Clarithromycin for Sinusitis User Reviews

• Twi...
• July 22, 2019

"I am currently prescribed 500mg clarithromycin twice a day for 10 days. I had a sinus infection. I'm on day 4 and still feel a bit of sinus pressure. I cannot tell you how much this metal taste in my mouth has taken my sleep away. I am woken up by this terrible taste, never experienced anything like this. I feel I can only go max another 2 days with this as I just cannot take this taste anymore... it's taken over my life."

• Ano...
• February 25, 2013

Clarithromycin "I have had MANY sinus infections over the years, and Biaxin is the only thing that really gets rid of them. Yes, you have a horrible (metallic) taste in your mouth, are a bit loopy, and tummy isn't the best, but those side effects are nothing compared to serious sinus pain. I'd rather be thirsty than feel like my head is in a vice all day!"

• yva...
• October 5, 2014

"I too woke up in the middle of my sleep because of the bad taste in my mouth. I thought I needed to eat, but whatever I eat, it doesn't go. So I googled about it and found this site. I ate a salty meal, candies, chocolate, carrot, and nothing works. I've only had two tablets so far."

• Bab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 14, 2018

"I felt compelled to write a review here after looking on here at the start of my course and being horrified by what it seemed awaited me. I am taking 2 x 500mg tabs a day (one morning, one evening) for an acute sinusitis not cleared by a course of amoxicillin. It took until day 3 to start to work for me but the difference is amazing. I have a two-week course and am feeling really hopeful for the first time in 3 weeks that I'm not going to spend the foreseeable future feeling absolutely awful. I had absolutely no side effects at all - I was very tired the first two days and slept a lot, but that is likely because I was ill! Since then, no GI problems, no anxiety/restlessness, and no horrible taste in my mouth. I hope this gives some reassurance to someone else that it's perfectly possible to take it and have no side effects!"

• Sin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2019

"Have had sinus infections for over twenty years, and although two operations have helped, they can still recur and are very nasty. Usually, along with the sinus pain, I lose my voice with nasal drip, and my breathing is affected with accompanying chest pain. Clarithromycin was recommended by my consultant years ago, and although my GP was reluctant, he did agree to write the prescription when needed and has continued to do so. This drug is amazing for me. Literally, within a few hours, I can feel the pressure lifting from my sinuses, my voice starts to return, and the weight lifts from my chest, and I can breathe properly again. Within a few days, I am back to normal. I ALWAYS take the tablet with food as per the instructions. If you don't, you can get into all sorts of trouble as listed by others here. I have worried that I may become resistant to it as I probably take it twice a year, but if anything, it seems to be more effective for me as I get older. Not sure why."

• Bex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 22, 2013

"Wrote on here yesterday. Just updating. Doc advised me to stop taking clarithromycin after I took only one 500mg last night. My experience- awful taste in mouth, vomiting, lower back pain, aching all over, severe stomach pain, couldn't sleep, dizziness, severe anxiety, dull heavy headache (similar to a hangover) and very dry mouth. All this after only ONE tablet. This medication is EVIL! Take with extreme caution people. Good luck x"

• oli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2015

"I would like to know what this drug is made from. The horrible metallic taste is making me gag. I have tried everything you can think of to get rid of it. It's waking me up at night from the taste. I don't know if the H. pylori symptoms or this is worse. I have 5 days to go on this and am dreading every tablet I have to swallow. I feel it's poison."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2019

"I was put on a high dose of clarithromycin when a sinus infection became complicated and went into my parotid gland, causing severe swelling and pain in my cheek and jaw. The horrible metallic taste is normal with this med. Sucking on lemon drops or other hard candies can help. This med will cause stomach upset and cramps, etc. unless you eat lots of yogurt-any kind, and even the sweet, not-so-good-for-you yummy tasting kind will work too. So you need to take it with the yogurt, you will need to eat a full meal, then take the meds. This really will help keep stomach issues at bay as best as possible. The med helped clear my infection up fast and was totally worth any inconvenience, seeing that I tend to be allergic to everything."

• 25s...
• August 14, 2013

Clarithromycin "I too have had multiple sinus infections and surgery twice. In addition, I am immunosuppressed because of a medication for rheumatoid arthritis. Biaxin has always worked for me. I really have no side effects other than the metallic taste, which is tolerable. I make sure I take it after food, otherwise, it is really hard on the stomach. I take Biaxin XL 500mg, 2 tablets once a day for 14 days."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2019

"I was sick with extreme flu symptoms for over a week, so went back to the doctor and was told to take clarithromycin 'just in case' it got worse and it developed into a chest infection. Prescribed dosage: 2 x 250 mg a day before food. I was reluctant to take them as I react to most medications and cannot take Augmentin as it makes me pass out. Mind you, I’ve only begun reacting to medications in the last 5 years. I felt so ill that I thought I have to take them hoping to feel better! Well, only 3 days in and I feel worse! Will never take them again. Brain fog, tinnitus, severe fatigue, muscle aches, dizziness. Feel like sleeping all day and insomnia all night. I also feel like my insides have been poisoned. Obviously, every person reacts differently and not everyone will be affected in this way. Though, for me, this medication is pure poison."

• ano...
• April 30, 2013

"I suffer from chronic sinus infections and have been treated with clarithromycin. While it got rid of the more severe issues (facial pain, horribly stuffed nose), I still didn't feel great after. Both times I ended up having to go to an ENT afterwards and start a stronger steroid and antibiotic. To top it off, when I was on clarithromycin, I had that terrible metallic taste in my mouth that would actually wake me up in the middle of the night."

• Anonymous
• August 31, 2009

Clarithromycin "I have chronic sinus infections. Over the last 20 years, I have tried everything including surgery, allergy shots, and many different types of antibiotics. Since I am allergic to Penicillin, I have limited choices, but I think I have tried them all. Biaxin is the only thing that works for me."

• Jan...
• February 7, 2014

"I was prescribed clarithromycin for a sinus infection. I have been battling this for four weeks and two prescriptions before this. I am on day three and feel only a little better. I have read it takes 4-5 days to feel better, especially if you have had it a while. The sinuses are hard to penetrate. I have had no stomach problems, I recommend probiotics. A nasty taste in my mouth... Gatorade helps a bit. I have also had fatigue and headache, but I am unsure if this is due to the antibiotics or that my body has had it with medication. Hope this helps someone."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2020

"I suffer from chronic sinusitis with around 4 flare-ups if acute each year. My sinuses are so painful that a metallic taste from clarithromycin is worth having. I am on the second day of this course, clarithromycin 500 mg twice a day. I can already feel some improvement, and I have 12 days to go. I have a lot of underlying health issues, including cancer, and side effects are a given for strong medication. I usually take doxycycline, from which I have far worse stomach symptoms. I think this drug is great for clearing up severe infections. I have taken both with and without food. The only thing I religiously do is drink a full glass of water with them."

• Han...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2021

"Run don’t walk away from this medicine. I have a terrible metallic taste in my mouth and the awful nausea that goes with it. I would honestly rather have the worst sinus infection in the world than take this medicine for another day."

• Anonymous
• June 27, 2008

Clarithromycin "Biaxin (or the generic) has always worked WONDERS for me in treating chronic sinusitis or sinus infection (also concurrent ear infection). It smacks it right out of you the 1st time, you don't wind up at the doctor's again after taking something less effective. I ask for it by name (am allergic to penicillin and sulfur, so neither of those are ever an option for me)."

• DrS...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 12, 2014

"Third day on clarithromycin, it has worked so far, clearing up my chronic sinusitis. My voice is back and my sense of smell is back. The only bad thing about it is the bitter taste in my mouth and lips. I don't know what to eat to change it. I make sure that I take my 2 500 mg tablets right after supper. I haven't had trouble with my stomach."

• Dap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2019

"I have recurring sinus infections, and I'm currently taking this drug for the 4th time. Before I took it, I was reading reviews of how awful this drug was, and it totally freaked me out. The side effects are not ideal, but you'll survive. I've always found clarithromycin to be super effective, and my sinus issues usually improve in two days. The metallic taste is pretty bad, I'll admit that. Sleeping is difficult, but I take mine with some milk before I go to bed, and it keeps the stomachaches at bay."

• Ord...
• December 1, 2015

"This medicine is awful. First night, awful taste in mouth, couldn't get to sleep and woke up with a racing heart. Day 4, woke up at 1 in the morning, extreme anxiety, pounding heart, sweats, shaking, couldn't think straight. GP has told me to stop taking it, and it should be out of my system in 27 hours."

• Cat...
• February 24, 2014

"Took this medication four times for sinusitis, and it works the best for me. I feel so much better within 24 hours. It's fast acting, the only side effect I experienced was a bad but tolerable metallic taste in my mouth."

• Jor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2013

Clarithromycin "I was on this for the first time last fall when I had H. pylori. It knocked it out but threw me into my first vaginal yeast infection. The metallic taste in the mouth is horrible, and my husband could even taste it when he kissed me. Currently, I am on it for sinusitis, which I have seasonally."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2013

"I'm on 500 mg for 7 days, I'm on day six, and for the past two days, I have been feeling a bit nauseous. It took almost three days to kick in to full effect. Symptoms started to improve on day two. I find the lingering taste bitter instead of metallic. I do have trouble sleeping, but it has cleared up the infection quite quickly. Make sure you eat an adequate amount of food with it. I've had no toilet issues."

• Fel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2016

"Prescribed for recurrent sinus infection potentially caused by GERD. By day four, a bitter taste in my mouth was round the clock. Yuck. Upsets stomach and wakes up in the middle of the night wide awake. Also, a little slow with thinking. Not a fan."

• Ell...
• February 5, 2017

Clarithromycin "After being sick for a month and a half, after a useless round of Amoxclav, my doctor finally prescribed Biaxin and Prednidone for my sinus infection. Within a day I was able to breathe through my nose. My only complaint is the absolutely disgusting aftertaste... and the occasional upset stomach. I think the side effects are worth it as I finally feel good for the first time in weeks."

• Ken...
• June 10, 2019

"My health care provider prescribed clarithromycin 500 mg twice a day. I am 75 yr. old and suffering from sinus and congestion for two weeks. After taking this for 4 days, I am so weak and unsteady I can't take care of my farm animals. I don't think I have ever felt so bad. The prescription info says I must take for 10 days and must take all. I will never take this stuff again."