Clarithromycin and Upset Stomach: What Users Say (Page 4)

• 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."

• Rut...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2021

For Sinusitis "A few hours after taking the first tablet, there was a bitter taste in my mouth which became increasingly worse as the day progressed, a similar taste to hand sanitizer or nail polish remover (if you’ve ever accidentally licked your fingers after), almost unbearably bitter. It really hits the back of your throat, inevitably making you feel quite nauseous in the end, as if you have been drinking something that’s not good for you, slight stomach cramps until it finally starts to ease a few hours before the next dose. I found chewing minty gum during the day helped, drinking wine in the evening took the taste away and made me sleepy enough when the next dose kicked in so I could sleep through the horrible taste!"

• 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."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2021

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I was diagnosed with ureaplasma. Doc prescribed me clarithromycin 500 mg once daily. First of all, I was more freaked out about taking meds instead because of the infection. The first day I had a terrible taste and light diarrhea. Second day, the taste was better, but I woke up with a heavy feeling in my chest (due to my GERD, and the antibiotic made it worse). Third day, stomach upset, bloating, same burning in the chest, but the taste in my mouth was better. Still 2 days left to finish. Side effects are bad but can manage, but honestly, I would not like to take it again."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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
• December 8, 2021

For Tonsillitis/Pharyngitis "I don't recommend this drug, personally. My doctor wouldn't see me due to COVID, and despite my listed symptoms swaying me towards tonsillitis, my doctor seemed adamant I had an ear infection. So we compromised and I took this, as it treats both. It's a large pill to swallow, you do wake in the night with a dry metallic taste, and it upsets your stomach; but my major gripe was that I ended up giving myself not one, but two ear infections in the short window of 48 hours. It did get rid of my tonsillitis, and for the shortest five hours, I had relief, but that was quickly replaced with an ear infection on the opposing side. Then, after spending the night draining my right ear and sitting upright to avoid the pain, I then had to go through that AGAIN on the third night in my left ear, where my tonsillitis had originated. I feel like if my doctor had just seen me to confirm or had taken my assumption as more accurate, I'd have been on amoxicillin and this wouldn't have happened."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2021

For Skin and Structure Infection "I am on day four of a seven-day course, 2 a day, morning and late evening, for a severe ear infection. I was given this medicine at the local hospital. My ear infection was/is severe. The continuous bad taste is just awful. My stomach is very upset, and I seem to be practically living in the toilet. I will try to avoid this medicine in the future. You need to be very ill and very brave to take this tablet."

• 66c...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2023

For Skin and Structure Infection "I was prescribed clarithromycin for a chest infection after amoxicillin failed to clear it. Within 12 hours, I had the usual stomach problems, feeling sick, diarrhea, and my blood pressure dropped to 90 over 50, when it is usually 130 over 80. My hearing problems got worse, my vision went blurry. I developed pain in both ears that stopped me from sleeping. I just generally felt out of it. People should be made aware of these awful side effects. I've still got a chest infection. I live in the UK, so I had it prescribed."

• Anonymous
• October 9, 2012

Clarithromycin for Sinusitis "It works. It started to clear my sinus infection within 24 hours. However, the stomach issues are unbearable, I could only handle 3 days of medication."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2013

For Sinusitis "After taking this pill in one day, I have all of a sudden developed a very upset stomach, and my heart rate went from 60 to 106 bpm. And I'm having severe anxiety, but I feel very weak."

• Anonymous
• August 25, 2011

Clarithromycin for Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "Caused my saliva to taste bitter (not fun) and caused stomach cramps and diarrhea. But I can breathe now."

• Anonymous
• August 6, 2010

Clarithromycin for Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "Caused very bad stomach cramps."

• joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 11, 2020

For Bronchitis "On clarithromycin for bronchitis, the only side effect was it upset my stomach."

• Kri...
• April 12, 2015

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "Worked well but left a ridiculously bad taste in my mouth, especially overnight and morning. Blah!!! Bit of an upset stomach."

• jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2022

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "Aside from its bitter taste, my stomach also hurts after hours of intake. It's my fifth day taking it, and my cough is still dry. I will sure find another medicine."

• Mel...
• July 16, 2019

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

• kat...
• February 2, 2020

For Mycoplasma Pneumonia "Helped with symptoms (they weren’t that bad to begin with), terrible stomach cramps, nausea."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2018

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "I had a really bitter taste in my mouth, even after brushing my teeth 3 times a day. I also had an upset stomach, but they cleared the infection quickly."