Clarithromycin and Nausea: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• March 5, 2010

Clarithromycin for Sinusitis "I was prescribed this for a sinus infection twice. First time was last year. It worked, and I felt better in about five days. However, I had nausea and a nasty taste in my mouth every time I took it. This year, it was prescribed for the same thing. I still have the sinus infection, and the side effects were worse. My doctor chose this drug because I am allergic to sulfa drugs."

• ZeE...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2016

For Sinusitis "After four years of chronic sinusitis with total loss of smell unless taking prednisone, I was given clarithromycin. An initial 7-day course didn't quite cut it, but after a further 3 days, I can now smell and breathe for the first time in years!! Yes, it does have some not pleasant side effects, worst being nausea and leaving a horrible taste in your mouth, but these are worth putting up with for the quality of life I have now got back.. Food is once again worth eating. Let's just hope it stays this way."

• Eli...
• November 9, 2016

For Bronchitis "Prescribed clarithromycin for a bad chest infection. After taking the first tablet I felt nauseous and a really bitter taste in the mouth. This is day 5 out of 7, and the symptoms have not gone away. Also, had diarrhea on the second day and constant gurgling and wind in the stomach. I have felt pretty awful the whole time. Persevering with medication as I am desperate to get rid of the awful chesty cough and feeling unwell, but will never take it again. Since reading previous posts, some say to eat before a dose and also have some yogurt before and after. Wish there had been some better advice on the leaflet with this antibiotic. I have never felt this ill taking an antibiotic before, it feels like poison."

• lad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2019

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Started having stomach issues in January and finally got tested for H. pylori in March. I am on day 13 of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and omeprazole. You get that nasty bitter taste right away - so bad that you can taste it every time you breathe. By my 7th day, I have had 3 days of nausea, some diarrhea, and stomach upset. My symptoms are worse at night, I cannot sleep. I did learn to chew mint gum, and that really helps with the bitter taste. Sucking mints helps some, but not enough, gum is the best. This combo of medicine is brutal, but I have stuck with it as I do not want to have to repeat this again...."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2018

For Pneumonia "This drug has definitely helped to clear up my pneumonia, but not without some terrible side effects. Most of which I didn't realize were common until I saw this thread! Day 1 hit me hard. Felt suddenly extremely unwell and tired. Nausea and no appetite. Sense of taste altered. Also, extremely anxious, night sweats, shakes, heart racing, difficulty sleeping. Every time I would almost fall asleep, I would snap back awake, heart sped up. Horrible taste in mouth. Had I realized it was the meds, I would have switched earlier! Have pressed through and am now on Day 5 of 7. I have slowly adjusted, each day I have a little more energy. I was so close to dropping this medication, but being so close to the end now, going to try and push through."

• Gin...
• January 15, 2017

For Sinusitis "I have been sick for nearly 3 weeks now. I had pneumonia and a sinus infection. I had a full course of Levaquin and 60 mg of Prednisone a day, and while it did help at first, it did not clear up the sinus infection. 2 days after taking my last dose, I couldn't breathe and had the sinus infection trigger a migraine, causing me to throw up on top of everything else. I was rushed to the Dr., where I was given 3 shots (steroids, Rocephin, and Toradol/Zofran) and put on 500 mg twice a day of clarithromycin. This antibiotic has been a Godsend for me. Yes, my stomach gets crampy, I have mild nausea, and very vivid dreams, but after 4 days of this medicine, I am feeling so much stronger. I absolutely recommend it."

• col...
• November 12, 2015

For Sinusitis "I started to take this antibiotic two days ago, I have a 7-day course. I find it's working, but I have no appetite. When I do eat, I feel so nauseous. I keep getting awful wind pains from the minute I take the tablet, and they last all day. Has anybody else experienced this? The wind in my stomach is so sore."

• 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."

• 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."

• cha...
• June 11, 2013

For Bronchitis "I'm taking this right now. I'm on day 4 out of 10, and really, the only problem for me is feeling nauseous, and when I'm sleeping, I wake up a couple of times because of the taste in my throat and mouth. I thought of sulfur, but I don't even know what sulfur tastes like or smells like. Eat something salty, like chips or anything you can find, and have a drink of water."

• 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."

• Str...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2020

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am on day three of the H. pylori treatment. And honestly, I am living in a nightmare. I never thought there was any medication this brutal. And it's true what most people said: every day comes with its own surprise. My first dosage got me shivering, and my legs were shaking, I even struggled to get to the bathroom. I had diarrhea and very bad nausea. Day two, my stomach felt really weird, like there was something like a stone pressing the walls of my stomach, and very severe insomnia. Today is day 3, I had the same feeling in my stomach the whole day. I don't know whether I will be able to fall asleep tonight. This is a drug where nightmares are made."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2020

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I’m on day 3 of taking clarithromycin, and it’s been so horrible. My stomach pains aren’t as bad as they were the first 2 days, but I keep having really bad nausea, and the worst symptom for me is the horrible metallic bitter taste in my mouth. I really hope that my body gets used to this drug because I don’t know how I can go 11 more days feeling like this."

• pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2016

For Sinusitis "The most disgusting taste in my mouth even made my toothbrush smell weird. Nasty chemical smell/taste, headache, blurry eyes, lack of concentration, nausea, stomach bloating and churning, vomited when brushing teeth. Horrible antibiotic, calling GP tomorrow to arrange for an alternative antibiotic, cannot stand the taste or side effects."

• 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."

• fal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2015

For Bronchitis "I have SLE and was prescribed Clarithromycin for a respiratory/lung infection. I had previously taken a course of antibiotics, but it didn't work and was thus prescribed Clarithromycin. The first two days, I didn't feel better, I was nauseated, still coughing like crazy, and vomiting/hacking out phlegm every 5 minutes. On the third day, my coughing subsided moderately, and I didn't seem to be producing much phlegm. But a metallic taste crept into my mouth, and I was getting increasingly nauseous every time I took the medicine, to the extent that I vomited my food and perhaps the medication twice. It also gave me nightmares, hallucinations, and palpitations when I took it at night. Now it's day 5 and I'm considering stopping it altogether."

• Anonymous
• April 7, 2012

For Strep Throat "The tablets did help considerably with the throat and ear infection within 24 hours. I was incredibly grateful as I was in a lot of pain. But, horrendous taste in mouth constantly (a bit like crushed paracetamol mixed with metal!) Vile. It doesn't go no matter what I do. I can't sleep but am terribly tired and exhausted. Also very nauseous, especially after eating. Good at clearing up infections but pretty yucky side effects. Weigh up which is worse. For me, I was glad to get rid of the pain, so went with the side effects. Can't tolerate penicillin or erythromycin, so don't have much choice!"

• cha...
• February 17, 2014

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I found this medicine to be a mistake for me. I had severe inflammation of my upper eyelid, swollen, red, and very uncomfortable, so the Dr. prescribed this hoping it would solve the problem. First day I took it, within two to three hours, I was immediately running for the bathroom. It made me very ill regardless of what I ate, I took an antacid, probiotics, ate carefully, ate more than usual when I took it, drank only water, etc. It gave me the worst stomach cramps I have ever had, made me so nauseous I had to call out of work, and I stayed put on my bed writhing in pain."

• bac...
• September 10, 2016

Clarithromycin for Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "Every side effect listed was experienced by me to the point that I could not sleep. The horrid taste in my mouth, joint pain, backache, nausea, severe headache, and urinary hesitation. Avoid this medication."

• Kca...
• May 3, 2019

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I was seriously down with nausea (urge to vomit frequently), diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, stomach upset, and acid reflux (sometimes I feel tightness around my neck and as if food is stuck in my throat with burning stomach). After some tests, they said I had malaria and a stomach infection of H. pylori. I was placed on antimalarial, metronidazole, tetracycline, amoxyl, omeprazole, and antacid. I got better on the first day, but became worse later. I was hospitalized for two days due to severe weakness, I lost much weight, and the symptoms were still there. I finally had an endoscopy, and it was confirmed that I have gastritis and duodenitis. I was placed on Pylorest (Clarithromycin 500 mg two times daily, Amoxyl 1 gram two times daily, Rabeprazole 20 mg two times daily). I am on the seventh day now, but got worse on the second day, with an awful taste in my mouth and throat, mild nausea, and muscle pains. The drug side effects can't be compared with what I passed through earlier. I am fine with my triple treatment now. Three more days to complete my treatment, and the symptoms are fading away."

• Liz...
• July 16, 2022

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I just finished my H. pylori treatment yesterday. 14 days of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and omeprazole twice daily. I'm an LVN and had done the research and reviews, and I completely psyched myself out. I saw nothing but bad reviews: horrifying stories. I postponed treatment for 2 months. Well, I gained like 30 lbs in one month and began to experience edema and bloating, so I prayed and decided to go for it. I took my 4-capsule cocktail at 9:30 am, then at 10:30 am, I took a probiotic. I took these on an empty stomach with a full bottle of water. Then at lunch, I had a good meal, and supper was a small meal. I hydrated and still experienced the metallic taste, still had mild nausea, darkened tongue. These effects were far less than I anticipated and totally doable. Don't believe that every experience here will be your experience. I'm pending follow-up to check results of treatment. If you are on the fence, I hope this helps. Good luck and God bless. Liza"

• Sic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2018

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am on day 1 of this medication for H. pylori infection along with amoxicillin. So far, the only awful side effect is the bad taste that lingers in my mouth. I have had random nausea, but I was having nausea before I started this medication because of the H. pylori infection, so that is nothing new. I have been drinking blueberry juice to help with the bitter taste, and it seems to be working. Hopefully, the side effects of this medication will wear off with time, but I will have to wait and see. It is nice to know other people are having the same experience as me, though!"

• 27...
• January 25, 2016

For Sinusitis "I was prescribed these for an ongoing sinus problem, I'm not convinced it is an infection, as my mucus is clear and not bright yellow as it has been in the past when I've had infected sinuses. I've experienced horrible side effects, a horrible taste in my mouth, nausea, fatigue, muscle ache, and just generally feeling ill. I would stop taking it, but if it is an infection, it will probably make it worse, so I'm just going to buck up and finish the course. I would not recommend these antibiotics to anyone."

• Anonymous
• November 24, 2013

For Sinusitis "I have been on Biaxin for about 7 days for a sinus infection and bronchitis. I started to feel better after a couple of days, but don't feel as good. Still coughing and stuffed up on one side. Side effects haven't been too bad - metallic taste in my mouth for some time after I take it, but it goes away. Also makes me a little nauseous if I don't take it with food. Wondering if I need to go back to the doctor though."