Clarithromycin for Helicobacter Pylori Infection User Reviews (Page 2)

• QueennB
• December 1, 2020

"I am on amoxicillin, clarithromycin twice a day and a PPI omeprazole- after reading the stories on this site, I delayed my Helicobacter Pylori Infection treatment by 3 days as I was terrified. I did start it and I am currently on day 4 and the side effects are bad, but I believe everyone has a different experience with this. Unfortunately I'm one of the people who suffered badly. I am only on treatment for 7 days so I have 3 more days left and I do not want to repeat this ever again in my life. My symptoms before this included vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, rapid weight loss, weakness, and depression. Since taking the medication, the first two days were okay. This 4th day is a nightmare, I am having extreme suicidal thoughts, unable to eat at all, weight loss, vomiting bile, sometimes burning sensations in my arms or chest - and I am trying my best to get through the next 3 days. I pray that when this is all over I will never have to repeat this. If you're worried you may have bad side effects please just try it out first"

• Anony...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2020

"Took one dose of this clarithromycin medicine with amoxicillin to start triple therapy for H pylori. The taste is like you just ate a metal sandwich and it doesn’t go away. Other side effects I have is itching, extreme paranoia and insomnia at night. I was convinced someone was breaking into my house. Contacted my GI and let her know that this medication isn’t going to work for me. I am very sensitive to antibiotics and have anxiety so hopefully others don’t experience the same thing."

• Myfir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2019

"Bad breath or bad taste was one of my primary symptoms prior to getting on this medication. By day 1 it disappeared well started disappearing. How ever it was replaced with a new terrible taste that doesn’t go away. I am only aware of the taste at night. U wake up like what is this? lol.... I may feel a little weaker but I just took an energy drink and energy increased. Now to find a way to eliminate this strange taste that lives in my throat now. It’s better than having bad breath for sure, super glad I’m taking it"

• rocket
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2015

"Terrible taste in my mouth from this medication! It also dries you out! One of my chief complaints before being prescribed this med was a bad taste in my mouth. It was found to be from H Plylori. I do feel better in the stomach due to this medication but the horrible taste is way nasty!"

• i...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2018

"I am so angry after taking this drug. I have to take this for a H. pylori infection and it is absolutely nasty. I have a very HORRIBLE metallic taste in my mouth and I hate this drug with a vengeance. I am on my fourth day and I have not being a functioning human for four days. I am on the verge of giving up. I am abstaining from clarithromycin as far as I can in the future. Absolutely horrible experience."

• Mary
• March 9, 2022

"On day 9 of 14 for H Pylori. Clarithromycin, Pantoprazole, amoxicillin, metronidazole and Peptobismal treatment. You will lesson a lot of symptoms if you eat with your antibiotics and take them as far apart in the day as possible. Also avoiding things that can cause stomach irritation like coffee, tea, chocolate, greasy food, acidic drinks like orange juice and soda. Side effects are pretty severe. Suffering with black tarry stools, stomach pain, dry mouth and throat, insomnia/fatigue, gastric bleeding, hemorrhoid flair up, ulcers in mouth, swollen sore throat and mouth, oral thrush, cough, reduced vision, the worse for me being my angry dry inflamed mouth and tongue. Doctor was not sympathetic in my symptoms, told me to take it anyways for the 14 days, otherwise I would have to do it again. In most people this won't cure the Pylori and you will have to do this again. Side effects so severe and painful I had a Covid test (negative). You can get reinfected by others saliva, etc."

• SABBs
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2018

"My doctor prescribed me this with amoxicillin for H. Pylori. First few days it made my stomach even more upset. WORST TASTE EVER! It's so gross and makes my mouth feel so dry and raw my tongue is inflamed. Boy.. did it work? Yes, my stomach started feeling better day 4. Was it worth it? I'd say yes. But be prepared to keep sipping on things and eat lots of hard candy to keep a nice taste in your mouth. I got a few more days to go hopefully this goes away for good!"

• jesse
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2019

"I had been sick about every 2 or 3 months with diarrhea. My doctor said I just had a virus. This went on for almost 1 year before I got another doctor. I ask her if she could do a blood test for me. My symptoms were vomiting, bad diarrhea and bloating, belching. She did the test and I was positive for h.pylori. I was devastated and really upset. Now taking amoxicillin twice daily and clarithromyc twice daily with omeprazole. Everyone is pretty much correct about the side effects. I really have a hard time with the diarrhea. The other side effects are tolerable. Hang in there and take the meds. We all need to kill this terrible bacteria as it has really bad effects like increase gastric cancer etc"

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

"I am on day three of the h-pylori treatment. And honestly am living in a nightmare. I never thought there is any medication this brutal. And it's true what most people said everyday 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 is something like a stone was 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 fall asleep tonight. This is a drug where nightmares are made."

• Kcano
• May 3, 2019

"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 & as if food is stuck in my throat with burning stomach). After some test, said I had malaria & a stomach infection of H-pylori. I was placed on antimalarial, metronidazole, tetracycline, amoxyl, omeprazole & antacid. I got better on 1st day, but became worse later, I was hospitalized for 2 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 & duodenitis. I was placed on Pylorest (Clarithromycin 500mg 2xdaily, Amoxyl 1gram 2xdaily, Rabeprazole 20mg 2xdaily). I am on the 7th day now, but got worse on the 2nd day, with awful taste in my mouth & throat, mild nausea & 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 & the symptoms are fading away."

• ladybug
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2019

"started having stomach issues in Jan 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 breath. 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 help 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...."

• Hope
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2018

"Was started on Clarithromycin 500mg 2x/day, amoxicillin 500mg 2caps 2x/day, and lansoprazole 30 mg 2x/day for h. Pylori. My insurance didn’t cover the kit so they split the meds. Insurance still didn’t cover lansoprazole so I used OTC 15mg 2caps 2x/day. My heart burn and acid reflux was awful before starting these meds; I had low appetite, and lost weight, and had trouble going to bed even with antacid. I'm on 2.5 days of therapy. Medication is horrible. Got bone pain, fatigue, and throat/chest discomfort after my 1st dose and side effects continues. Terrible metallic taste most of the day, so I chew gum to mask the taste. I will keep enduring because symptomatic H. Pylori can cause severe condition including miscarriages and stomach cancer if left untreated. I don’t think the triple therapy side effects will be worse than a chemo for stomach cancer. So I encourage to take this medicine if you can tolerate it the side effects."

• Frankie
• May 4, 2021

"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 (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."

• Cajjio
• May 2, 2016

"I completed a course of Clarithromyxin/Amoxicillin/Omeperazole last night, from day two of this seven day course, I have been getting this metallic taste in my mouth. Has anyone experienced the same and when will it go away?"

• Mella
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2020

"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"

• LizaL
• July 16, 2022

"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 930am ,then at 10:30am , I took a probiotic. I took these on an empty stomach with a full bottle 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"

• Tisha
• January 2, 2012

"Taking the PrevPak which is a mixture of clarithromycin, amoxicillin and Prevacid. When take the night time dose of the medications I experience metallic taste which lasts for awhile. In the morning I do not notice the metallic taste. I will start to try full meal and chocolate to see if the taste is not so obvious. Also going to get the big red gum cinnamon flavor and keep gum at my bedside when wake up to chew the gum. Grapefruit should not mixed with the antibiotic as it interacts with lots of antibiotics and medications."

• Cherr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2017

"I'm on day 14 of taking this medicine, my last day. I'm taking all 3, amox and omeprazole as well for this bacteria which got worse after a strong antibiotic that I never should have been prescribed. My experience with this drug has been positive, yes it does leave an metallic taste, I'm on a 14 day treatment. I take 4 amoxicillin a day, two in morning 2 at night, I take 2 of this drug one in morning one at night and 1 omeprazole a day. I have not had any bad reactions to it and seems to working just fine. I go back to retest March 29, I hope and pray its gone and never to return. I'm going to do a juice detox for about 3 weeks to cleanse my system afterwards."

• Couur...
• March 20, 2015

"I'm taking this medicine apart of a triple antibiotic therapy. It makes me so miserable that I feel like I'm dying. I hope it gets better but it sucks. I can't wait until I can throw the empty bottle away."

• happy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2014

"I have taken clarithromycin on two separate occasions for treatment of Helicobacter Pylori both times. One time was approximately 7 years ago and then again about 3 years ago. I am about to start another round along with amoxicillin and bismuth, which is Pepto Bismol. Clarithromycin leaves a horrible metallic taste in my mouth. I am not looking forward to taking it again. The only thing that seemed to relieve this momentarily was chocolate. I kept Hershey's kisses with me all the time. I would even have to get up in the middle of the night and eat one. The taste was so bad that I couldn't even go back to sleep. A nurse told me that she had heard this worked. After eradication, try Oregano oil, grapefruit seed extract, and tumeric daily."

• David
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2023

"7-day treatment after gastroscopy detected Helicobacter. This is the worst drug regimen I have ever taken. Metallic rusting taste in your mouth and day 3 diarrhea. The H. pylori was causing a funny sensation under my right rib, like an adhesion when I leaned forward. I will stick to this for the 7 days, but if it doesn't kill H. pylori, I don't think I could do this again, it's too awful. I use a tiny bit of peppermint under my tongue in bed to offset the metallic taste; it really is a medieval drug treatment. I am a fit 80-year-old. Strangely, the fecal test was negative for H. pylori. Only the gastroscopy was positive. Going up the nose for a gastroscopy sounds awful, but there's no gagging like when it's done through the mouth, and it's much quicker and more comfortable."

• Theil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2016

"I had bad side effects with this medicine so I called my doctor and stopped it my doctor told me that the benefits from the medicine outweighs the side effects so I went back on the medicine and I found out that eating with medicine helps with the belly pains and orange juice takes away the metallic taste"

• Jaqi
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 31, 2022

"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."

• Sickly
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2018

"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!"

• In pain
• September 22, 2018

"OMG ! worst experience of my life ! I'm 63 years old, I have been suffering with a knot in my upper right side just beneath my breast for over 2 years I've had a gauntlet of tests, was scheduled to have an EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy) but I had a severe laryngeal spasm when tube was inserted before I was properly sedated. So EGD was not able to be performed, I had to be " bagged ", the gastroenterologist saw only the first sphincter into my stomach and there was tiny red spots on it and said he believed I had h pylori, ( no breathe test, no biopsy, no fecal test) started me on clarithromycin, amoxicillin and dexilant, by the second dose I was in EXTREME abdominal pain, severe burning, explosive diarrhea, dizzy and weak. By the 4th day I truly thought I was dying so I stopped the med. I am still weak and hurting 3 days later, hurts to eat, still diarrhea. Going to my GP and asking for a h pylori test, never take this med combo withoout confirmation test for H PYLORI ,its a killer regime"