Clarithromycin for Sinusitis User Reviews (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• November 4, 2011

Biaxin (clarithromycin) "Second antibiotic I've been on for this sinus infection (Z-pack didn't clear it up). I am slowly getting better, but I have all the unpleasant but evidently not dangerous side effects, nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, sour taste in my mouth. I dread taking the pill, because for the next two hours I have to lay my head on my desk because of nausea and dizziness. Even at night, I go to sleep, but wake up three hours later feeling like I'm going to vomit."

• Anony...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 25, 2016

"Have only been on this medicine for two days and I am debating over whether or not I should continue taking the rest. Thankfully no hallucinations or nightmares. However, the aftertaste is horrible. You can't get rid of it. Everything you eat and drink tastes awful. Gum and mints help with the taste. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do when it is time to go to bed. Not sure if the tummy cramps are from the illness or from this medicine."

• MR86er
• December 31, 2010

Biaxin (clarithromycin) "I have been prescribed Biaxin twice in the past three months. The first onset of sinusitis took 6 weeks to clear. 1 week before Christmas it comes back with the worst pressure, 2 ER visits later they tell me the sinusitis is back. This round with Biaxin has left me: dehydrated, constant bathroom trips after eating anything, weight loss (12lbs in 2 weeks). "

• anaco...
• July 23, 2016

"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 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."

• I...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2016

"This medicine should be banished from existence. I want to skull drag the doctor for prescribing it. I would rather have the sinus infection than feel the way I do now. If your doctor suggests this medicine, walk off, but not before dumping this horrid medicine down their throats so they can feel it's wrath. I have just about every physical side effect you can get from this junk."

• ZeEag
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2016

"After four years of chronic sinusitis with total loss of smell unless taking prednisone I was given clarithromycin. An initial 7 day course didn't quite cut it but after a further 3 days I can now smell and breathe for the first time in years!! Yes it does have some not pleasant side effects worst being nausea and leaving a horrible taste in your mouth but these are worth putting up with for the the quality of life I have now got back.. Food is once again worth eating. Let's just hope it stays this way."

• Shell...
• October 10, 2015

"Was prescribed this for URI/Sinus infection. Took a total of 2.5 days then experienced extreme anxiety but not the 'heart pounding out of your chest, can't breathe, think I'm going to die' kind of anxiety, but the I'M LOSING MY MIND, CAN'T TELL REALITY FROM REALITY, WANT TO CURL UP IN CORNER & DIE kind of anxiety. Went to ER, given shot to calm me down. TERRIBLE medicine, side effect, you couldn't pay me to take again."

• Sleep...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2016

"I am taking Clarithromycin (Biaxin). What I am enduring at night amounts to psychological torture, and I pretty well wish I never had to sleep again. Got about 3 hours of sleep last night, and woke up crying. Dreams are extremely vivid and bizarre, have twisted, convoluted plots, and are frightening and emotionally disturbing. I'm starting to feel like it's Nightmare on Elm Street - pass the caffeine, please."

• steph
• March 25, 2015

"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."

• Cali
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2019

"I was instructed to take this clarithromycin antibiotic for 10 days for a suspected sinus infection. The joke is that my doctor didn't do any testing to make sure that I had a bacterial sinus infection - it could've been viral or fungal, but I was just handed these drugs & sent on my way. I got all the usual side effects, upset stomach, the worst bloating ever and gas all day long. I took them with food but it still affected me. The bitter taste in my mouth was disgusting but tolerable. By day 5 heartburn struck & I felt very unstable mentally & physically. I began to get oral thrush caused by these tablets and this is when I gave up. I couldn't push myself to take anymore & now I have to take more medicine to clear the thrush. I can't even give the tablets any credit for clearing my infection because I may not have needed them to begin with."

• Ginna...
• January 15, 2017

"I have been sick for nearly 3 weeks now. I had pneumonia and a sinus infection. I had a full course of Levaquin and 60mg of Prednisone a day, and while it did help at first, it did not clear up the sinus infection. 2 days after taking my last dose I couldn't breathe and had the sinus infection trigger a migraine causing me to throw up on top of everything else. I was rushed to the Dr. where I was given 3 shots (Steroids, Rocephen, and Tordal/Zofran) and put on 500mg twice a day of Clarithromycin. This antibiotic has been a God send for me. Yes my stomach gets crampy, I have mild nausea, and very vivid dreams, but after 4 days of this medicine I am feeling so much stronger. I absolutely recommend it."

• NJH
• November 15, 2015

"7 days out of 10. Some sinus improvement but the vile taste in my mouth is awful. Desperately trying to make sure I continue taking the tablets but not sure I can cope with the erratic sleep and waking up in the night with my mouth feeling like a sewer. Paranoid that my breath must smell as bad as the taste so over doing the mouth wash!"

• Gabby
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2019

"I have a LOT of allergies to antibiotics so clarithromycin is one of two that I can take, that being said, it works better than the Z-Pak that I am normally prescribed for sinus infections. I unfortunately get them every few months. Last time I had a sinus infection I took the Z-Pak and by the end of the course I was still really sick so my doctor prescribed me Clarithromycin. It is more effective but the side effects for me are pretty bad. It makes my stomach hurt pretty badly despite trying to eat before taking it, makes me feel dizzy, and leaves a gross metallic taste in my mouth. Sometimes it makes me feel kind of panicky but it normally goes away pretty quickly. It has also been giving me some pretty terrifying dreams since I started it. Overall I would rather deal with the unpleasant side effects than deal with a sinus infection so I would definitely say it's effective."

• Daisy
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2019

Biaxin (clarithromycin) "I started coming down with a chest cold that I knew would turn into bronchitis. I called my doctor and he prescribed Biaxin 500mg twice daily as I ended up having sinusitis as well. After the 3rd day of taking this med, I was feeling better and not coughing quite as much. I had no side effects and rated this a 9 because of the after taste it leaves in your mouth. I always ate something before taking it and had no stomach issues. Overall, this really helped me get through my sickness."

• Anonymous
• March 5, 2010

Biaxin (clarithromycin) "I was prescribed this for a sinus infection twice. First time was last year. It worked and I felt better in about five days. However I had nausea and a nasty taste in my mouth every time I took it. This year it was prescribed for the same thing. I still have the sinus infection, and the side effects were worse. My doctor chose this drug because I am allergic to sulfa drugs."

• Bird...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2015

"I was actually given this for a bad Ear infection which I think now has gone. But I feel anxiety, can not sleep, my eyes are blurry, It made the noise in my ears worse and my mussels felt strange jelly like. As much as it is good to feel no pain the feeling that you could put a knife through you and you would not feel it makes you feel crazy. My stomach is in pain from time to time and running to the loo. My throat feel like I need to constantly clear it gritty in the back. My mouth is so dry and a metal taste. Thank Goodness I have one more day of this drug that is driving me crazy."

• tin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2018

"Was prescribed this after amoxicillin did not do the trick for nasty sinus infection. This did the trick but I will never take it again! The metallic taste in my mouth is out of control. I eat all day trying to make it go away. I am stopping after 9 days - can't do it anymore! ugh"

• Mikey
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2020

"This clarithromycin gave me a very poor experience. I am 3/4 the way through taking the course and I threw it in the trash. If you have anxiety do NOT take this drug. I have never had worse insomnia from an antibiotic. All day I feel tired and then at night I am sleepless. In addition to this the nausea makes it very difficult to eat. I am in my mid 20s and never thought something as simple as an antibiotic could do this. As far as treating the sinus infection it went away but I am still experiencing a runny nose"

• Pompom
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2019

"Clarithromycin gave me a metal taste in my mouth and since finishing a course of 14 days I still have an upset stomach, sore tongue, and metal taste although not as severe. I will never take this drug again, going back to my G.P for advice."

• Fiano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2018

"I cannot in good conscience recommend this drug. I was prescribed it for a recurring sinus infection for 10 days, and had to stop it after 6 days. The metallic taste it gave me in my mouth HAS NOT GONE AWAY and it is ONE MONTH since I finished taking Clarithromycin/Biaxin. I'm in disbelief and horror that an antibiotic has done this to me. It's affected my sense of taste terribly, and given me a very dry mouth 24/7 - really unpleasant. I also had the nightmares that other patients have mentioned, and am shocked that this seems to be another side effect. I will be avoiding this antibiotic at all costs in the future, and just really hope that the metallic taste/dry mouth rights itself over time - although I don't feel hopeful after a month."

• ABeleca
• March 30, 2013

"After a terrible flu, I had upper respiratory infection and sinusitis. Was first on Z-pack, with no improvements, then on Levaquin which gave me horrible side effects, nausea, allergic reaction in the face, and extreme fatigue. I was feeling worse than without the medicines, so got switched to Biaxin and right on day one I experienced lots of improvements. I am on day two and feeling better, not 100% yet, but way better. I do have the metallic taste and little bit of upset stomach, but probiotic is helping tremendously to control it. I am going to try the dark chocolate tomorrow! So far I am happy with the treatment."

• chezz...
• March 19, 2015

"I noticed they made my sinus unblock pretty quick but I had to go doctor and change them to amoxycillin. With clarithromycin I had heart palpitations, sweats and horrific nightmares along with tension headache. Was horrible I thought I was gonna pass out. "

• ksco
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2017

"Prescribed Clarithromycin to treat sinus, ear, throat, and lung infection (possible pneumonia). After six days I feel much better. I had splitting sinus headaches and they have stopped. Still have congested sinuses and cough, but diminishing. No GI effects (no nausea, no diarrhoea). Nasty metallic taste in mouth, especially on waking in the morning, but I prefer that to the difficulty breathing. No hallucinations or nightmares, just very vivid dreams, which I actually enjoy."

• coleleo
• November 12, 2015

"I started to take this antibiotic two days ago, I have a 7day course. I find its working but I have no appetite, when I do eat I feel so nauseous. I keep getting awful wind pains from the minute I take the tablet and they last all day.. Has anybody else experienced this? The wind in my stomach is so sore"

• SMLo
• June 6, 2017

"2 pills a day for 7 days. Wow. I am finally done taking this medication for an ear infection that was caused by a sinus infection. I had almost all the side effects listed, sadly. Heart palpitations, headache, nausea, hunger pains, acid reflux, insomnia, diarrhea and metallic taste in mouth all night long! Unreal. It's my last day and although I feel better, I now feel like I am recovering from all the side effects of this drug! My advice is to take it with a lot of food and probiotics! You will need to find a way to counteract all the side effects! I'm not sure it's even worth taking, to be honest. Heart palpitations alone made me feel like I had a heart attack waiting to happen."