Clarithromycin and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• RTa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2018

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "GP is treating me for a respiratory infection and prescribed me 500 mg of clarithromycin twice a day for 7 days. These antibiotics are bad, I’m sure. The first day wasn’t too bad, but come day 2, the stomach pain, nausea, bitter taste, losing my sense of taste, and chronic headaches had started. I’m on day 6 and still have these side effects along with breathlessness, terrible dizziness, anxiety, and generally feeling like I’m not on this planet. My head feels like it doesn’t belong to me, which in turn doesn’t help the anxiety side effects-vicious circle! I’m at a loose end, but as I’ve only one day and my evening tablet to go, I will persevere. I hope these side effects don’t continue for too long once I’ve finished the course, or I think I may crack up!!"

• Gre...
• May 5, 2017

For Sinusitis "Took clarithromycin for four weeks, 500 mg 2x a day, which seemed too strong to me. Same metallic taste a lot of people get, it is medicine, so I expect that. It gave me dizziness, tiredness, and nightmares galore, I have lost sleep from all the nightmares. I actually felt really out of it. I took probiotics and ate yogurt, and after I stopped taking it three weeks later, I began having severe stomach pain. I have read it can cause some serious issues with the liver, so now I'm off to the GI doctor. I wish there was something in medicine that could cure us without any side effects, like Royal Rife's invention."

• Hur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 29, 2016

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Sadly, I'm only on day 1 of this medicine combined with amoxicillin and lansoprazole, and it's hell. I got extreme dizziness. I feel so slow with thinking. My stomach is burning a few minutes after the drugs, and I got bad diarrhea. The symptoms start to decrease a few hours after the first dose but return when I take my second dose. Never again will I take this antibiotic, and I have 6 days left."

• Col...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2022

For Sinusitis "My dose is 500 mg twice a day for 7 days. Took myself into the emergency room as I was having very bad pressure in my head with a sinus infection that took over my life for 8 weeks. The doctor prescribed me these tablets. I sat and stared at the packet for 2 days, afraid to take them in case of side effects. I finally picked up the courage to take them. Now I have one more tablet to take tonight and I'm finished my course. I think I responded well to these tablets. My sinus infection has cleared, although I still feel a bit of pressure around my cheeks, but not as bad as it was. The only thing I will say is these gave me constipation, and I've found it hard to get to sleep at night. One night sleeping, then the next night I would be wide awake. I had a bit of dizziness and feeling off balance. Overall, these have helped me. I just hope they have done what they're supposed to do and my sinus infection doesn't come back. Yes, you will probably have a couple of side effects, but if not serious, do try and finish the course."

• THE...
• April 2, 2017

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "On day 3 of 5 of this antibiotic... Horrible taste, dizziness, and I feel my symptoms seem more exaggerated since beginning the antibiotic. Don't think I'll finish the course, should have just asked for amoxicillin."

• 26y...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2015

For Middle Ear Infections "I was given this medicine due to a severe inner ear infection. I also took this drug several times before due to a bad flu, fever, and sinus. It works, but not immediately. The taste in the mouth it leaves is bearable but very, very bad, and dizziness I feel after half an hour of swallowing the given those of the doctor depending on what I am doing. Side effects I have are always different and not always the same."

• Mum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2016

For Pertussis Prophylaxis "So my 10-year-old daughter has tested positive for whooping cough, therefore, the whole family needs to be treated. I have 3 daughters, 10, 9, and 5. We are all taking the clarithromycin, this is the 2nd day, and we all feel very dizzy, nauseous, have a horrible taste in our mouths, and diarrhea. I feel like we are being poisoned, not treated. Is it worth all this pain and discomfort for 7 days? Our other option is not to take the antibiotics and stay isolated for 21 days. I don't know what to do."

• ros...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2019

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "Never will I ever take this antibiotic ever again. Allergic to penicillin, so given these as an alternative, and honestly would rather have the allergic reaction to penicillin, they make me feel that awful! Throwing up, disgusting taste, rapid heartbeat, and dizziness, no thank you! Never again."

• run...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2018

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I was prescribed this tablet by my GP for a toe infection. I was also told to go to A and E if the infection did not clear up after three days, as I am allergic to penicillin. I found the tablets hard to swallow. I had a really nasty taste in my mouth after taking it. I had a stomach ache and felt dizzy. I was given 500 mg to take twice a day. The infection does seem to be improving slowly."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2017

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "Since I am allergic to penicillin, this is the 'go-to drug.' This medicine will give you a horrible taste in your mouth, will cause nausea even when taking it on a full stomach, or feel the nausea to extreme levels/vomit, dizziness, and cause diarrhea until your course is finished. You will also lose your appetite and will have to take repeated prescriptions of this medication for God knows how long just to get rid of any infection, whether simple or complex. It is the same in my case of a chest infection for which I am taking this. I have no other symptoms to write of, and I have been handed these for infections for years. They will work in time, but only after at least 2 weeks of constantly taking them."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 28, 2025

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "I’m allergic to penicillin, and in the last five years, I have had sinusitis, and I am currently overcoming a chest infection. Both times, doxycycline has been prescribed and hasn't worked. I have then been told to take 500 mg twice a day of clarithromycin. I have a sickness phobia, so reading reviews always worries me, but taking it this time has reminded me how great this antibiotic is! After the first dose, I did feel dizzy, metallic taste, and very nauseous, but this improved after 3-4 hours. Second dose: metallic taste and hunger pains. On day two, with the same side effects, but I feel so much better! Can lay down without coughing, breathlessness gone, chest pain gone, fever gone. Yes, this antibiotic's side effects aren't great, but it does the job!!"

• Chl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 4, 2025

For Sinusitis "I started taking 500 mg of clarithromycin due to chronic sinusitis and chest mucus. The first night I did get stomach cramps and felt a bit sick. I've been on them a week now. I only got stomach cramps the first night. After that, my only side effects are feeling a bit run down and dizziness when I wake up in the morning. My congestion is clearing in my nose, and my mucus isn't thick and green anymore from my chest, so the antibiotics are working. I'm taking probiotics as well, so I think these are helping my gut, as I've had no other side effects so far."

• Sue...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 14, 2022

For Middle Ear Infections "I was prescribed clarithromycin for an early infection in both ears. Within an hour, I had a racing heart rate of 140 beats per minute. I felt sick and had diarrhea, headache, terrible metallic taste, and dizziness, but the worst was total deafness. I couldn't hear anything, and as it's only been one day since my last dose, I'm frightened that my hearing will never return."

• GCa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2020

For Tonsillitis/Pharyngitis "My doctor prescribed me this antibiotic because I had a mild infection on my tonsils. He said I must take it for 7 days. Everything was fine up until day 5 when the side effects kicked in, just after taking my evening dose. When I went to bed, I started feeling weird, I was randomly jumpy, seeing a flash of light, but when I rubbed my eyes, it went away. I had insomnia, feeling like a panic attack would start, and when I got up out of bed, I felt dizzy. Luckily, it started towards the end of my course, so I didn’t have to go through that for too long. It was horrible! I still have a very mild pain in my throat when I swallow, so I'm not sure if it worked. I will be going back to the doctors."

• Lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2020

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Took the clarithromycin medication with amoxicillin and gave me stomach cramping and felt sick, a little bit of vertigo, but apart from that, ok. Unfortunately, it didn’t work, so have to do another triple therapy with a worse drug."

• Tra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 19, 2021

For Middle Ear Infections "I know this is going to sound awful but relieved to read your comments... I've just finished my second dose of this today. In fact, I was on it about 6 weeks ago for chronic sinusitis. The first time I took it, I had the normal nausea. This time I thought I was going mad. Until I read the comments. I went to the doctors because I was experiencing off balance, dizziness, and ringing in my ears. I was diagnosed with an ear infection, and this time on taking this medication, the dizziness was worse. In fact, all symptoms were still there. I have a horrible taste, and I haven't slept properly either. In fact, the more I think about it, the more it seems that I've been like that since the first time round: palpitations, and I'm sure I've been experiencing hallucinations. I never will take this again. I am unable to take anything with penicillin, which is a shame. Also, tremors haven't gone. I hope that the side effects ease off in the next 24 hours."

• iii...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2018

For Middle Ear Infections "Was treated for a possible middle ear infection. GP noticed an inflamed eardrum. I had symptoms of dizziness, panic attacks, lightheadedness, and blurred vision. The antibiotic didn't help probably because it was not a bacterial infection. Also tried penicillin - didn't work. To this day, I have no idea what it was, but it has been lasting two months already with symptoms changing and gradually reducing in intensity. Recently got hives. What helped was a trip to the psychologist and physiotherapy on my neck because it was very stiff. Took it for one week. The only side effect I got was a bitter taste in the mouth, but I honestly liked it because it tasted like gin and tonic :) Would recommend drinking a course of probiotics to restore gut bacteria."

• Ver...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2015

For Strep Throat "Only three pills: continuous bitterness in my mouth... Never-ending headache... Tremors... Dizziness..."

• Moh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2021

For Bacterial Endocarditis Prevention "Felt dizzy. Clarithromycin is trash."

• Mel...
• July 16, 2019

For Sinusitis "Horrible side effects, dizzy, nausea, bad breath, upset stomach."

• cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2021

For Sinusitis "Took this for 3 days. Ended up in the ER with terrible vertigo and sickness. Disoriented and can’t go to work. I would avoid this drug."