Clarithromycin and Bad Taste: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Ali...
• February 9, 2017

For Pneumonia "I'm on day 3 of taking this antibiotic, having been diagnosed with a severe chest infection. Within 48 hours, the stabbing pain and aches in my chest have completely disappeared. I have an awful bitter taste like an aerosol spray/some sort of gas in my mouth. Cleaning my teeth and drinking helps this, but it always feels worse at night. :( Last night, I had a bad nightmare, but after that, I slept well. I've had lots of tummy gurgling, and today I feel really nauseous. :( Have also been going to the loo more than usual! I'm pretty anxious about taking the next 4 days, but I'm unsure if there is anything else I can take. I'm allergic to penicillin."

• Sue...
• April 5, 2016

For Bronchitis "I was prescribed this for acute bronchitis. First day I took it, I had a bad, heavy headache one hour after, laid in bed, played on my phone, and kind of just fell asleep. It was fine, I was fine, little to no side effects. But vivid, bad dreams. I then take it before bedtime, 12 hours after the first dose. Attempt to sleep, rolling back and forth, I cough and there's that taste that everyone talks about, no sleeping. Restless, lightheaded. So not worth it, not taking my next doses after this. I want to get better, but I'd like to not feel like this. Even though my cough is somewhat subsided, I work 35-40 hours, and it's not worth it."

• kun...
• August 17, 2018

For Bronchitis "I have bronchitis for 2 weeks, and last week my doctor prescribed me clarithromycin. After 2 days of taking it, I noticed a super bitter aftertaste in my mouth, woke up a few times at night because of it. I also had both constipation and diarrhea while taking this antibiotic, and occasionally vomiting. I can say that it helped with my bronchitis (though very slowly), I can breathe better now after taking it for 7 days, and still have 3 days to go. I can't wait until this torture ends."

• DKa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2018

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am on Day 5 of 500 mg twice a day, and I have thrown in the towel. I really wanted to finish the 7-day course, but I cannot function with the hideous side effects. Initially, just stomach cramping, but then debilitating nausea and a disgusting taste in my mouth. Day 4 brought on the worst headache, and throughout, I have had excruciating pain in my ribs and back. Cannot wait to feel like a normal human being again."

• Hap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 20, 2019

For Dental Abscess "I took half of 1 pill and waited one hour and took the other half. One hour later, my heart was racing, I had extreme nausea, I developed a disgusting taste in my mouth that tasted like copper! I use this reference because, as a kid, I once put money (a coin) in my mouth, and that is what it tasted like. I developed some anxiety (I've taken meds for this for 25+ years). This by far is the worst antibiotic I have ever taken and will never again. I've never experienced this from an antibiotic! I will put it on my allergies list. I noticed after writing this, another person had a very similar experience."

• Hap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 20, 2019

For Dental Abscess "I took half of 1 pill and waited one hour and took the other half. One hour later, my heart was racing, I had extreme nausea, I developed a disgusting taste in my mouth that tasted like copper! I use this reference because, as a kid, I once put money (a coin) in my mouth, and that is what it tasted like. I developed some anxiety (I've taken meds for this for 25+ years). This by far is the worst antibiotic I have ever taken and will never again. I've never experienced this from an antibiotic! I will put it on my allergies list. I noticed after writing this, another person had a very similar experience."

• JCB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2015

For Pneumonia "At first, I had horrible sickness with the tablets. I started them the day I got them because my doctor insisted I did so my pneumonia didn't get worse, and the first two days were awful. I had the urge to be sick about ten minutes after taking the tablet, and it would last mostly all day/night. I couldn't keep my food down, so I lived off water, and then the sickness wore off and I was fine for the rest of the time taking them. My pneumonia has cleared up quite well, and to be honest, the tablets smelled great and didn't taste all that bad. They have a lemon sherbet smell and taste to them. I did also experience a dry mouth and a nasty taste in my mouth a while after taking them, especially in the morning after sleeping."

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

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "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."

• Anonymous
• May 26, 2016

Clarithromycin for Bronchitis "I have been taking Biaxin for 3 days now, and I don't know if my bronchitis is just completely horrible and it's taking longer to work, or if this just isn't for me? The taste it leaves in your mouth after taking it is horrendous for about 12 hours. My stomach has been doing somersaults the entire 3 days so far, and I think I'm going back to the doctor in the morning for another alternative. I can't sleep at all. Hate this stuff."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2015

For Pneumonia "I'm on day 6 of Biaxin for pneumonia. I take probiotics and have had no issues with this med until a few hours ago. I was awoken with a horrible, overwhelmingly bitter taste in my mouth. Yuck! 4 more days of this med...hope this taste goes soon."

• Imi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2020

For Tonsillitis/Pharyngitis "Clarithromycin leaves a horrible taste in your mouth! And other side effects. On day 5, and yes these tablets have helped the infection but left me with headaches, insomnia, and worse this awful taste I can't even describe. I'm not talking about when you take the tablet itself, this comes on a couple hours after, and it is so sickening!"

• Anonymous
• March 6, 2012

For Sinusitis "Biaxin 500 mg leaves a bad taste. MD suggested to eat chocolate when taking it. I have no problem with that! Must say it helped me, but it could also be the steroids given with it. Hope this helps someone!"

• Nas...
• March 11, 2016

For Sinusitis "500 mg X 2 a day for 7 days. First couple of days on it, I felt a little queasy with loose bowels. I did wake every night with the horrible taste, but nothing too bad. On day 4, the pain in my head has really improved, but still coughing. I have another GP appointment Monday in case 7 days is not long enough to clear it."

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

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "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."

• Dil...
• November 19, 2017

For Sinusitis "I had a cold for a couple of weeks leading to infection with sinusitis, severe pain, blocked nose, foggy hearing, and thick greenish phlegm combined with a horrible cough that sounds like smokers with bronchitis. Initially, the GP prescribed a short course of amoxicillin for 3 days, then a further one week with no improvement. I was put on clarithromycin as a last course, and I have been on it for 3 days. I researched the side effects, which are worrying! I experienced, so far, a bitter, horrible taste in my mouth that disturbs sleep, palpitations, confusion, and fatigue. It's important to take a strong probiotic with live yogurt and drink a lot daily. So far, I can see a slight improvement, and I intend to persevere and finish the course as stopping is not advisable."

• Jen...
• December 11, 2015

For Sinusitis "I was taking clarithromycin for sinusitis, and it worked, but I got severe back pain with the medication and a very nasty taste in my mouth. My stomach hurt, so then I started taking it with food, and the pain never came back."

• Gre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2017

For Bronchitis "Well, I have to say there were times when these were on the verge of being dumped into the bin, they made me feel really rough. Headaches, woozy, and the most horrendous taste in my mouth. But, by day 4 (of a 7-day course), I have to say I noticed an improvement in my chest. So needless to say, I continued with the purgatory!!! I get real bad chest infections and I have to weigh up the pros against the cons, and to be truthful, yes, they do work, but it's a rotten struggle to feel better. Would I take again...???? The jury is out!!!!"

• Anonymous
• January 5, 2017

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "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."

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2018

For Pneumonia "This medication was prescribed to treat my pneumonia. I felt the side effects from day one. Weird metallic and bitter taste in my mouth, dry mouth and lips even after drinking fluids, anxiety, fear, palpitations, weakness, very strong headaches, hallucinations, nightmares, sweating, fast heart rates. On the other hand, I can breathe again and the terrible back and chest pain are gone. If there is a future need for me to have antibiotics, I would really avoid this one. Side effects are way too much to take when you already feel poor and weary."

• Sur...
• July 3, 2016

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "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."

• Daw...
• March 12, 2016

For Pneumonia "I am an asthmatic and have just had the flu, which has led to mild pleurisy and chest pain/shortness of breath. I'm taking a course of clarithromycin for 7 days (500mg x2 daily) with 30mg prednisolone for the first 5 days. Feeling sick, vile taste in mouth, headache, dizzy, fatigue, lack of sleep, randomly crying for no reason (may be the steroids). I feel quite beat up by the drugs and was feeling wiped out already. However, I can now breathe and cough without feeling like I'm being stabbed, so I'm going to try to last the full course as I don't have the option of another drug as I'm allergic to penicillin. I feel spaced out, and going to a supermarket and looking at all the food nearly made me throw up as I feel so sick. Trying a probiotic drink..."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2016

For Sinusitis "This is not the first time I have been on this medicine for recurrent sinus infections, I don't like it, but it always seems to work. I am taking 2 500 mg once per day. The disgusting taste in my mouth generally starts around day 2, and headaches around day 3. I can't sleep when I am taking it, but so far no other issues. I will be glad to stop taking it, 4 more days to go."

• joj...
• February 25, 2016

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "This drug is really as toxic as they come! Not sure I would like to take them again. I had diarrhea for the 1st 2 days and an awful taste in my mouth like shampoo with metal filings in it. I started to take acidophilus lactobacillus on day 2, and that sorted my stomach problem. The taste, however, was very difficult to mask. I found that chocolate, of all things, helped to keep it at bay for a good few hours. But feeling ill, I didn't really feel like eating chocolate. On the whole, it is now day 4, and I am starting to feel an improvement in my health. So something positive has come out of taking them. I had tried a course of regular Amoxicillin previously, which didn't touch my illness."

• Pop...
• February 25, 2020

For Bronchitis "Thankfully I’m on my last day of taking clarithromycin 500mg, 2 a day for 7 days. Feeling better, but still not right, and the taste it leaves in my mouth all the time is horrendous. I will be informing my doctor that I can’t take these again."

• Mon...
• December 27, 2014

For Bronchitis "A & E diagnosed with bronchitis, tonsillitis, and sinusitis, had low oxygen and high heart rate, so given these tablets as they cover all three infections, very strong tablets. First tablet I took on a practically empty stomach, big mistake, started feeling sick, then started panicking, which made my breathing bad. My husband was about to take me back to A&E, but I managed to calm down and have some soup. The second tablet I took with food and was getting heart palpitations for 30 minutes. Went to bed, woke up, took another tablet, and feeling a bit better already, temperature gone, sore throat gone, just sinus pain still and cough with phlegm. Slight stomach pain, but I get stomach pain all the time, so unsure if related. Funny taste sometimes in my mouth. Fast acting."