Clarithromycin and Metallic Taste: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Jb-...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 25, 2015

Clarithromycin for Sinusitis "Have used Biaxin (actually now always the generic version) for many years. Works great for me, always makes me feel much better within 12-18 hours of taking the first pill. Never had any side effects, except metallic taste - which has never bothered me (never been very strong). Great drug, wonderful for my chronic sinusitis. (Hint: I eat lots of miso when taking antibiotics; does wonders for my GI when taking antibiotics. Miso soup, miso on top of rice, miso in various dishes; just make sure you get the longest fermented one you can find - I buy 2-yr miso.)"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2019

For Sinusitis "I had a pretty serious sinus infection. I was having minor fevers every few hours and was as congested as I've ever been. To its credit, it has all but killed the sinus infection in 3.5 days. HOWEVER, I've been nauseous for 3 straight days. It feels like I have rocks in my stomach and a lump in my esophagus. This metallic taste never leaves my mouth. Diarrhea 3x a day. Occasional headaches. And I still have 6.5 days left on this questionable medication. I would rather have the fevers and congestion back. I am never getting this medication again if I can help it."

• Sha...
• September 13, 2019

For Sinusitis "The doctor prescribed clarithromycin for a sinus infection. I was really concerned after reading the reviews. My experience was positive. I only took the tablet with food, the nausea sensation only when my belly was empty; I had the metal taste in my mouth, but sucking a lollipop that quickly went away. I was very fatigued on this medication and my knees ached. It was hard to concentrate as well. The medication itself was a 7-day course, and it took the full 7 days to clear my sinus infection, where my tonsillitis, etc., went after day 1. I found breathing eucalyptus oil in my handkerchief dried my sinus really fast as this is a natural remedy to soothe inflammation. I also massaged my sinus each night after a shower (googled how to do this), and that really worked too. All in all, the combination of the above worked, but it was really, really slow to recover. Don’t expect to feel great after a few days."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2012

Clarithromycin for Bronchitis "Been on Biaxin earlier in the year for a sinus infection, worked like a charm then, and the side effects were slight. (Just the metallic taste.) Got prescribed it for bronchitis a couple of days ago, and I've got the worst nausea, can't even look at or smell food."

• dsi...
• June 10, 2009

Clarithromycin for Pneumonia "Being asthmatic, I often suffer bronchial infections. I had borderline pneumonia a few months ago, a one-week course of Biaxin XL cleared it up. I am now taking Biaxin XL again because I have bronchitis, and after two days, I am breathing much better, it is also clearing up my ear infection. The only downside to this medication is the metallic taste in the mouth and some wild dreams. I recommend drinking plenty of water to keep you hydrated while on Biaxin XL."

• Me1...
• July 29, 2015

For Bronchitis "Got prescribed clarithromycin for bronchitis. I have never felt side effects taking other prescriptions like I feel taking this. I have the horrible metallic taste in my mouth, gassy, diarrhea, upset stomach, and now on day 5 and having nightmares. It has helped the bronchitis, but I don't think I can handle the side effects anymore."

• Mel...
• November 4, 2019

For Bronchitis "Have been taking this med, clarithromycin, for bronchitis. The metallic taste for me is bearable. However, I am experiencing a heart rate that fluctuates and continues to be higher than normal. I know this because of my Fitbit. This med gives me anxiety and makes me agitated. Can't wait to finish it."

• NiN...
• February 14, 2013

Clarithromycin for Strep Throat "I have had this medication prescribed to me twice now. Both times, within less than 24 hours of taking it, I experienced a metallic taste in my mouth, nausea/vomiting, headache, and the worst of all side effects, uncontrollable diarrhea. When I say this, it's not the 'let me run to the bathroom quick' kind of diarrhea, it's the kind that, if you're not within 5 feet of a washroom, then you're basically out of luck. The medicine itself works really fast (my throat started feeling better after one dose), but there's no way that I can be on this medication and go to work for a full day... unless I take a few extra changes of clothes with me. I, unfortunately, seem to be experiencing the worst of the watery diarrhea symptoms associated with it."

• AJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2019

For Bronchitis "Clarithromycin is an excellent drug. No stomach issues. Metallic taste in mouth, but cough drops took care of that and frequent brushing of teeth. It worked quickly, within 24 hours, I felt much better. I had an earlier antibiotic that did not work. Would definitely use this again."

• Sid...
• March 3, 2013

For Bronchitis "Well, I started taking this medicine on Friday, and now it's Sunday. It left a strong, horrible metal taste in my mouth, and yesterday I started experiencing stomach pains that kept me awake at night. After one pill, I woke up feeling SO much better, I was shocked! My bad, painful cough went away. But I was left with this horrible taste and stanch pain. I'm not going to take my 2nd pill today and wait to go to the doctor's tomorrow to see if I need to switch to something else. Hope you all feel better!"

• Ski...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2018

For Sinusitis "I have been taking Biaxin for 6 days. I was horribly sick to the extent that I couldn’t even get out of bed. I was so miserable. I had sinus pain, throat infection, and annoying cough (the kind that keeps you awake all night and makes you pee your pants). It is true, Biaxin gives this unpleasant metallic taste that stays with you 24 hours a day, but it works. I guess your experience depends on how sick and miserable you feel. I would rather experience the metallic taste than feeling so sick."

• 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."

• Var...
• April 29, 2014

For Sinusitis "I have had a sinus infection since February of this year. Been on antibiotics twice and nasal spray, none of which had helped. After the 2nd course of antibiotics, I developed a raging flu, which kept me in bed. When it was not clearing, 10 days later, returned to my doc and was given clarithromycin, a 7-day course. I have been told about the metallic taste, which I can cope with as long as it clears up this dreadful infection."

• 6St...
• March 26, 2015

For Bronchitis "I didn't experience or notice any of the side effects until I started having the metal taste. This started happening on day 7. After reading all the side effects, I realized that I did suffer from the excess heart rate, nightmares, lethargy, wanting to sleep all the time, and of course the metal taste. I could only think it's similar to keeping a large amount of dirty pennies in your mouth for several hours. I only get the taste towards the evening and all night."

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

For Sinusitis "I was actually given this for a bad ear infection, which I think now has gone. But I feel anxiety, cannot sleep, my eyes are blurry, it made the noise in my ears worse, and my muscles 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 feels like I need to constantly clear it, gritty in the back. My mouth is so dry and has a metallic taste. Thank goodness I have one more day of this drug that is driving me crazy."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2020

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "Two 500 mg pills a day prescribed for groin pains. Started out with nausea, metallic taste, and stomach pains. Day 2, I had palpitations. The fifth pill took the side effects to another level. I went to bed with a song playing in my head that wouldn’t stop. It was hard to sleep. Eventually, I slept. Then the first nightmare came. Then came intrusive and dark thoughts. I couldn’t reason myself out of it. I woke my wife up and told her that I’d gone mad and could no longer trust myself. Then more sleep, more nightmares. The next day, I thought that I might have died in the night and was now in some kind of afterlife. By the evening, my mental state had improved a great deal now. I have never suffered from any kind of mental illness before, by the way. I quit on the advice of a pharmacist."

• i...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2018

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am so angry after taking this drug. I have to take this for an H. pylori infection, and it is absolutely nasty. I have a very HORRIBLE metallic taste in my mouth, and I hate this drug with a vengeance. I am on my fourth day, and I have not been a functioning human for four days. I am on the verge of giving up. I am abstaining from clarithromycin as far as I can in the future. Absolutely horrible experience."

• SML...
• June 6, 2017

For Sinusitis "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 my 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."

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

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Was started on clarithromycin 500 mg 2x/day, amoxicillin 500 mg 2 caps 2x/day, and lansoprazole 30 mg 2x/day for H. pylori. My insurance didn’t cover the kit, so they split the meds. Insurance still didn’t cover lansoprazole, so I used OTC 15 mg 2 caps 2x/day. My heartburn and acid reflux were awful before starting these meds; I had low appetite, lost weight, and had trouble going to bed even with antacid. I'm on 2.5 days of therapy. Medication is horrible. Got bone pain, fatigue, and throat/chest discomfort after my 1st dose, and side effects continue. Terrible metallic taste most of the day, so I chew gum to mask the taste. I will keep enduring because symptomatic H. pylori can cause severe conditions including miscarriages and stomach cancer if left untreated. I don’t think the triple therapy side effects will be worse than chemo for stomach cancer. So I encourage taking this medicine if you can tolerate the side effects."

• Anonymous
• December 15, 2011

For Bronchitis "Was prescribed clarithromycin for probable bronchitis or potential pneumonia. Tomorrow is day 10 on C-Mycin. I have 1/2 day left, and I have not shown an ounce of improvement. I have now had a dry, unproductive cough for 1 month. I have to say I only noticed the metal taste after the very first tablet, and none since. I experienced no side effects of any sort."

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

For Sinusitis "Was prescribed this after amoxicillin did not do the trick for a 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."

• ksc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2017

For Sinusitis "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 diarrhea). 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."

• Caj...
• May 2, 2016

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I completed a course of clarithromycin/amoxicillin/omeprazole last night. From day two of this seven-day course, I have been getting this metallic taste in my mouth. Has anyone experienced the same, and when will it go away?"

• ABe...
• March 30, 2013

For Sinusitis "After a terrible flu, I had an upper respiratory infection and sinusitis. Was first on Z-pack, with no improvements, then on Levaquin, which gave me horrible side effects, nausea, an allergic reaction in the face, and extreme fatigue. I was feeling worse than without the medicines, so I 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 a metallic taste and a little bit of an upset stomach, but probiotics are helping tremendously to control it. I am going to try the dark chocolate tomorrow! So far, I am happy with the treatment."

• Fra...
• May 4, 2021

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I have terrible health anxiety triggered by a fear of medication, so when I found out I had H. pylori, I panicked at what that meant for me, as I have been suffering for 2 years with symptoms, but I was more panicked knowing I would have to take medication. I put it off for 3 days and then started when I could have someone home with me. The side effects of this triple therapy so far (I am on day 4): headache, nausea, and feeling very sick, and the most awful metallic taste in my mouth, which lingers all day. Things that have helped are only drinking water, sucking on Tic Tac, and eating dry toast and crackers. Sometimes I break out in a sweat. I was very worried about side effects, but a week of nausea to rid myself of this bug that has left me feeling so awful is worth it. I have all my fingers crossed that this triple therapy works and I can get rid of this bug for good. It’s taken over my life the past 2 years with how unwell it has made me feel."