Clarithromycin and Nausea: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2020

For Skin and Structure Infection "Stay away from this drug!! I started clarithromycin at a dose of 500 mg, the first dose was fine, no side effects, but after the second dose, that’s when it went downhill. Prolonged nausea, intense stomach cramps, and the worst diarrhea I’ve experienced in my life. Woke up on the third day and refused to take my dosage before I spoke to my doctor again. Worst drug out there."

• Oti...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2019

For Middle Ear Infections "I am a bit surprised by the comments that I have read here. I have had numerous ear infections as an adult, and a course of clarithromycin has been the only antibiotic that has been able to fully clear the infection. My ENT specialist was even entertaining the thought of permanent stents, which would have decreased my hearing by 10%. Yes, I was completely nauseated and flat on my back for 10 days, but the infection, thankfully, did clear. “Foul taste”? “Could not smoke”? Wait until you find yourself in a situation where nothing works."

• Ali...
• February 9, 2017

For Pneumonia "I'm on day 3 of taking this antibiotic, having been diagnosed with a severe chest infection. Within 48 hours, the stabbing pain and aches in my chest have completely disappeared. I have an awful bitter taste like an aerosol spray/some sort of gas in my mouth. Cleaning my teeth and drinking helps this, but it always feels worse at night. :( Last night, I had a bad nightmare, but after that, I slept well. I've had lots of tummy gurgling, and today I feel really nauseous. :( Have also been going to the loo more than usual! I'm pretty anxious about taking the next 4 days, but I'm unsure if there is anything else I can take. I'm allergic to penicillin."

• Rub...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2023

For Tonsillitis/Pharyngitis "My GP always prescribes me clarithromycin whenever I get an infection because my records state that I’m penicillin allergic. I’m not, I’ve had it from a nurse practitioner recently and am totally fine with it. I’ve tried telling my GP, but they won’t listen, so unfortunately, I have to suffer the terrible side effects of this antibiotic. I get terrible abdominal cramping, nausea, diarrhea, and the most disgusting metallic taste in my mouth. Fortunately, I’m only prescribed it for 5 days as opposed to a 10-day prescription, however, I’m only on day 2 and don’t know how I’ll make it to the end of the course. The side effects are unpleasant, to say the least."

• DKa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2018

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am on Day 5 of 500 mg twice a day, and I have thrown in the towel. I really wanted to finish the 7-day course, but I cannot function with the hideous side effects. Initially, just stomach cramping, but then debilitating nausea and a disgusting taste in my mouth. Day 4 brought on the worst headache, and throughout, I have had excruciating pain in my ribs and back. Cannot wait to feel like a normal human being again."

• Hap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 20, 2019

For Dental Abscess "I took half of 1 pill and waited one hour and took the other half. One hour later, my heart was racing, I had extreme nausea, I developed a disgusting taste in my mouth that tasted like copper! I use this reference because, as a kid, I once put money (a coin) in my mouth, and that is what it tasted like. I developed some anxiety (I've taken meds for this for 25+ years). This by far is the worst antibiotic I have ever taken and will never again. I've never experienced this from an antibiotic! I will put it on my allergies list. I noticed after writing this, another person had a very similar experience."

• kai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2019

For Sinusitis "On day three of the clarithromycin 500 mg XL for sinusitis, and I don’t see even the slightest difference. I have had major diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, confusion, and the worst headache I have ever had to the point where I can’t move or it hurts more. I also have that foul metal taste, and it certainly wakes you at night. I have taken so many antibiotics in my life, but these have definitely been the hardest to cope with, especially with how huge these pills are. **UPDATE** ended up getting sinusitis again 2 weeks later. Never again with these pills. I had all those listed side effects from the pill for no reason, as the infection is back. I will now be telling my doctors that I do not get along with Biaxin."

• HT2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2015

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I tested positive for H. pylori bacteria causing a stomach ulcer. Day one on this stuff was brutal. I was in so much pain/nausea that I got sent home from work and scheduled an appointment with a GI doctor. Today is much better, but I need to constantly have something easy in my stomach to not feel sick. I immediately got the metallic taste in my mouth and get a bit cotton-mouthy at night. Otherwise, no other major side effects."

• 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."

• ssn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2019

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "My doctor gave me this with amoxicillin, metronidazole, and pantoprazole for H. pylori infection treatment. Before taking the medication, my symptoms are bloating, burping, and back pain. Five days after taking the meds, the back pain is gone, and I felt much better, no more bloating and burping. However, on the seventh day, I started to get a very bitter taste in my mouth, and the burping came back. Now I am on day 10, the bitter taste is gone, but I started feeling weak and very nauseated after eating, and burping still."

• Anonymous
• March 9, 2010

Clarithromycin for Bronchitis "This medication made me nauseous and left a hideous taste in my mouth. I only took the one pill, but the negative side effects lasted a full 12 hours. I drank tons of fluids, but it did not help. I asked my doctor to give me an alternate antibiotic. The amoxicillin worked great."

• Amz...
• December 12, 2015

For Sinusitis "I've suffered from chronic sinusitis and post nasal drip for a while now. Biaxin is the only drug that worked for me, my PND started decreasing after one day, and my nasal passages were completely clear by day 4. As for side effects, it increased my appetite and sent me to the bathroom more often than usual. As for the nausea and metallic taste in my mouth that most people reported, that only occurred on my last day of treatment, thankfully. It's a small price to pay for the relief I got, however."

• Lin...
• August 31, 2020

For Bronchitis "Clarithromycin is the best antibiotic I've ever had for bronchitis. I was in a bad way. It started working after 2 doses. It will be my go-to drug now. Side effects: diarrhea, some nausea, but getting better far outweighs these side effects."

• VFR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2016

For Middle Ear Infections "Have been taking for 2 and a half days now for treatment of severe ear infection. Seems to be helping the infection now, however, side effects are unlike any antibiotics I've had before. First tablet caused almost instantaneous diarrhea and nausea. Every time I take a tablet, my stomach gurgles, however (thankfully) no more toilet issues. The worst effect is the taste. I was paranoid I had terrible breath, asked a friend, and she said she couldn't smell anything, so after reading other comments, I've deduced it's just me dealing with it! But overall, I feel...weird. I'll be glad when I have completed the course!"

• Sur...
• July 3, 2016

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "The first day was terrible. I had headaches, nausea, general ill feeling, neck and shoulder pain, eye pain. This happens every other day. Also, a bitter taste. Thankfully, I am on the ninth day, and I pray it clears the pylori, because I can't do it again. Scary experience. Oh yes, heat flushes as well."

• Doc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2016

For Sinusitis "It has been 2 months since I was put on Biaxin (see my entry on March 3). I only got through 4 days of a 10-day course. I have had diarrhea for 2 months, have lost 20 lbs, have nausea off and on every day. I have had many work-ups and stool samples, all negative. My ears have been ringing (tinnitus) since I went on Biaxin, all day and night. It has really taken a huge toll on my life. I wish the doctor had told me to take probiotics. I have esophageal candida from good bacteria being wiped out. My gastroenterologist has to wait until my GI heals a bit before a colonoscopy and a long course of antifungals to tame the candida. And the sinus thing? Still present. Biaxin has really messed up my body and my life."

• Jaq...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 31, 2022

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "No earthly idea how I caught H. Pylori, but I was prescribed both amoxicillin and clarithromycin - at the same time - to combat it. Not sure yet if these antibiotics are working, but a friend who is a doctor says it is one of the correct regimens for it. The reason I wanted to leave a comment is to advise people who are experiencing nausea after taking clarithromycin to take it with an ounce or two of milk. No more nausea. If it weren't for having read this tip on another forum, I would have had to ask my doctor to switch up medications - the nausea was that bad. Hope this helps someone."

• Tra...
• February 9, 2017

For Bronchitis "I started taking this drug for a chest infection 3 days ago. So far... The taste in my mouth is so vile I cannot even begin to describe it. Every swallow makes me shudder. I feel sick and have no appetite. I have acute pain in my stomach and side, I guessed from lack of solid food, which has left me gasping as the cramps set in. I'm actually constipated, which differs from others' experiences, but who knows, it's day 3 after all. Sleep is here and there, sometimes I get a solid hour, and I just feel exhausted. I've stayed in bed. I have lower back pain and feel like I'm at death's door. I also have no concentration and desire to complete simple tasks. Won't be keen to repeat this again in a hurry."

• Kha...
• February 13, 2018

For Bronchitis "Took these tablets at 500 mg twice a day for 3 days, the last tablet taken was when the delusions and hallucinations started. The real world felt a million miles away, feeling confused, almost I could see myself doing things and talking from a bird's eye view, vision became blurry and the feeling of onset of doom was constantly by my side. Along with this, visiting the toilet 4 times in three hours and throwing up with thick brown mucus. Felt like if I closed my eyes I would never open them again. Safe to say never again! These antibiotics are way too strong. Had to give it a 1/10 as could not post otherwise. Really scary antibiotics to take for me anyway. Now I know what it feels like to be on A-class drugs."

• BAa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 26, 2019

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "The first day on clarithromycin for a URTI, I was fine. Then, after that, I started with nausea, a jittery feeling, and a headache. On the 3rd day, I was going lightheaded as well. Now, on day 7 of 7, with 1 tablet to go, I have all but given up, as I feel awful. My chest infection has slightly cleared, I think, but the side effects are not worth it, and I won't use these again. I hope the side effects don't last too long after finishing the course."

• BAa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 26, 2019

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "The first day on clarithromycin for a URTI, I was fine. Then, after that, I started with nausea, a jittery feeling, and a headache. On the 3rd day, I was going lightheaded as well. Now, on day 7 of 7, with 1 tablet to go, I have all but given up, as I feel awful. My chest infection has slightly cleared, I think, but the side effects are not worth it, and I won't use these again. I hope the side effects don't last too long after finishing the course."

• BDE...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2019

For Pertussis "Awful! I was prescribed this antibiotic, clarithromycin, for whooping cough, even though by the time my pertussis was diagnosed, I was past the infectious stage! I have never reacted to any antibiotic before in my life, but this was hideous. And scary. After just 2 doses, I woke in the night with the most vile taste in my mouth - almost like having a mouthful of aspartame. Made me feel as sick as a dog. All the next day, I had terrible stomach cramps and felt very nauseous. The second night, I felt so agitated and like I wasn’t in control of my own thoughts or movements. Went to bed and had the most disturbed night, dreaming some very dark things which were terrifying. I felt very panicky and on edge. By this point, I could not face taking any more, so I gave up. I would never, ever recommend this drug to anyone, let alone take it again. I dread to think what another 5 days would have done to me..."

• har...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 6, 2016

For Sinusitis "Did clear up the sinus infection I've had raging for a month or so. The nausea is crippling - make sure to take it with food. Definitely experienced the metallic taste - it's disgusting. Interacts with albuterol, which is making my life a little extra hard considering that I've had bronchitis/asthma for the past month and a half."

• Aus...
• October 9, 2017

For Bronchitis "My doctor put me on these antibiotics for a cough that I couldn't get rid of. The meds worked great for the cough, but the side effects were horrid: sweats, headaches, hunger pains, tummy bloating, pain, nausea, rash, and the list goes on. Only take these pills if you are really sick or in pain because the side effects are bad. I look 8 months pregnant from bloating and am constantly irritated from feeling like I haven't slept for a month. So it comes down to can you put up with the side effects or not. I'm going to soldier on and keep taking them. Only 4 days to go, 3 done... stay strong and get well soon."

• Lee...
• July 1, 2019

For Sinusitis "As a regular sufferer of sinusitis (although it's been few and far between as I get older), this has always been my go-to antibiotic. The 'mycin' family antibiotics work really well for me, whereas sulfas I have an allergic response to, and amoxicillin only gives me yeast infections. Usually 500 mg every 12, but I don't need it for long... closer to 5 days than 10. I notice side effects when I don't really need it: bad taste in mouth, stomach upset, the trots, nausea. I find this drug works amazingly well for me. Although I'm usually advised to take the whole amount, my body simply can't handle it, and lets me know when it's time to stop! When it's working, none of those side effects are present-just healing. Different antibiotics work differently for different people's systems, but if erythromycin works for you, this is like its stronger big brother. I recommend."