Clarithromycin for Upper Respiratory Tract Infection User Reviews (Page 2)

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2019

"Picked up a superbug after a 12-day stay in the hospital. I was put on 2 previous antibiotics before they started me on Clarithromycin 500 mg twice a day for 7 days. Clarithromycin had me feeling 'cured' by day two, but I intend to finish it. I had to adjust or discontinue 3 other meds while taking this antibiotic, to ensure my heart would not race for no reason, and it has not. But I do experience cramps and diarrhea, but found Omeprazole handled those horrid side effects, and citrus juice helps with that greatly with the metallic taste in my mouth. Although I needed to make a lot of adjustments, this is a fantastic antibiotic considering I have been battling this same bug since Feb 25, and it's now April 23. This is the only antibiotic that worked!"

• Hav...
• December 24, 2016

"Prescribed this antibiotic 2 days ago and all it's done is made me cough, vomit, phlegm/mucus, mild diarrhea. I am sick of it already!!! I still have 5 days to go, and I'm seriously considering throwing them in the bin! Horrible taste in my mouth too. I feel like it's making me worse, not better! Horrible antibiotic!"

• cou...
• January 15, 2016

"So far I have only taken this for 3 days. It gives a foul taste in the mouth (that comes through the body system and definitely not just from the tablet in the mouth). The horrible taste is there most of the time but worse for the few hours after you take the tablet. It did wake me up last night, but I went back to sleep. I don't want to take them again. I want to have a natural alternative next time. It does feel like a toxic drug, very unpleasant, but sorry for those with the other dreadful side effects."

• DMa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2019

"I was put on amoxicillin initially for a severe chest infection and laryngitis, but it did nothing, so I was given clarithromycin 500 mg to be taken twice a day, and oh my days, this stuff might help with the infection, but the side effects are ridiculous! The stomach cramps appear randomly along with awful nausea. Now I could cope with them, but having gas all day and the unholy metallic taste in your mouth constantly, even rousing you from the little sleep you get in the first place, is horrendous!!!! I’m glad I’m signed off from work; otherwise, I’d be a wreck! Three more days, then I’ll be saved. Hopefully, I’ll never have to take these ever again in life!"

• Utp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2020

"It actually took me 2 days to start taking clarithromycin. I read the reviews and became terrified. I went back to the pharmacy to ask if they had capsule form or if I could break it up. I was advised no. They told me that they have liquid form, but I had to contact the GP again. I just thought I can wait, I need to psych myself. I bought some apple juice and psyched myself and did it. I felt so proud as I find it difficult swallowing big tablets. 1st day good, I could breathe, second day no side effects as such, third day sleeping problems, 4th day insomnia and anxiety, 5th day insomnia, extreme anxiety, vivid dreams, uncontrollable thoughts of doom, extreme sore throat that left me awake all night. I'm now on the 6th day, I was going to stop, as I don’t want a secondary infection. The pharmacist told me to continue, so on day 6. It has not been easy, but the sore throat, insomnia, and excessive anxiety are horrendous."

• Mar...
• October 17, 2016

"I have been coughing yellow mucus for the last 2 months, and instantly after 2 doses, it relieved me. Chest still sore, but I feel improvement instantly. I'm only 32, and from sore throat, it went to sinus and then chest. I'm feeling better after 1 day."

• Sus...
• January 1, 2017

"I was given this antibiotic for a chest infection and have stopped taking it as it made me feel so poorly. I had pains in my chest and my tummy, had diarrhea on the third day, and became very anxious. I was due to take a sixth tablet last evening, but I feel as if I am poisoning myself.... I will let my body heal itself."

• Cro...
• January 1, 2017

"Bad taste in mouth can be helped, in my opinion, by sucking fruit pastilles, the ones with sugar on. Had this drug before. Smaller doses okay, but the 500 mg x 2 per day is awful. Will not be prescribed this again!"

• zer...
• August 24, 2018

"Course - 2 tablets a day for 7 days. Noticed relief from this antibiotic after the first tablet with no noticeable side effects. After the second tablet, got a horrible taste in my mouth straight away. On the second day now, and the horrible taste persists after the 3rd tablet. And now I have a nauseous feeling in my stomach. I have the option to defer to Augmentin if I have bad side effects. Will seriously consider switching if the side effects get worse. Summary - Great effectiveness, bad side effects."

• Jud...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2020

"I was prescribed clarithromycin for a chest infection post-COVID. Within hours of taking the first tablet, I had extreme stomach pain, heartburn, and diarrhea. I figured I needed to line my stomach next time, and this helped a bit. The chest infection felt better by day 3, and while stomach side effects subsided a little, they still continued every day I was taking the pills (7 days). These antibiotics made me feel worse than the chest infection! On day 4, I started getting an unpleasant taste in my mouth, which 3 weeks later is still there."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2018

"I have had a horrific experience with this drug. I had severe breathing difficulties and had to call out the ambulance one night, it got so bad. The scariest experience ever!!! Avoid like the plague. Also, headaches and that metallic taste are hard to shake off."

• Mon...
• October 12, 2016

"I have used all kinds of antibiotics for my bronchitis over the years. Clarithromycin is so far the most effective of all. Usually, I am on Amoxicillin, and it gives me slow recovery. I was recently given Augmentin, which I never used before. Surprisingly, it didn't work at all. My chest infection got worse after a week on Augmentin. Fortunately, the symptom totally disappeared after merely two days of switching to Clarithromycin. I am also taking Lansoprazole at the same time for my stomach, so I don't have any side effects on my stomach. I sense a little bit of a bitter taste in my mouth in the morning. I can live with that."

• Bek...
• January 28, 2016

"Was prescribed these for a chest infection. From a few hours after taking the tablet, I had a really nasty taste that now, day two into the course, I still have. It's constantly there, even during the night. I'm waking multiple times for a drink. I feel very fidgety and need to be doing something, even though I feel really ill. But on the plus side, my chest doesn't hurt anymore."

• Sad...
• February 19, 2018

Clarithromycin "I have been sick with bronchitis for 2 months and previously have taken Amoxicillin and Levaquin. Both of those medications did not work. Within 3 days of being on Biaxin, my infection has started to clear up."

• Lor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2022

"I've never written a review on a medication before, but felt it was important to share my experience. I was prescribed this despite suffering from anxiety, and it was the worst experience of my life. I became agitated, more anxious, and had suicidal ideation. I got a second opinion from another GP who said it should not have been prescribed to me and took me off it. I would not recommend this medication for anyone with anxiety, and being honest, not for anyone at all. Looking at the other reviews, it has caused psychosis in people who never had mental health issues prior to taking it. There are also clinical papers on this. As somebody else said in another review, RUN from this medication."

• Mik...
• October 31, 2016

"I dunno, I think this stuff works great. It's been in my system for like 4 hours. I can breathe. I'm not so drowsy. My headache, chest pain, throat, and neck pain are all gone. I feel like I am back to the normal me again after 2 weeks of bed-bound trying to fight it myself. Finally went to the doctor. I love this stuff. Only thing is I feel wired, almost like I did a double dose of it, lol. My stuff has a different name, but it's the same stuff: clarithromycin XL 500mg x 2 once a day."

• Flo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2021

"I have only taken 4 tablets. I got given it by a doctor, as I'm allergic to penicillin. I have suffered from fast heart rate, tingling in legs, anxiety, blurred vision, lack of appetite, feeling teary, impending sense of doom."

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

"I've had a chesty cough for 7 weeks. Following a total hysterectomy, my hilar lymph node is enlarged in my right lung, and I'm exhausted from coughing. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and am waiting to start chemotherapy, which is being delayed due to my infection. I have had amoxicillin 500 mg and doxycycline 500 mg, neither did anything. I'm now on 2 x 500 mg clarithromycin. I have had 5 tablets so far and have 9 to take. Within a few hours of taking this medicine, the heat in my throat and ears was tremendous. It felt like the drugs were fighting the infection. The vile metallic taste started by the 3rd tablet, it's worse than the taste I had during my chemotherapy for breast cancer. It won't seem to go, immense thirst and headaches too!!"

• Dut...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2021

"Took this antibiotic for post-COVID bacterial lung infection. It has cleared my infection, but WOW, I’ve never felt like that in my life. I ended up in an ambulance twice with breathing difficulties because of an adverse reaction to the antibiotics. The first day and night was okay, then the nightmare started: no appetite, body aches, insomnia, night sweats, total delusions (didn’t know where I was). I've stopped then with one day to go as I can’t bear to do another night. Feel a million times better since I stopped them."

• axm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2018

"I'm taking a 7-day course of this antibiotic. I feel weirdly anxious and panicky on it. I also have stomach rumbling and sometimes nausea. I give it a 5 as it is curing my one-month cold, but I hate the side effects."

• RTa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2018

"GP is treating me for a respiratory infection and prescribed me 500 mg of clarithromycin twice a day for 7 days. These antibiotics are bad, I’m sure. The first day wasn’t too bad, but come day 2, the stomach pain, nausea, bitter taste, losing my sense of taste, and chronic headaches had started. I’m on day 6 and still have these side effects along with breathlessness, terrible dizziness, anxiety, and generally feeling like I’m not on this planet. My head feels like it doesn’t belong to me, which in turn doesn’t help the anxiety side effects-vicious circle! I’m at a loose end, but as I’ve only one day and my evening tablet to go, I will persevere. I hope these side effects don’t continue for too long once I’ve finished the course, or I think I may crack up!!"

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2018

"I took this twice a day (500 mg) for seven days and could not wait for the course to be over. I’ve never suffered from side effects to a medication before, but I had an awful headache from day 3 onwards, and the metallic/bitter taste in my mouth was really awful and made me feel nauseous and affected my sleep. I’d request a different medication if you can!"

• Del...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2018

"This medication was not very helpful. After 5 days, I am still extremely congested. Chest is still working hard to get rid of built-up mucus. I should be on my way to feeling better and building up, instead, I am heading back to get a stronger medication for additional days."

• Mrs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2016

"After using this medication, a rash started on my chest, which spread extensively over my torso within 48 hours. There are some spots on my arms and legs, but mostly concentrated on my chest and back. I have also experienced persistent headaches. I've stopped taking the medication, but it must take a while to leave the body, as spots keep appearing 2-3 days after. My upper respiratory tract infection has improved, and my asthma eased, but the rash is very uncomfortable, especially on 37°C days. I won't be taking it again."

• Pig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2016

"I was prescribed this antibiotic, having had flu-like symptoms with a high fever. Within an hour of taking it, I had a horrid, bitter bile taste in my mouth, then felt as if I had been put on a waltzer at the funfair and spun around 100 times, a terrible and restless night. The second night was slightly better, and I'm about to embark on my third night, feeling extremely weak and listless - but as of this morning, 36 hours later, I can breathe to the bottom of my lungs for the first time in about 15 years. A tip for the vile taste - slice a Granny Smith apple and nibble when needed. I'm going to try and grit my teeth and complete the course as I had forgotten what it is like to properly fill my lungs."