Clindamycin and Headaches: What Users Say

• Fee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2018

For Bacterial Infection "I have a terrible tooth infection which had spread to my cheek causing lots of swelling and debilitating pain. I am usually wary of antibiotic side effects, but I was in so much pain that I didn't even care. Took the first one before I got home. I was prescribed 3 pills a day for 10 days. I am on day 5 and finally feeling better. It took 4 days, but this stuff works. Just keep taking it. I have had very few side effects so far; the occasional flash of nausea that doesn't last very long, I usually get a mild headache about an hour after I take it, which also doesn't last long, and my appetite has been not so great. Way better than a gum abscess though. I drink a ton of water with it and also throughout the day, and I never take it on an empty stomach. I know there are a lot of scary reviews on here, but I just want people to know that not everyone reacts badly to it. Usually people only think to review when they are having a hard time. Good luck!"

• Dal...
• August 20, 2016

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "Had a deep gum abscess, not tooth, but gum, from a piece of popcorn. Dr. Rx was 300 mg 3x a day, for 10 days. No problems. You HAVE to drink tons of water when taking the pill and all day long. Why? To flush out the toxins. When STRONG antibiotics work, they KILL the good and bad bacteria. That die-off is called a 'Herxheimer' reaction. Thus, the headaches, eye aches, etc. So, up your intake of WATER to help. Then, take probiotics, kefir, and yogurt because the GOOD bacteria are killed off in your gut, hence severe diarrhea. C. diff is a dirty hospital issue, it's their big secret, but probiotics will reestablish the GOOD bacteria, very quickly. Hang in there, it is the best medicine ever."

• KDM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2016

For Bacterial Infection "I'm extremely sensitive to all types of antibiotics-penicillin, amoxicillin, sulfur drugs, cephalosporins, Zithromax. I can't even take most OTC drugs. Unfortunately, I came down with strep throat and had to see a doctor. Thankfully, I have an amazing doctor who found me something that worked. Here are two tips that you HAVE to follow when taking this medication even if you are NOT generally sensitive to antibiotics: 1) Take it right after you eat a meal if it says with food. Every. Single. Time. No exceptions. 2) Drink AT LEAST 16 oz of water with it. My doctor put me on the lowest dose, 150 mg, three times a day for ten days. It worked beautifully. No headaches, puking, joint pain, dizziness, or rash."

• Che...
• July 21, 2016

For Bacterial Infection "I'm on 4 pills per day every 6 hours for 10 days for a really bad gum abscess. On day 5 right now, and there is a HUGE difference, it's almost gone, very small. BUT my throat hurts incredibly bad (feels like it did when I had strep), and my head aches all day, as well as some pretty bad vertigo. Trying to push through the rest to get rid of this abscess, but I have flu-like symptoms besides nausea. Worked a lot better than when I tried penicillin for it, but I'm paying for it with the side effects."

• 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."

• 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."

• Mar...
• August 13, 2015

For Bacterial Infection "This medicine does a quick job of removing infection. I'm taking this due to an abscessed tooth, and the next day, I'm feeling no pain. The only complications I'm having are the side effects. Painful, awful stomach cramps where it feels like I'm being stabbed, and the blade is twisting around. The pain comes in waves. Also, I'm terribly gassy on both ends, and I have no appetite and a huge headache. I have found if I eat something fatty before and yogurt with it helps. I take 300 mg 3x a day for 7 days. I'm on day 2. Effective drug, horrible side effects."

• Wor...
• December 21, 2015

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I was prescribed 300 mg 3 times per day for 7 days. This was the fourth antibiotic I was placed on in two weeks because nothing else was working. It did its job well. The only noticeable side effect was a slight headache on and off. I heeded the warnings on here, though. I drank 16 ounces of water each time I took a pill and always at meal time. I did not lay down for at least an hour afterward. I ate one yogurt in the morning and took a probiotic in the evening. Also, I had suspected a sinus infection that had never cleared up for over a year. This medication proved me right because I feel better than ever."

• CMi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2016

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I was prescribed 300 mg of clindamycin 4 times a day for 7 days. I am half through the course. I read many of the unfavorable reviews as well as the information from the pharmacy. I was terrified. My doctor did tell me to take the medication with a probiotic. After doing some research on which probiotic to take, I went back to the pharmacy to pick up those pills as well. As others have stated, you MUST take this med with plenty of water. After the first 4 pills, I did have a slight headache and noticed my eyes seemed red and slightly irritated. I pushed the next dose out by 2 hours and increased my water intake. I haven't had any more issues (so far). I will update after I complete the full dosage. I would recommend taking the probiotic."

• dre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 28, 2015

For Bacterial Infection "This medication was prescribed to me after contracting a severe bacterial infection after scratching my eyeball. I was prescribed an eye drop by the first GP, but after my eye worsened, I went to the hospital where the doctor prescribed me clindamycin. I found that it helped with the infection almost immediately. Although, in saying that, I'm on my third day in, and the side effects are terrible. I have a constant headache, my throat is sore, I feel feverish, get chills, and just generally feel weak and sore. I haven't yet tried a probiotic, but I'm going to start tomorrow. Drink it with plenty of water! I haven't had any heartburn yet, and I hope not to."

• bab...
• October 6, 2015

For Bacterial Infection "Had an old root canal that was giving me so much pain. Went to the dentist, and they did an X-ray. The dentist prescribed Clindamycin HCL 300 mg every 6 hours until gone. So, it is about 7 days' worth. It totally fixed the pain and infection. However, the side effects of diarrhea, headaches, weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, dehydration (if you don't drink tons of water) were not worth it to me. I've learned that an antibiotic prescribed needs to be discussed with the patient for side effects first! My physician and yours should also discuss how to ride the waves of the side effects and monitor you. You may decide not to take the antibiotic and want to try something else. This should be an informed choice that you make with your doctor as a team."

• Con...
• November 25, 2015

For Bacterial Infection "Prescribed 300 mg 3 times daily for 10 days. Got a fever, chills, body aches, muscle pain, and a pounding headache behind the eyes. Nobody else reports these types of symptoms, so my doctor is convinced that I got sick simultaneously with starting the treatment. My symptoms would increase and decrease with the timing of doses... and became worse with each new dose. After two days of suffering and a continual regimen of pain relievers, I decided to stop taking the medication. Fever broke within 4 hours. Headaches improved. Slowly improved to normal after about 24 hours. I have never had a reaction like this before to any dig, but clindamycin is now on the no-no list. Listen to your body. There are other less harsh antibiotics."

• Mat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2017

For Bacterial Infection "DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT use this antibiotic. I had two teeth extracted, and the dentist prescribed this to me because I had a small infection under one of my removed teeth. After day 2, I had a marble-sized burn in my throat. Then the burn dropped into my chest and turned into throbbing pain. Swallowing anything from water to food brought me to my knees in pain. I called the dentist on day 5. He said to stop taking it. I haven't taken a dose in 5 days, and the pain is still unbearable. Slowly getting better, though. I have lost 10 pounds in 10 days because I can still barely swallow anything. Please ask for another medication instead of clindamycin. Or at least read some online reviews of this drug before taking it. I took it exactly as prescribed."

• JD1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2022

For Bacterial Infection "Suffering from a bad tooth infection, I had gotten amoxicillin before my root canal. I kept having bad reactions, so I just didn’t really take it. Figured once I got the root canal, I could clear the infection up naturally. Three days after the root canal, the infection didn’t clear up. I kept trying the amoxicillin but couldn’t because of the reactions my body was having. I had to find a different antibiotic, and clindamycin was the next option. Read the negative reviews and was scared because of how sensitive I am to medications. I had some minor side effects, like a tiny bit of lightheadedness and a headache. That’s it, my body was able to handle it much better than the penicillin drug. My dose is 300 mg, 6 hours apart, and it cleared up the infection in about 3 days. Clindamycin saved my life. I didn’t even have bad heartburn."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2023

For Bacterial Infection "Horrible. I will never take it again. 300 mg for an infection after surgery. 12 capsules for 3 days. Excessive sweating (do take some BP meds that cause it, but this made it worse), headache, full body pain, swelling, hearing heartbeat, insomnia. Found out it can mess with blood pressure, even one person whose systolic was 106 went up to 177. Found out some of these get worse when you stop, and I can verify this from my own experience. Some things, like life-threatening colitis, can occur 2 months after it's stopped. If you're offered it, you'll have to decide, but as I mentioned, I will not take it again. I would suggest everyone do in-depth research on it."

• Anonymous
• January 3, 2012

For Bacterial Infection "On the third day of taking it, I woke up with heartburn and felt awful the entire day. Headache, feverish, nausea, and aches. I stopped taking the medicine and will not take it again. I have not taken a pill since Sunday night at 10:30 PM. It's Tuesday morning, and I still have heartburn."

• LVC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "I am taking clindamycin 300 mg every 6 hours for an infected bug bite. Currently, it has been six days since I started the meds, and overall it has been good. The most important thing is that the infection has gotten much better. However, I do remember the first night I got severe headaches, and I also have been experiencing mild diarrhea. I recommend anyone taking this to drink a lot of water to avoid severe diarrhea, also, do not lay down for at least 20-30 minutes after taking it, as many others have been reporting heartburn if they lay down right away."

• Anonymous
• October 4, 2009

For Bacterial Infection "I was prescribed clindamycin in a hospital emergency room for a bacterial infection (cellulitis) in my lower leg and was on it for only about 36 hours (six 300 mg doses). I experienced a severe headache and began experiencing diarrhea. I called my doctor and asked for a different medication because I have to work and couldn't while experiencing diarrhea. My doctor put me on metronidazole (500 mg) 3 times a day. I've been off of clindamycin for 11 days today and am still experiencing mild diarrhea, depression, anxiety, and shortness of breath."

• era...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2014

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "This medicine did get rid of my skin infection (MRSA), however, it gave me a slew of other problems. I had awful headaches, pain in my intestines, a change in my bowel habits/change in stool, and now, about a week off of the medication, I still have pain in my intestines, and now I have a vaginal yeast infection. I have been taking acidophilus tablets since I stopped clindamycin."

• ctm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 2, 2012

For Bacterial Infection "So far, I have taken 4 pills. I have had some stomach rumbling and a few light pains. I felt a little bit lightheaded a couple of times and a little bit of head pain, but other than that, it's not too bad. My doctor gave me this for an abscessed tooth, and I have not had to take any pain medicine today, so I guess the clindamycin is already working. I have a little bit of tooth pain, but it is bearable. I do eat toast before my first pill and a full meal with the second and something light with the third one. I will check back when I finish the medicine to let you know if things change."

• Sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2020

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I was prescribed clindamycin for a horrible infection of my finger that was swollen, and I couldn't bend it. I had cramps and diarrhea the same day I started on it. I took a 300 mg dose every 8 hours for 10 days. I broke out in hives on day 4 or 5. Had the worst heartburn I've ever experienced. Also felt like I was getting a yeast infection. Then, 2 days after finishing the mess, I woke up with every joint from head to toe hurting like never before. Every muscle ached also from head to toe for 2 days. Horrible headache, lethargic and weak, and sweating and clammy, and absolutely miserable. These symptoms were worse than any flu I'd ever had. I could barely get out of bed for 48 hours. Then the body aches subsided quite a bit. I kept having chronic headaches, nausea, diarrhea still going on since day one. Still clammy and sweaty and weak. My GI system hurts from sternum to my butt. I will never take this pill again !!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2020

For Bacterial Infection "I was prescribed this med, clindamycin, to clear up a breast infection, mastitis, from breastfeeding, and I had vertigo, extreme weakness, so bad. It also affected my head, I had confusion, anxiety, and a horrible headache and joint pain in my neck. I had to go to the ER, and they told me it's just side effects, go home and continue it. Luckily, infection symptoms were gone by then, and I stopped taking it after 4 days. I had enough! Symptoms went away once I weaned off of it."

• Ter...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 25, 2015

For Bacterial Infection "I'm on day 3 taking clindamycin after needing a root canal on an abscessed tooth. I wasn't feeling any pain before the root canal, so I don't know how effective this medication is at getting rid of the infection. But, just like a previous commenter, I woke up the day after starting it with flu-like symptoms: headache (which I almost never get), joint pain, all over body soreness, lightheaded, chills, and pain when I move my eyes. Same story - I called the endodontist that prescribed it, and they said they don't think my symptoms are side effects of the meds. I want to clear up the infection, so I'll keep taking it, but if I have a choice, I'll never take it again. Strangely, I haven't had any of the tummy issues most people have had."

• jmm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2013

For Bacterial Infection "All I can say is I had two teeth pulled 6 days ago. By the 2nd day, I had a horrible taste in my mouth, a constant headache, and pain in my gums while on painkillers. I went to the ER, and the doctor prescribed 300 mg every 6 hours. So, 4 days now on the medicine and painkillers, and my gums still hurt and I still have a headache. I have been prescribed this medicine in the past, and it normally works with no side effects. I have no idea why I am still in pain. While the painkillers do not make it go away, they make the pain tolerable so I can do my everyday things."

• Moi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2022

For Sinusitis "I was having terrible headaches for two weeks, then figured my jaw and glands were swollen courtesy of my TMJ. After a few more days, I couldn’t take the head/jaw pain, so I figured it was my crown. An X-ray at the dentist showed an infection in the left side cheek sinus. I was given the prescription for a week, and after taking it for three days, I was convinced my head would blow up, the pain was so bad. I took T3 to ease the pain, but by day five, I was human again. Still, two days left, but I assume the worst is over."