Clarithromycin for Pneumonia User Reviews

• Sash
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2019

"I read the reviews on this site and was absolutely terrified of taking this drug. I had pneumonia and amoxicillin had no effect, so was prescribed clarithromycin. However, thank goodness as it was amazing. Within less then 12 hours my fever (of 39.5) had completely gone, and from then on no fever and almost back to normal! The only side effect was a bitter taste, which was strong and woke me up at night. However, I found that mixing rice milk and honey literally took the taste away! So I kept a cup of it next to my bed and if I woke up with the taste I just drank it! It was amazing. I wouldn't advise having cows milk in this case because it creates mucus, but any milk alternative and honey should work! Just wanted to let you know in case helpful! Wishing you better"

• 10mins
• February 10, 2016

"Was really ill started off with temp of 39.5 all body aches and pains. Took paracetamol and nothing happened. Went A & E the next day whom did chest X-ray and took bloods said got slight infection but couldn't hear anything on my lungs so gave me iv paracetamol and fluids and sent home with amoxicillin 1 to be taken 3 times a day. After two days was still the same temp aches and pains etc. Went see my own GP whom heard crackling on lungs straight away and said suspects pneumonia and couldn't understand why the hospital didn't. He gave me clarithromycin 500mg twice a day. After taking the first one within one hour temp had gone and I was feeling a lot better. Had a bitter taste in mouth but didn't last long. These are the best antibiotics."

• briti...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2016

"After being laid low for a week with agonising painful throat and ears plus coughing up gunk and fever, took myself to walk-in medical centre ( live in UK) on a sat and prescribed amoxcillin 500mg as ear infection although told chest clear (v surprised). Got progressively worse, coughed all night and struggled for breath plus pain in ears and throat was horrendous ( I do have high pain theshold too !) and ended up getting emergency GP apptm thur am and diagnosed pneumonia and prescribed clarithromycin 500mg for 7 days. Feel better already ! Yes odd taste but I can swallow without grimacing and aren`t taking max painkillers per day as I was plus can eat again and chest so much better. No other symptoms. Good antibiotic :)"

• dsinca
• June 10, 2009

Biaxin XL (clarithromycin) "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 am breathing much better - it is also clearing up my ear infection. 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."

• Bad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2015

"I was sick for a year, A YEAR, coughing up sticky yellow mucus relentlessly. I was put on 4 allergy medications, acid reflux medicine, and put through voice therapy (it was making me gag) and multiple other specialist visits. They thought I had asthma. Nope. After multiple antibiotic tries, my ENT put me on this one and it cleared within two weeks. No more problems. Yes, it tastes like I ate a pile of crap, but worth it. So worth it."

• Lorren...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2016

"I've am on 500mg twice a day for pnumonia which I have had twice before..feeling much better after day 2 although energy levels still pretty low..side effects are grumbling,painful stomach ache and a horrible taste in your mouth plus I go dizzy at times and forget things.."

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

"This drug has definitely helped to clear up my pneumomia, 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 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."

• AJ_720
• January 7, 2016

"I was prescribed this medicine after suffering with pneumonia! I needed a strong antibiotic to keep me out of the hospital for an extended length of time, ON TOP of the penicillin shot. At the same time I have an albuterol inhaler, tessalon pearls and zofran. With all that going on I'm not experiencing any anxiety but I can literally stay awake for the entire 7 days I'm on it! Never tired and if my lungs would allow, these 7 days I could probably repaint my house, keep it entirely clean 24/7, re tile my kitchen and probably build an ark! Pretty annoying that I can't sleep and as far as the taste, I'm scrubbing my jaws 4 times a day with toothpaste and baking soda, no luck! Also, give up eating AT ALL! Which I can stand to lose a lb or 2"

• Sjay
• April 20, 2017

Biaxin XL (clarithromycin) "Was first prescribed this on my discharge from the hospital with pneumonia. Had me feeling great within a few days. Just had it prescribed again to clear up an ear infection and a little bit of a chest infection starting. Same thing, cleared up in days. Only down side is the metallic taste in the mouth. Some people suggest taking it at night to avoid that but sometimes I will wake up because of how awful it is. I also always make sure to take with yogurt to help ease my stomach."

• ISP...
• December 29, 2016

"I have been given clarithromycin and a steroid..The taste left in your mouth is terrible. And the weird feeling around the jaw and generally light headed. But boy has it cleared my chest in just 2 days.. I can breathe and coughing is not painful. But the taste is hard work and makes you wanna heave. But it's to repair your infection so definitely does as it says on tin."

• Sickl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2019

"Currently taking Clarithromycin for pneumonia. One 500mg tablet twice a day for 7 days. Constantly feeling sickly tired and have a constant mental like horrible taste in my mouth. Reassured me this must be off the antibiotics after reading the posts on here. Cough seems a lot better but not finished the course yet."

• Alicat
• February 9, 2017

"I'm in day 3 of taking this antibiotic having being diagnosed with a severe chest infection. Within 48 hours the stabbing pain and aches in my chest has completley disappeared. I have a 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 worst at night :( Last night I had a bad nightmare but after that slept well. I've had lots of tummy gurgling and today feel really nausea :( Have also been going to the loo more then usual! I'm pretty anxious about taking the next 4 days but unsure if there is anything else I can take? I'm allergic to penicillin."

• Dawns...
• March 12, 2016

"I am an asthmatic and have just had flu which has lead to mild pleurisy and chest pain/shortness of breath. I'm taking a course of clarithromysin for 7 days (500mg x2 daily) with 30mg prednisolone for the first 5 days. Feeling sick, vile taste in mouth, headache, dizzy, fatigue, lack of sleep, randomly crying for no reason (may be the steroids). I feel quite beat up by the drugs and was feeling wiped out already. However I can now breathe and cough without feeling like I'm being stabbed so going to try to last the full course as I don't have an option of another drug as I'm allergic to penicillin. I feel spaced out and going to a supermarket and looking at all the food nearly made me throw up as I feel so sick. Trying a probiotic drink..."

• JRR
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2015

"I was finally given Biaxin 500 mg bid after 3 rounds of other antibiotics for pneumonia. I have rheumatoid arthritis and take Xeljanz and methotrexate that lower my immune system. ER doctor gave me 10 days of Biaxin and I was feeling better on day 9, but still not over it yet so I called my regular doctor and he prescribed 7 more days. I have 4 days left and I am feeling so much better. No side effects."

• JCB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2015

"At first, I had horrible sickness with the tablets. I started them the day I got them because my doctor insisted I did so my pneumonia didn't get worse and the first two days were awful. I had the urge to be sick about ten minutes after taking the tablet and it would last mostly all day/night. I couldn't keep my food down so I lived off water, and then the sickness wore off and I was fine for the rest of the time taking them. My pneumonia has cleared up quite well and to be honest, the tablets smelt great and didn't taste all that bad. They have a lemon sherbet smell and taste to them. I did also experience a dry mouth and a nasty taste in my mouth a while after taking them, especially in the morning after sleeping."

• Momma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2015

"I'm on day 6 of Biaxin for pnemonia. I take probiotics and have had no issues with this med until a few hours ago. I was awoken with a horrible overwhelmingly bitter taste in my mouth. Yuck! 4 more days of this med...hope this taste goes soon."

• Anonymous
• December 2, 2009

Biaxin XL (clarithromycin) "I have taken this medication many times before. I have asthma so I am prone to infections in my lungs. I get prescribed this medication often and it clears it up in the 7 days. The only side effects I get is the metallic taste, I just take it a night to avoid it."

• Ne14t
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2018

"The side effects from Clarithromycin were dreadful; shakes, palpitations, & anxiety. I didn't sleep for 6 nights, each time I was just dropping off to sleep my heart suddenly leapt & shook me awake. It was my third course of antibiotics after amoxicillin & Cefalexin didn't work. I had 3 different courses of antibiotics, 4 ECGs, blood tests including a D-dimer blood test as they thought I had a pulmonary embolism, 3 X-rays, steroid tablets, tablets for my heart, sleeping tablets, fluids as I was dehydrated & antihistamine tablets. The Clarithromycin DID get rid of the infection but I absolutely hated the side effects. Originally diagnosed with bronchitis which apparently turned into pneumonia. Best Wishes from London"

• Jackie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2018

"This medication was prescribed to treat my pneumonia. I felt the side effects from day 1. Weird metallic and bitter taste in my mouth, dry mouth and lips even after drinking fluids, anxiety, fear, palpitations, weakness, very strong headaches, hallucinations, nightmares, sweating, fast heart rates. On the other hand I can breath again and the terrible back and chest pain are gone. If there is a future need for me to have antibiotics I would really avoid this one. Side effects are away too much to take when you already feel poor and weary."

• Harley
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2019

"I have 10 hours left until my 4th dose of Biaxin XL 500mg x2 tabs once per day. I finally feel like I’m back in the land of the living! After nearly 2 weeks of feeling absolutely awful (running 102 temps, headaches, pneumonia and so fatigued and weak that I was sleeping 20 hrs a day), this has been a Godsend! I was fortunate and have had very few side effects , just mild diarrhea for the first two days but that seems to have cleared up. I’ve had no nausea or metallic taste, but it may be because I was taking it at noon everyday to make sure there would be enough food in my tummy so they didn’t go into an empty stomach. Still have a cough but it has gone from wet to dry. No longer coughing up any gross stuff and my nasal discharge has changed colour working on getting close to clear. First 2 days I felt like I’d been walloped after taking it , but that feeling has passed. So far so good and I would recommend this medication if you have pneumonia."

• Laura...
• September 24, 2017

"I have had a chest infection for over 8 weeks. I have been on amoxicillin didn't work! A chest x ray and some omeprazole later they seem to think I have the underlying pneumonia! I was given 500mg of clarithromycin to take for 5 days! Today day 4 I have coughed a lot less I feel I need longer than another day but my god it's worked...yes u do get the hairspray taste the morning is the worst from the night pill it is pretty bad but soon goes you feel sicky ish but tbh thats from the coughing in general only other side effect its taking longer to get to sleep and loss of appetite...I recommend trying it, it's nearly ended months of mystery for me"

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2016

Biaxin XL (clarithromycin) "I have COPD and experience many lung infections. Also allergic to penicillin. I have used many different antibiotics and find best results with Biaxin XL 1000mg once daily. it does not bother my stomach at all. I usually experience relief within 2-3 days Doctor gives me 10 day run of it... I sometimes take prednisone along with it on a 5 day blast 30mg a day... prednisone is very good for lessening inflammation in the airways.. leaves you sleepless, a little agitated but works."

• Mook
• December 29, 2019

"This worked a treat for the pneumonia after doxycycline and amoxicillin had not helped at all. BUT 2 hours after the first dose I got a very odd feeling of looking down on my body and watching myself interact with others. I lay in a darkened room for a while it eased off. I felt that I had no choice but to continue with the medicine given my fear of the infection getting even worse. Happily although I felt a tiny bit odd after the second dose the strange depersonalisation feeling did not recur. Later I got strange metallic taste, lack of appetite and headache but no more awful out of body/mind feelings."

• Anon
• February 15, 2016

"Strong metallic taste for the first couple of days. I started taking it with milk and, if the taste returned, had another glass of milk which neutralised the revolting metallic taste for me. Also this initially caused sickness but it stopped after 2 days."

• Littl...
• December 9, 2014

"I have been on this pill for 5 days now! It seems to work through the day but at night my chest still feels very sore, the pneumonia still hasn't seemed to fade. However, I am able to do more during the day without being in pain. Must be working! I too, had an awful metallic taste in my mouth all day after this pill. It made me sick to my stomach, to stop this I actually started taking my pill with Apple sauce. Just ate a few spoon fulls, then put the pill on the spoon in Apple sauce, and swallow. It leaves a tiny taste, however, it does not last and doesn't make me sick. I suggest trying something like this , not just water."