Clindamycin and Stomach Pain: What Users Say

• God...
• February 28, 2014

For Bacterial Infection "PLEASE READ (VERY HELPFUL TIPS FOR HEARTBURN/STOMACH PAIN). The second day I started taking the pill, I had horrible stomach pain and heartburn. I tried to get off the medicine, but the doctor said I needed these. Anyways, here's the help: before taking your pill, eat a big meal (for breakfast I have a bowl of cereal, a couple slices of bread, and some yogurt). MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOGURT BEFORE TAKING THE PILL. It helps A LOT. I am now 6 days in and only have slight heartburn. I suggest 2 servings of yogurt, 2-3 pieces of bread, and something on the side. I take these pills 3 times a day, so I have a big meal in the morning, at 3 pm, and at 11 pm. Trust me, the yogurt really works!"

• Ann...
• September 15, 2013

For Bone infection "Taking clindamycin has been difficult for me. It's caused nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain. But it's also been the only thing to clear up my jawbone infection. They gave me two other types of antibiotics before this, and neither helped. If you can endure the unpleasant side effects, it's a good medicine for it."

• Ftu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 2, 2014

For Bacterial Infection "I had a severe dental and gum infection. After two bouts of penicillin, my dentist prescribed clindamycin. I have two days left of seven. I read all the Rx materials, and nothing on it about not laying down. Every night I got heartburn. This morning my stomach is in knots, and I have terrible heartburn. Your comments here have helped me feel at ease about it. I have been eating yogurt and taking probiotics to help, but not at my 3:30 am dose. Will fix that right away. It has helped my infection."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "I've had a bad abscess tooth infection for 10 days now. Went to 2 dentists, urgent care, and visited the E.R. twice because my face swells so bad at night that I have trouble swallowing and slight trouble breathing. They switched me to this when amoxicillin wouldn't work. I honestly experienced more stomach pain from the amoxicillin than I do with this. I'm on day 3, I haven't had to take near as many pain meds today. I've been able to actually talk and choke some food down, so I can't complain. I hope this means it's working."

• Inf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2014

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I have taken this twice in the past for dental and skin infections and am currently on it again, all for dental issues. I developed C. diff after both previous cycles of taking this medicine, with the most recent being near-fatal. That said, it's the best medicine for treating broad-spectrum serious infections, so it did work on the initial infection well each time. I have also developed a mild blistery rash on my chest and upper arms while taking this in the past, but it cleared up when finishing the meds. My only major warning: if you develop C. diff symptoms in the weeks or months following this medication (several watery/loose stools per day, weakness, stomach pain, vomiting, nausea), insist your doctor test a stool sample to culture for C. diff."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2014

For Bacterial Infection "Took for mastitis. Have felt ongoing stomach pain and nausea. I've followed the directions, have been drinking plenty of water, not laying down, taking with food and eating yogurt but still feel gross all the time."

• lit...
• November 29, 2017

For Sinusitis "Wow, this is a powerful drug. I was prescribed clindamycin 300 mg for a severe sinus infection. Amoxicillin did not work. After two doses, I had the worst stomach pain and nausea I have ever had. I also had a throbbing headache. However, I could feel it working in my sinuses already. So, I tried to stick it out. After another day, I was so profusely ill I couldn't get out of bed. Had the shakes, vomiting, horrific heartburn, and headache. For the record, I took the pills with Gravol and water, took probiotics, and stayed upright after taking. This was not a good experience. Very frustrating because I believe the drug does work, but the side effects make it impossible to take."

• Ups...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "Just got back from my second visit to the ER in two days. Was prescribed this for an infected root canal, but can’t finish these. I have that awful metallic taste in my mouth, but that’s not the worst of it. This pain in my chest is horrible and tight and heavy. It feels like I’m going to have a heart attack! I have pain all down my back and sides and in my stomach as well. Feels like I got hit by a bus or have a really bad flu! Like many others have said, this is probably worth it for something really serious or as a last resort, but not for me. I’ve been on it for 5 days, 4 times a day."

• Jam...
• May 30, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "Had a root canal at the beginning of January and was prescribed this clindamycin antibiotic for 10 days. I made it to day 7 before I stopped due to the excruciating stomach pain. I was also taking Advil extra strength to deal with the pain from infection for a week before the root canal and a few weeks after. Unfortunately, I didn't think much of it as I have been on several antibiotics/Advil over the years and have never had an issue. All pills taken with lots of water and food. No probiotics or yogurt while on them (BIG MISTAKE!). It is now 5 months later, and I am still suffering. At the 2-month mark, I had to visit the ER as I thought I was having a heart attack. It was acid reflux like I have never experienced before. Waiting on a scope to see what damage is done to my stomach/intestines. I would recommend extreme caution when taking this drug. Currently on anti-acid pills, probiotics, and eating lots of dairy-free yogurt. Very slowly getting better. Will not take this drug or Advil ever again."

• Nan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "Was put on clindamycin 300 mg HCL for a tooth infection. Do not take this drug. Took for 14 days. I now have a C. diff infection. Bloody diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain the worst ever. Ended up in ER with intravenous fluids. Can't eat, it hurts too bad. Why would doctors prescribe this dangerous drug for someone? Eats up all the good bacteria and leaves all the bad. Been really sick, it is unbelievable. Remove this drug from the market. Quit making people sick. Never again will I take this worst thing, this can come back."

• lmr...
• November 19, 2011

For Surgical Prophylaxis "2 pills 3x day - 5 days. Got 4 wisdom teeth removed. Day 1 - 1st dose, pills were hard to swallow, and a few minutes after I took the pills, I got an upset stomach. 2nd dose was about the same, but I got a rash on my face (cheeks). 3rd dose stomach pain got a little worse. Day 2 stomach pain got even worse with every dose. Day 3 morning dose was unbearably painful in my esophagus/stomach. Called my doctor, and he told me to stop taking pills. I figured stomach/esophagus pain would go away since I'm not taking pills, but it's been 6 days since I stopped taking pills and I still have pain. A lot of pain when I eat and burp. Pain feels like a tightening and burning in my chest every time I swallow."

• Str...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2015

For Bacterial Infection "My daughter was prescribed 300 mg x 3 times a day for strep throat that had returned 6 days after finishing a 10-day prescription of amoxicillin. Worst stomach pains and heartburn ever. We tried drinking the water, sitting up, and then Tums and Pepto, but nothing helped. Waiting for the doctor to call back with something else. Terrible side effects."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2019

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "Clindamycin caused excruciating esophageal and gastric pain, nausea, and a general feeling that I was going to die. I woke up in the middle of the night with extreme chest pain and couldn't even get out of bed, and eventually passed out. I was genuinely surprised to be alive when I woke up the next morning. I could only get through three days before the side effects became this severe, and they only got worse and worse. It took more than 8 months to fully recover, and I was living with severe heartburn, weakness, nausea, and inability to eat or drink without severe pain. Thousands of dollars of tests, additional drugs, probiotics, and self-medication later, it eventually got better. Upper endoscopy revealed severe gastritis, which I know was directly caused by clindamycin. Never again."

• Kis...
• June 22, 2016

For Bacterial Infection "I'm taking this for strep throat, 10 days, 3x a day. At first, it worked fine, felt like it was helping. Now I'm almost done, and these last few days have been awful. I have bad heartburn. It hurts from my stomach to my throat. It burns. My stomach hurts to move, feels like bad gas, and my throat hurts to swallow anything. It's hard to drink."

• car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "Cleared up infection, but really hurt my stomach and finally gave me such horrible esophagus pain that I could not function. Even swallowing saliva became almost unbearable, and I had chest pain that hurt even between shoulder blades and out right ear. Never again for this drug!!"

• car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "Cleared up infection, but really hurt my stomach and finally gave me such horrible esophagus pain that I could not function. Even swallowing saliva became almost unbearable, and I had chest pain that hurt even between shoulder blades and out right ear. Never again for this drug!!"

• MsL...
• April 9, 2017

For Bacterial Infection "I'm taking clindamycin for a tooth infection. The first day I took the pill, I drank a smoothie with it and didn't lay down for a while. I didn't have any problems at all, no heartburn, no irritated throat, and no stomach pain. It's how you take the medicine and what you take it with."

• Kri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2018

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG! I was prescribed this drug for what a doctor thought was a staph infection on my skin. It wasn't. It was just an irritation, and this doctor overreacted and didn't culture it. I was prescribed it for 7 days, twice a day. THIS DRUG RUINED MY LIFE. I took only 3 pills, realizing that this really wasn't staph and my body was healing it on its own. About 3 weeks later, I was sicker than I've ever been. Intense stomach pain and water coming out of both ends every 15 minutes. I was diagnosed with severe C DIFFICILE (c. diff). My gastroenterologist who treated me said that had I taken more, it would have killed me. I was treated for c. diff for 7 months. After taking all of the drugs to treat c. diff, we almost did a fecal transplant. This drug shouldn't even be on the market. There are so many other drugs out there that won't hurt you the way this does. I am warning you all!!"

• Red...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2018

For Bacterial Infection "This antibiotic messed my whole body up. Gut-wrenching pain while taking it followed by severe diarrhea for months. In and out of the doctor's office and emergency room because of problems with diarrhea and stomach pain after use. Left feeling fatigued every day, this medication I will say knocked the poop out of me."

• Anonymous
• November 7, 2009

For Bacterial Infection "I had a root canal 2 weeks ago, and there was no abscess or infection then. After the second part of the root canal a couple of days ago, the x-ray showed an infection. Since I'm allergic to penicillin, they prescribed clindamycin. I have a sensitive stomach, and this medicine really did a number on me! I took 3 capsules 8 hours apart, and each one had worse results. I also forgot about not lying down for 30 minutes after taking a pill the 3rd time. I filled my stomach up with food to try and protect it, but it didn't work. I had nausea, stomach pain, and intestinal cramps. I have no idea if it would have cleared the infection. I just started taking cephalexin tonight, which can also cause stomach problems, but so far it hasn't."

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

For Bacterial Infection "So I just started clindamycin 2 days ago. I have been taking probiotics in between taking the clindamycin (150 mg). Told to take it 4 times a day, but have only been taking it 2-3 times a day, which I'm worrying about. I have experienced dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, very alert of my surroundings, sharp pains in my chest and shoulder, as well as stomach pains and cramps. I have also been experiencing twitching in my fingers, as well as diarrhea. Not sure what to do at this point. As my belly button was infected, it's healing super fast. I just don't know about these side effects."

• sal...
• March 4, 2017

For Bacterial Infection "Horrible! Do not take! I had it for my tooth infection, and initially, everything was fine for 4 days of taking 150 mg 3 times a day. On the 5th day, I suffered delirium, rash, white tongue, dry mouth, an extreme ill feeling, chills, nausea, and had huge pain in my stomach area. I quit taking it, and 3 days later, I still have the white tongue (thrush) and nausea. I did not have diarrhea because I ate yogurt while on this killer antibiotic. Yogurt is a probiotic, and if you choose to take clindamycin, PLEASE EAT yogurt so you don't get diarrhea!"

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2019

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I was prescribed clindamycin for an ingrown hair. I only took 2 out of the 21 pills prescribed. I got extreme throat and chest pain from taking this, as well as tingling in my tongue. It’s been almost two weeks since I stopped taking it, and my stomach is burning in pain all day, every day. I can barely eat, can't drink coffee or wine. Can’t enjoy any of the foods I like. NEVER AGAIN!!! Worst antibiotic I’ve ever taken in my life. I regret taking those two pills."

• Jol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 15, 2015

For Bacterial Infection "Used for accessed root canal. Was on Amoxicillin first, and that didn't work, so I tried Clindamycin. By the second day, my pain was gone, BUT it gave me stomach pains. Hurts to swallow as I feel like I have razor blades in my stomach. I'd rather be in this pain than tooth pain!"

• For...
• October 21, 2016

For Bacterial Infection "I am taking this medication for an infection in my feet and around my toenails and deep into my skin around my toenails. The pain is awful, I got to the point where I could barely walk. I tried on shoes in a store in my bare foot since I was wearing sandals and caught an infection. Never again will I be so stupid. This is my second day taking the medication, and already I want to stop taking it. All of a sudden, the top of my stomach started hurting badly too, to the point where I was moaning in severe pain. I can see where my feet are getting better, but it is not worth the pain. I am supposed to take it for 21 days for 3 times a day. I don't think so if this is the result on day 2 of taking the medication. The pain is just unbearable."