Clarithromycin and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Coo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 19, 2017

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Seriously, y’all, do not even take this! You will feel like you’re dying from the bad nausea, can’t eat, can’t sleep, severe abdominal pain, headache. My stomach and symptoms felt much better before I started taking this horrid drug."

• Mrs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2016

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "After using this medication, a rash started on my chest, which spread extensively over my torso within 48 hours. There are some spots on my arms and legs, but mostly concentrated on my chest and back. I have also experienced persistent headaches. I've stopped taking the medication, but it must take a while to leave the body, as spots keep appearing 2-3 days after. My upper respiratory tract infection has improved, and my asthma eased, but the rash is very uncomfortable, especially on 37°C days. I won't be taking it again."

• Dre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2018

For Sinusitis "Side effects were awful. Headache and awful taste in mouth. Unable to eat food. No appetite. Quit after four days, called my doctor, told him this is NOT for me. Never again. I am doing a little much better with saline. My husband quit it after five days and felt much better."

• Cat...
• September 20, 2017

For Strep Throat "I am on day 7 and more miserable than when I started taking the drug. I have had headaches, trouble getting to sleep, stomachache, heart palpitations, and I think I have even noticed more hair falling out than usual. My tonsils are still swollen and sore throat is still present, but I have gotten a yeast infection because all the good bacteria in my vagina have apparently been killed, so I'm out of balance. Miserable. I'm going to see my doctor tomorrow to see if I can get something else. Should have done it days ago."

• Agn...
• November 18, 2017

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "Bitter taste in your mouth all the way through! On the first day, had heart racing and high blood pressure, so I had to call an ambulance! On the third day, severe headache and worsening reflux. On the fifth day, nausea, lack of sleep, vomiting, funny feeling in my throat and chest, supposed to be caused by reflux. It leaves you feeling really weak and sweaty, but overall helped with my chest infection when everything else failed and my hope was lost. I also had vivid dreams, didn't like that, too."

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2021

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "This is the worst antibiotic I have ever taken. Constant horrible headache 24/7 combined with insomnia... Had to change to other antibiotics after ten days of horror. Felt like I was awake in a constant nightmare."

• Fli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2021

For Middle Ear Infections "Not good. Feel really sick on this stuff. The horrible taste is actually the most manageable symptom! I’m 4 days in now, and my stomach is feeling terrible with major gastrointestinal issues, nausea, headaches, loss of appetite, and terrible insomnia and broken sleep. It does seem to be sorting out my ear infection, but I’m actually feeling really ill from it. I’d not recommend it to anyone unless there really is nothing else to take!"

• VBa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 16, 2019

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "Went to the doctor 8 days ago and have bronchitis. Could not cough up crud that was in my chest. He prescribed clarithromycin, 500 mg, and prednisone. 2 days into treatment, started coughing up crud. I have had a bad taste and bad odors, headache. Lots of clearish mucus from sinuses and chest crud yellow and solid. I went back to the doctor today and got augmentin and singulair. Maybe if it doesn't kill me, I'll recover."

• Yun...
• March 26, 2018

For Pharyngitis "Wow, I can't believe how much this drug is downrated. 'Oh boo hoo, I have a bad taste in my mouth and a headache, medicine sucks.' You're sick. Chances are that your condition is bad or it is getting there. I would like to have a headache for a week rather than be hospitalized for pneumonia if left untreated. I've been prescribed this drug a few times since I was 12, and every time I tried to man up to the illness and not let it get to me until it worsens and I had to take meds. Antibiotics like this one are a godsend. 7-10 days, and I'm back on my feet again. I got to point out that you can't even say if the 'side effects' are from the med or from the illness and/or the process of your body healing from it. I would have been dead at least a few times if it weren't for this, lol. It's nature in the first place that put you in this situation. A few years ago, if you got tuberculosis, you were pretty much a goner. Thank you, 'Big Pharma'!"

• gin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2016

For Sinusitis "I took this medicine for two days because I started to get a headache from it. Now, 2 months later, I have the same headache from this. It's a constant dull headache that is causing me to be unable to work or do my daily activities. It ruined my life forever."

• Zar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2018

For Strep Throat "I was given this drug by my doctor because I’m allergic to penicillin. I’ve been dreadfully ill for 2 weeks with the flu and strep throat. I started to take these, but the side effects are so bad that I’ve had to stop. My eyes hurt, I’ve been vomiting, and I feel like I’ve been kicked in my back. Nausea and headaches, plus a bad taste in my mouth, also palpitations make it unbearable. I now am left with a really bad chest infection... but I’d rather fight this than take those pills again... I’d give them zero stars if I could :("

• De ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 7, 2019

For Tonsillitis/Pharyngitis "I am on day 4 of a five-day course and have never felt so ill. I started with tonsillitis, which progressed to vomiting, diarrhea, dry mouth, a terrible metallic taste, headache, feeling like I was going to pass out, stomach cramps, the list has been endless for me. The tonsillitis actually seemed to get better after 2 days, and I don't understand why I have been prescribed a medication that has made me feel so ill."

• bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2017

For Sinusitis "In March 2016, I had a very mild sinus infection. Typically, other antibiotics work, so I have no clue why this poison was prescribed. I only made it through the 2nd and 3rd dose. Anyway, I had the worst headache that ended with me in the emergency room. I then had tinnitus that sounded like crickets chirping for nearly a month. A couple of weeks after ending this, I started to have full right arm numbness that kind of worried me, and that was immediately followed by vision loss, extreme fatigue, and confusion. After rounds with doctors, I finally got a real scan, and it showed I was suffering from an internal carotid dissection. Hello, anticoagulant for a pretty healthy 40-year-old. I am not sure if it was related to this drug or not. Awful drug."

• 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."

• Ala...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2021

"It caused me many side effects. I took two doses of 500 mg, 2 every day. Shaking, confusion, headache, stomach cramps, peeling of the skin every time I take a bath since I started this medication. Itchy skin, spots, weight loss, palpitations, hallucination, anxiety. Though I finished the medication 5 weeks ago, I'm still having mild itching and the spots on my arms and some parts of my body have not disappeared yet. I thought it was something different causing me all this. Now I know that clarithromycin is the cause."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2025

For Middle Ear Infections "I was prescribed this medication for a severe infection that wouldn’t clear up with other antibiotics. I read so many reviews and every single one of them sounded horrendous. I was terrified to take it. I’m now 3 days in and have been absolutely fine. I didn’t feel the taste in my mouth that I’ve seen multiple people say they suffered. The only side effect I have is a really bad headache, I do suffer with migraines, though, so that’s probably why it’s worse. I just wanted to write this review in case anyone else was in my position and read other reviews that sounded horrendous. They really are not that bad and my infection seems to be clearing up."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2022

For Bronchitis "Takes time to work. Day 7 of a 7-day course of clarithromycin 500 mg, not convinced it eradicated the infection completely. Still coughing and producing discolored phlegm, debilitating muscle pain and stiffness - I had to crawl up the stairs as my legs and back were affected, losing balance, therefore felt at risk of falling. Insomnia yet extremely fatigued, couldn’t contemplate tasks as I had little energy, vivid dreams (no mental health issues), was unable to focus, queasy, stomach cramps, food regurgitation (slept with raised pillows and second daily dose a few hours prior to bedtime to avoid GERD), constipation then diarrhea day 6, bitter sensation in mouth more so upon waking up, metallic tasting foods, lost appetite, fleeting headaches."

• Yaz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 5, 2021

For Tonsillitis/Pharyngitis "This was my 3rd antibiotic after having completed amoxicillin twice, and the infection didn’t want to go away. With this tab, I only took 1 tablet out of the 7-day course, it was that bad! I started shaking after 30 mins of having this tablet, and then later the symptoms kicked in: bad headaches, nausea, weird stomach aches, bitter taste in my mouth, heavy breathing. That evening, my heart started beating quite fast, but luckily it didn’t last long, and throughout the night, the symptoms settled. Also, I couldn’t sleep much that night. I was extremely tired, my eyes were closing, but my body didn’t want to sleep. When I woke up the next day, I felt slight heavy breathing. Then, throughout the day, I felt the reaction had stopped and the symptoms of the infection started. I called up the doc, and they told me I had a reaction, and it’s good that I stopped. Now I’ve been given co-amoxiclav."

• not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2023

For Skin and Structure Infection "I was prescribed these tablets for a boil on my face. The first tablet was fine, but the second one caused intense wind and stomach cramps. By the fifth dose, the wind and cramps were so severe that they woke me up at 3 a.m., and I was unable to fall back asleep. I cannot go out in public because I am constantly passing wind. Additionally, I have had a headache every day since starting the medication. I have decided to stop taking them as I cannot put my life on hold for a week. I am not sure if the tablets would have worked on the boil."

• Pl1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2016

Clarithromycin for Tonsillitis/Pharyngitis "I was put on Biaxin a couple of days ago and though my tonsillitis has cleared up quite a bit, I'm still noticeably sick. I get extreme headaches, dark urine, upset stomach. I've been able to get little to no sleep and I have no appetite. I can't walk without feeling like I have no center of gravity, I constantly shake, and just today I started throwing up. It also leaves a bad metal taste in your mouth. I'm going to go see my doctor and try to get him to put me on another antibiotic because this one has a lot of side effects. I was previously on Biaxin XL and had no side effects with that."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2020

For Sinusitis "Made me feel like someone sprayed hairspray in my mouth. So nauseous, bloated. Severe headaches. Feels like sound is so distant."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2019

For Middle Ear Infections "Since taking just one 500 mg dose of clarithromycin, I have had a racing heart that’s not getting better, a headache that’s not gone, and buzzing in my ear. When will this stop?"

• 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..."

• Riz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2016

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "Stupidest drug ever made stops you sleeping when you're ill?? And gives you a constant headache. Why on earth would a doctor give this to ill patients to stop them sleeping!!!"

• Sal...
• January 13, 2018

For Strep Throat "The worst side effects ever after the 3rd pill, 500 mg x2. Inner tremors nonstop with chills, shivering, anxiety, headache, and nosebleed."