Clarithromycin and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Der...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2020

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I’m on day 14/14 of this clarithromycin medication for H. pylori. The first few days were good. My only complaint was that the pill was bitter. I used a trick to make sure the drug didn’t touch my tongue: fill mouth with a bit of water, set the pill in your water-filled mouth, swallow immediately. Even with this, I noticed the bitter taste in my throat after a few days, but it was better. Week 2 I wasn't feeling as good. I had shortness of breath, racing heart, belching, dizziness, brain fog, nausea in the morning, trouble sleeping, muscle pain in my chest and back, and felt weak. I checked in with my doctor and everything was in working order. It was just the meds. My advice: DON'T take on an empty stomach. I tried once and threw it up. Float the pill in your mouth and swallow. Stay off Google. Talk to your doctor if you’re worried about your symptoms. Anxiety only makes things worse. Take it easy. Your health is important, so get the rest you need. Happy healing everyone. You’ve got this!"

• Bex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 22, 2013

For Sinusitis "Wrote on here yesterday. Just updating. Doc advised me to stop taking clarithromycin after I took only one 500mg last night. My experience- awful taste in mouth, vomiting, lower back pain, aching all over, severe stomach pain, couldn't sleep, dizziness, severe anxiety, dull heavy headache (similar to a hangover) and very dry mouth. All this after only ONE tablet. This medication is EVIL! Take with extreme caution people. Good luck x"

• Bom...
• July 29, 2019

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "About 2 months ago, I got a nasty bug, so I went to the doctor, where I was tested for Helicobacter pylori. Then, they gave me the Prevpac of 500 mg amoxicillin, clarithromycin 500 mg, and omeprazole twice a day. I was told to take it all in one go before food. You must eat, then wait 30-45 minutes after for the PPI to work as it starts when your body is digesting. The first 3 days, nothing. I was great apart from a funny taste, no appetite, and slight runs. The third day, I didn’t eat much, and by 11 at night, I had a rapid pulse rate and felt unwell. Every day, different symptoms. On day 4, I had awful pain in my side and felt tired and unwell, as I was also experiencing insomnia. Today, on my sixth day, I woke up with a headache, and it’s lasted all day, plus I feel dizzy and sick. Insomnia, dizziness, nausea, dysentery, pain in my side, rapid heart rate once, elevated pulse rate, horrid taste, sweating, memory loss, some acid reflux, and generally feeling ill. I can’t wait for the last day, it is the only thing keeping me going as I do not want to quit."

• rev...
• October 11, 2013

For Bronchitis "I have bronchitis, and they prescribed clarithromycin. I have been taking it for 4 days now (I need to take it for 10 days). I often feel dizzy, have headaches, and feel very nauseous. My mouth always tastes gross, like a metallic taste. I often have to rinse my mouth with water because of the bad taste (even at night, I have to get up and rinse my mouth because the taste makes me nauseous). I just wanted to share."

• 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."

• 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."

• Rit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2023

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "After years of symptoms, I had an endoscopy, and I was diagnosed with H. pylori. My gastroenterologist put me on the treatment called Hp 7, a combination of Nexium, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin. I had so many symptoms with this treatment that I contacted my doctor and said that I just can’t do it. At that stage, I was on day 6 of 14 days. The nausea, diarrhea, aches, dizziness, and awful taste in my mouth were unbearable. Anyway, she said that she really wanted me to do the 14 days, but if I couldn’t, I had to do at least 7 days, and that every day extra was extremely beneficial. So I just stuck to it. By day 10, the antibiotics gave me terrible oral thrush, which I needed Nilstat drops for, just adding to the nausea. I am currently on day 14 and feeling proud of myself for sticking to it. I have worked while on the medication as a nurse and have only had to have one day off because of the side effects. Retest in 30 days. Hope it worked."

• kha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2020

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am three-quarters of the way through a two-week course of clarithromycin for H. pylori gastritis, along with amoxicillin and an H2 blocker (because I am allergic to PPIs). The first three days were rough as I felt lightheaded and an increase in heart rate (resting heart rate between 95-105). I was also very itchy, so I used Benadryl to mitigate that. But immediately, I felt the dizziness go away, and the indigestion got better on the third day. On day five, I got the horrible metallic taste in my mouth, so I took a teaspoon of manuka honey after the doses. I also take fiber, probiotics, and ginger tea. That will help a lot. Overall, a really great medicine, and I am so happy at getting one step closer to eradicating this horrible H. pylori infection."

• Jen...
• July 31, 2018

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Not nearly as bad as I expected. The first day I had a very intense reaction, but found it was just because I was allergic to omeprazole. When I didn't take it, the only side effects I had were moderate dizziness and an occasional metallic taste. It didn't hinder the taste of food. I am quite sensitive to medications, and clarithromycin hardly bothered me at all. The dizziness even faded after three days, and I was able to function normally, even exercise. Also, some other advice, as I am a pharmacist. One person mentioned to take this with soda. I advise against that because soft drinks contain phosphoric acid and will likely exacerbate symptoms. Another notable interaction is milk products like ice cream. It helps for a short time, but then the rebound acid makes it worse. Probiotics are not clinically proven to help eradicate the bacteria, but I do recall reading a study that showed they can reduce the gastric inflammation. Good luck, whoever reads this, and I wish you a happy cure."

• Ken...
• June 10, 2019

For Sinusitis "My health care provider prescribed clarithromycin 500 mg twice a day. I am 75 yr. old and suffering from sinus and congestion for two weeks. After taking this for 4 days, I am so weak and unsteady I can't take care of my farm animals. I don't think I have ever felt so bad. The prescription info says I must take for 10 days and must take all. I will never take this stuff again."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2020

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Horrible drug, I was prescribed Clarithromycin 500 mg twice a day with Flagyl 400 mg twice a day and rabeprazole (Aciphex) 20 mg twice a day every twelve hours. My 1st dosage, I started having a racing heart rate. I checked my heart rate, it was 118 bpm per minute. I went to bed and calmed down, and that started reducing. Every day, different side effects, this medicine is too strong. I only managed to take it for four days as I couldn’t bear to tough it out anymore. Feels like my body has left me, lost a few kg in just four days... dizziness, heart palpitations, muscle weakness, feeling like I am going to collapse every second is too hard to handle, plus feeling like my heart is going to stop. Never again will I try this. God bless peeps."

• blj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2015

For Sinusitis "I have been on this med for 5 days for a sinus infection. I am so close to calling it quits. I have been having bad anxiety, heart palpitations, clammy sweats, and feel shaky and weak on it. It makes food taste like crap and leaves a nasty battery acid taste in your mouth. I start to feel better in the couple of hours coming up to my next dose (every 12 hours), and then BAM within an hour after taking the dose, it all hits. It is definitely helping my sinus infection, but this drug is hell. A pharmacist told me that this is in the top two antibiotics that are reported to have the worst side effects. Boooo. I also took a Zopiclone so I could sleep and woke up with a nasty reaction! Felt so high and dizzy, drugged out of my mind...terrifying."

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• November 4, 2011

Clarithromycin for Sinusitis "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."

• Gab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2019

For Sinusitis "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."

• Lor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2016

For Pneumonia "I've been on 500 mg twice a day for pneumonia, which I have had twice before. Feeling much better after day 2, although energy levels still pretty low. Side effects are grumbling, painful stomach ache, and a horrible taste in your mouth, plus I go dizzy at times and forget things."

• vic...
• October 20, 2015

For Bronchitis "Every dose of this medicine has caused worse side effects. Extreme nausea, diarrhea, awful taste in my mouth, palpitations, fatigue, dizziness, shakes - the list goes on. Day 4, I couldn't move 2 steps without wanting to vomit, yet I had to literally sprint to the bathroom for my bowels. I actually had to call into work because I felt so ill. Ended up calling my doctor to get switched to a different antibiotic. Never, never, never again."

• Han...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2021

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "Be careful with this antibiotic. I know it's all very individual, but I have never had such strong side effects from an antibiotic (I avoid taking such in general). It seems to be working, though very slowly, and perhaps I would have improved without taking it. However, I have terrible insomnia, waves of nasty feelings of despair, anxiety, dizziness, constant fatigue, and needles in my limbs. I think the side effects of this drug are worse than the infection it is supposed to cure. Perhaps it's just me, I don't know."

• Ray...
• May 14, 2019

For Sinusitis "I have been on clarithromycin for two days now for sinusitis, and so far it seems to be working as my pain has eased and I feel much better, but the metallic taste in my mouth is overwhelming. I'm also experiencing dizziness and fatigue."

• Dee...
• November 1, 2019

For Bronchitis "Been on these clarithromycin pills before, and I told my doctor I don’t want to take them again, but this time I went to the doctor and didn’t know what she gave me till my boyfriend picked it up from the pharmacy. Needless to say, I was disappointed, but I started to take them anyway because I have a real bad cough. After 2 days, my cough improved, but the soreness in my back and chest is still there. I take them before I eat supper and breakfast. I am getting the hungry feelings, dizzy, weird thoughts, bad taste, and headache, and that’s all at the moment. Hopefully, this won’t last long."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2016

For Sinusitis "Was given for chronic sinusitis for 10 days, with prednisone for 3 days at the beginning. Gave me extreme nausea and some diarrhea, dizzy and weak. By day 4, second dose, was having trouble standing up/walking or sitting up, weak legs, breathing felt funny, talking funny. Went to ER. There for 6 hours for fluids and anti-nausea medicine. Still have loose bowels a week later. Still have a sinus infection. Scary."

• Fed...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2016

For Bronchitis "First off, let me say I have allergies to most antibiotics. I was placed on this generic form of Biaxin. No side effects, except for a gassy tummy with or without food, no taste or dreams. Seems to be doing its job. I also received a small dose injection of a steroid. Now to get the nose to turn off. But as the saying goes, better out than in. In my experience, the diarrhea is not a bad thing, it's forcing all the germs out of you. Though I have not had that reaction with this, my go-to antibiotic has always been the Z pack, but I was always very dizzy on them. Try and hang in there, after 10 days, it will be well worth it. I mean, you're sick. No drug is a miracle drug. Get well soon, y'all. Keep plenty of non-caffeinated drinks at bay."

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

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "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."

• 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..."