

"I'm taking 500 mg of clar. med along with 1,000 mg amoxicillin to treat stomach bacterial infection (2x daily). I've experienced no side effects of amox., but clar. is making my sinuses drip with an awful med taste that creeps up into my mouth and along the sides of my tongue. Strange, but hopeful :). No other side effects. In fact, I feel good after taking my dose:)"

• HT2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2015

"I tested positive for H. pylori bacteria causing a stomach ulcer. Day one on this stuff was brutal. I was in so much pain/nausea that I got sent home from work and scheduled an appointment with a GI doctor. Today is much better, but I need to constantly have something easy in my stomach to not feel sick. I immediately got the metallic taste in my mouth and get a bit cotton-mouthy at night. Otherwise, no other major side effects."

• ssn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2019

"My doctor gave me this with amoxicillin, metronidazole, and pantoprazole for H. pylori infection treatment. Before taking the medication, my symptoms are bloating, burping, and back pain. Five days after taking the meds, the back pain is gone, and I felt much better, no more bloating and burping. However, on the seventh day, I started to get a very bitter taste in my mouth, and the burping came back. Now I am on day 10, the bitter taste is gone, but I started feeling weak and very nauseated after eating, and burping still."

• Anonymous
• January 5, 2017

"I am on the 6th day of my treatment for H. Pylori. And it is true that the combination of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and Nexium brings a bitter taste to your mouth, but believe me, it's worth it. I am happy for getting diagnosed early and getting well soon."

• Ala...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2020

"After the first dose, I noticed an elevated heart rate and went to bed. Experienced chills in bed and could not sleep. Took paracetamol, and that helped; awoke again at 2 a.m. feeling dreadful. Went to the toilet and collapsed on the way back to bed. Lay on the floor, sweating profusely for 30 minutes. Made it back to bed and, after a while, managed to doze. In the morning, could not walk back to bed due to dizziness and had to lie on the floor. Went to the hospital where they gave me my second dose of clarithromycin and could barely stand for a chest X-ray. Doctors would not believe that I was having a drug reaction. Finally, a doctor accepted it was a possibility and stopped it. Began to feel better the next day and progressively better, but I had developed a clot on my lung in the meantime. Terrible experience. Have blacklisted this drug for me."

• Sur...
• July 3, 2016

"The first day was terrible. I had headaches, nausea, general ill feeling, neck and shoulder pain, eye pain. This happens every other day. Also, a bitter taste. Thankfully, I am on the ninth day, and I pray it clears the pylori, because I can't do it again. Scary experience. Oh yes, heat flushes as well."

• Jaq...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 31, 2022

"No earthly idea how I caught H. Pylori, but I was prescribed both amoxicillin and clarithromycin - at the same time - to combat it. Not sure yet if these antibiotics are working, but a friend who is a doctor says it is one of the correct regimens for it. The reason I wanted to leave a comment is to advise people who are experiencing nausea after taking clarithromycin to take it with an ounce or two of milk. No more nausea. If it weren't for having read this tip on another forum, I would have had to ask my doctor to switch up medications - the nausea was that bad. Hope this helps someone."

• In ...
• September 22, 2018

"OMG! Worst experience of my life! I'm 63 years old. I have been suffering with a knot in my upper right side just beneath my breast for over 2 years. I've had a gauntlet of tests, was scheduled to have an EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy), but I had a severe laryngeal spasm when the tube was inserted before I was properly sedated. So, the EGD was not able to be performed. I had to be 'bagged.' The gastroenterologist saw only the first sphincter into my stomach, and there were tiny red spots on it and said he believed I had H. pylori (no breath test, no biopsy, no fecal test). He started me on clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and Dexilant. By the second dose, I was in EXTREME abdominal pain, severe burning, explosive diarrhea, dizziness, and weakness. By the 4th day, I truly thought I was dying, so I stopped the medication. I am still weak and hurting 3 days later, hurts to eat, still diarrhea. Going to my GP and asking for an H. pylori test. Never take this med combo without a confirmation test for H. pylori, it's a killer regime."

• H p...
• August 28, 2017

"My husband had H. pylori. I was scared, so I got myself tested. I was positive. I had no symptoms. I took all four medications. After two days of treatment, I felt sick, so I stopped taking the omeprazole. I found out that was the cause of making me sick, and I took the other three medications with a glass of sweet tea. That helped a lot with all those pills I had to take, so my advice is to not take your medication with water, take it with soda, juice, tea, or anything you prefer. It helps with the taste. I had no problem after that. They say it's not contagious, but I seriously think it is."

• dib...
• October 6, 2016

"Started my first dosage of 20 mg Omeprazole, 500 mg Clarithromycin, 1000 mg Amoxicillin (twice daily) for H. Pylori treatment. First 1/2 hour already can feel a lot of stuff is brewing within. Will update later."

• Val...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2015

"I was on clarithromycin and amoxicillin (proton pump inhibitor omeprazole) for a week (H. pylori). The first four days felt like hell, then my body slightly adjusted to the poison, and it was easier. Also, I found that I can relieve the horrible, bitter, sewage-like taste in my mouth with chewing gum. Once, I took two amoxicillin 1000 mg tablets instead of amoxicillin. Clarithromycin added comes the horrible taste in mouth, dizziness, and general ill feeling. I was dying a few hours after taking my final dose of those antibiotics, had to call an ambulance, felt like my heart was stopping. They pumped me with something, and I survived. One star above 1 because I can still write this review 2 days after the last dose."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2021

"I was on triple therapy after a blood test that revealed I was positive for an early infection of H. pylori. Day 1-2, I had a lot of anxiety about taking the meds, but had absolutely no side effects except dark stool. Day 3-7, I actually started feeling significantly better, but developed that bitter taste. Day 8-12, I started getting frequent panic attacks out of nowhere, fast heart rate, shakiness, weakness, feeling like I'm going to die, insomnia, brain fog, you name it. It really felt like someone took me out of my body and put me into a nightmare zone. I went to a pharmacist, and they told me that clarithromycin couldn't be the cause, but a quick Google told me I wasn't alone. Day 13-14 were much more mild, definitely manageable. That being said, these side effects are the minority. I'm just another user that wasn't warned and was quite frightened. Antibiotics are prescribed for a reason, so the benefits will outweigh the chance you end up like this. And if you're worried, always ask a doc!"

• H p...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 19, 2016

"Started taking amoxicillin, omeprazole, and clarithromycin to treat H. Pylori. Worst side effects I have ever experienced. By day 4, I had severe diarrhea (looked like coffee grounds), nausea, dizziness, couldn't sleep, would have waves of burning through my chest and into my head. I went to the ER because my breathing was labored and I had such severe diarrhea. I also developed something like oral thrush, so my tongue felt so raw. My doctor finally told me to stop taking it. The side effects were extremely miserable and torturous."

• rac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2021

"I am having a horrendous experience with this antibiotic, it feels like it burns all my esophagus. In addition, all my joints hurt, and I'm not sure if it's because of the antibiotic or because of the Nexium that I have to take before the antibiotic itself. I worry because it is making my knees painful. I'm 27 years old ...."

• naa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2022

"This antibiotic is not for the faint of heart, but then again neither is 3+ months of H. Pylori. I took clarithromycin along with amoxicillin and did experience stomach pain, nausea, dizziness, and diarrhea, however, my side effects got better throughout the course of treatment. If you're struggling with similar side effects, here are a few things that helped. Take this medicine on a full stomach. I found it to be especially well tolerated with a bowl of oatmeal. Drink lots and lots of water, like 120+ ounces per day. Eat very bland, easy-to-digest meals. Fatty or sugary foods will trigger the nausea and stomach pain. Take lots of probiotics. I took a double dose in the morning and again at night. Eat smaller meals and snack more frequently. Hopefully, this will help you make it through the treatment. I just finished mine, and if it gets rid of the symptoms I was having prior to treatment, it will have been well worth it!"

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2020

"I was prescribed clarithromycin and amoxicillin for 2 weeks after being diagnosed with the bacteria (H. pylori). I’ve been on the medicine for 2 days, it’s messing with my stomach. I’m very bloated, gassy, and it’s hard to fall asleep. I don’t think I’ve felt as if I’ve had any prior issues, but sometimes feeling bloated or stomach pain prior to being diagnosed. I initially went into the doctors advising of chest pain, there were no concerns for chest issues after an EKG and a chest X-ray, so there were several blood tests run, and this came up positive. I’m hoping the side effects will get better from the medicine and my H. pylori goes away after this horrible treatment."

• yan...
• January 1, 2016

"I was found positive for H. pylori bacteria, and the doctor suggested clarithromycin. I must admit it was a horrible experience of my life. Indigestion, fatigue, metallic taste, loss of memory, itching are some of the common side effects I have experienced. Although it is useful in killing bacteria, this is my 7th day of medication. I will update more about my experience after a few days."

• Sol...
• October 22, 2018

"I’m on day 12 of taking this medication, 4 tablets (30 mg lansoprazole, 500 mg clarithromycin, and 2 x 500 mg amoxicillin) after breakfast and another 4 after dinner. For the first time in 12 days, I’m experiencing a brutal bitter taste in my throat, this happened after I went for a nap right after ingesting the medicine. A white and red substance came out through my mouth and nose with a horrible bitter taste and disgusting smell. I just have two days left for this medicine. But what I can advise is to give time for the medicine to be digested before going to bed. The most exciting thing is I was struggling with bad breath for years, however, after day 2 of taking this medicine, the bad breath has totally disappeared. The bacteria is stinky, after I checked in Google, I found that bad breath is one of the signs of the disease."

• Aty...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2021

"I like to help people from this page. I had to eat a 500 mg dose per day. Starting days are really hard: vomiting, can't sleep. I thought I can't do a 2-week course when I have such a condition in 2 days. Then the doctor told me to take the pill during eating, in the middle of it. That helped. Then I got the clue: all people, please try to eat as much as you can after taking these doses. That reduces the side effects by 80%+. Still ask the doctor to give something to suppress the feeling of vomiting. Actually, I don't have to take pills to stop the vomiting feeling now that I am eating a lot after taking it. This is the trick. I came back to write this to help. As this page helped me in my worst experiences with this pill, wish the best of luck to all."

• sic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2016

"It's too early to tell yet regarding the effectiveness of the eradication protocol, but the taste in my mouth, bloating, and overall chronic nausea feel horrible. I'm somewhat relieved that I am not the only one experiencing these adverse reactions from the protocol. I do feel positive knowing that I'm getting rid of this horrible bacteria because I've been so sick for almost 2 months. Thanks for the helpful tips on what to use to help with the taste that comes from taking the clarithromycin."

• Sto...
• June 8, 2018

"On day three, fourth dose of clarithromycin in combination of 1000 mg of Amoxicillin (twice a day)/500 mg of Clarithromycin (twice a day)/40 mg of Omeprazole (once a day). I have a mild cough that I am associating with the metallic flavor that clarithromycin gives since I had it on day two, and the taste got so bad that I would cough and gag. And that was while working. Not fun, but what can you do? So far, no other symptoms. However, I saw a review that mentioned using soda as a way to reduce the metallic taste, and it works! I highly recommend buying soda to take with your medication. I was so relieved to realize that the taste never seemed to appear, or at least wasn't as strong as it had been. Also, find coupons for your medication! I would have spent $122 on the clarithromycin and omeprazole alone if not for this site since I don't have insurance! As it was, I wound up paying $56.02 for the two and had spent about $7.50 for the Amoxicillin."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 17, 2018

"I've been on this for 11 days now. The side effects of this medicine are truly bad. Sweats, nausea, itchiness, diarrhea, tired most of the time. Hope I can take it for 3 more days. I'm not needing indigestion meds. Hope this works. I've had H. pylori for a year. Don't want to ever take this again!!!! Also taking metronidazole."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2018

"Was prescribed Amoxicillin 1000 mg, Clarithromycin 500 mg 14 tab, and Nexium 40 mg twice a day for my H. pylori. I'm on day 10, and I have another 4 days. My abdominal pain improved after one day of treatment, but I've got a lot of side effects: disgusting metal taste, sore throat, light fever, headache, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes, and cough. Not at the same time each day had side effects changed."

• Aus...
• May 5, 2017

"Was prescribed Amoxicillin (500 mg 2 x 2 daily); Clarithromycin (500 mg 2 x daily) and Esomeprazole (40 mg 2 x daily) for my H. pylori. Started taking on Monday. Felt terrible with nausea, brain fog; worst taste ever in my mouth, fatigue, and general insecurity. Thursday 4:45 a.m. went to ER as I thought I was in a serious state. Discharged 2 hours later as high BP had reduced, blood chemistry all normal. Diagnosis: probable virus. My local doctor said to stop taking all three drugs. Had difficulty in locating an alternative. Finally prescribed metronidazole (400 mg 3 x daily); omeprazole (20 mg 1 x daily); and bismuth subsalicylate (120 mg); tetracycline (500 mg). Last two items have had to be made up by my compounding chemist. Any feedback on this alternative?"