Clarithromycin symptoms and conditions

I was diagnosed with a bronchial infection 8 days ago and was prescribed the generic form of Biaxin, Clarithromycin (500 MG tablets). About 3 days into treatment, I started having a bad taste in my mouth. I can brush my teeth and rinse with mouthwash, but it still lingers. When I cough, it tastes like it comes up with my cough.

I have an already sensitive stomach, but have had problems every day since starting on the Clarithromycin. I've been taking it each time with food and/or milk, so my stomach is not empty.

On Day 3 of taking this medicine, I ran a fever of 102 and thought I had the flu. However, the fever went away the next day and I was just left with the already existing croupy cough.

I'm now on Day 8 and still have the lingering bad taste and stomach issues. I can't wait to be done with this drug! In the future, I'll be sure to get something other than Biaxin/Clarithromycin!

I was diagnosed with a bronchial infection 1 week ago today. I was prescribed Clarithromycin (500 MG tablets) and Advair. About 3 days into treatment, I started having a bad taste in my mouth. In the last 4 days, the taste seems to be getting worse. I've also been feeling jittery, my heart feels like it's racing and I keep a dull headache. On the 3rd day of taking this combo, I ran a fever between 101.3 and 102.3. I thought I had the flu, but the fever broke with some Tylenol and never came back. I was told I did not have the flu, although my husband and son both got it 2 and 3 days later. After a week of taking medications for an infection, I would think I'd be feeling better, but I'm not. I have 2 more days left of the Clarithromycin, but I'm not sure I want to continue. I think I'll probably cut out the Advair first and see what effect that has on me.

I was told at the doctor's office that I had bronchitis and I was given Biaxin 500mg x 2 a day (generic form is Clarithromycin), I took it the first day wasn't sure if the side effect was from the bronchitis or from the medication. By the 2nd day, I took the first pill, after that it was downhill from there. I suffered anxiety, metallic taste in mouth, severe nausea, dizziness and vertigo. I feel completely horrible. I stopped taking the medication yesterday and I still have vertigo and nausea feels awful. The side of effects are worse than the sickness itself! Never again will i take this horrible pill!

This reaction is to the entire "PrevPak", vs. just the antibiotic Biaxin. The PrevPak, used to treat H. Pylori, also contains another antibiotic, Clarithromycin; along with 2 capsules of Prevacid in prescription strength, "these are proton inhibitors" which reduce stomach acid by preventing certain actions to take place in the stomach. The side-effects of the proton-inhibitor include the potential to block the absorption of Vitamin B, calcium and an enzyme needed to process and use iron in your body. Therefore, the following symptoms or behaviors may occur, once you begin the Prevpak. a) anemia/tiredness (take some slow-release iron) b) confusion and anxiety..(B12 deficiency); c) craving for milk and dairy (calcium deficiency).

Long-term, bone breakage, and other issues arise if you continue long-term use of a proton-inibitor.

I am posting this here as many of the reactions people are associating to Biaxin seem more attributable to the Proton-inhibitor that usually accompanie's Biaxin's use for gastrointestinal issues.

Biaxin's reaction, in my case, I would say was isolated to sleeplessness feelings, strange nightmare-like wakings, disorientation, a metallic taste in my mouth, and dehydration.

All of these are considered traditional symptoms of Biaxin.

I also had itching on day 12-14 for the PrevPak dose. This is probably attributable to the proton-inhibitor possibly affecting my histamines. However, it could also be an allergic reaction to either Biaxin or clarithromycin.

Same thing here. I have a sinus infection and pharyngitis that just wouldn't go away for 3 weeks. I was prescribed the generic version (Clarithromycin) 500Mg twice daily. The antibiotic does seem to work. I have had a bitter taste from it almost from the beginning. I took the fourth dose on an empty stomach in the morning with little fluid and 10 minutes later started to eat. 20 minutes after taking the antibiotic I had experienced an uncharacteristically severe panic attack. My heart just instantly started racing, confusion set in. The whole time while I am taking it I have difficulty breathing which eases off as dose wears out. Luckily for me I had some lorazepam laying around which I took to suppress this reaction. I skipped my 5th dose in the evening but my infection is still an issue. Now I am unsure whether to continue taking it or not. I am about to see my ENT today so I think I will not be taking it until I see him.

Thank you for this site...although it is too late being I already poisoned myself with my 1st dosage - I know better now to STOP TAKING THIS DRUG IMMEDIATELY.
31 y/o male - non smoker - In good overall health.

What happened...(brief history of what got me to the point of being prescribed this horrid drug)
I caught a cold a few days after drinking quite heavily at a wedding (Aprox 1 month ago). It was severe enough for me to take a trip to this new doctor that is in my network and nearby (how I wish I could use my old family doctor that is out of network).
Symptoms then were congestion in my head and upper chest, cold sweats, runny nose. The doctor told me to take some over the counter stuff and try to fight it off w/ Mucinex, and Zyrtec - and lots of liquids. If that didn't work, he asked me to return.
It took about 5 days, and I seemed to kick the cold.
Approximately 2 weeks went by where I was feeling fine, then it seemed as if I was coming down with something again. (Last Thursday was when I started feeling ill)
I think what brought it on this time was breathing in excess dust at work opening some skids of paper in our warehouse.
Anyhow, this time around I had a pretty serious cough, felt feverish, and fatigued.
Sunday morning I woke up and took two Mucinex to break up the cough (which work great by the way)...and I hacked up something awful enough to call my doctors emergency line and have him paged. I was ready to go to the ER. It wasn't just phlegm or mucas - it was a soild mass of lord knows what containing blood. It look like an organ from a small critter.
Doctor said to keep taking the Mucinex and if I didn't feel better to come see him.
The coughing got worse on Monday, and the mucus I was spitting up wasn't pretty.
I went to see him yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) and he said its time to start you on an antibiotic and diagonsed me with an Upper Respiratory Infection.
He gave me Avelox, and Advair, and I asked for some of the good cough syrup w/ the codeine. He also sent me for a chest X-ray.
I got home around 4pm, made some food, then took some syrup and tried the advair.
I waited to take the Avelox til later on in the evening so I could set up a routine as I work nights and 9pm would be good.
I took the Avelox, around then, along with another dose of the cough syrup.
Around 1 hour later I felt extremely nauseous. I would burp, and feel almost ready to vomit...it was my body rejecting this horrible drug. The nausea came and went, came and went - then I got tired.

I laid down around 11pm and then the REAL trouble started. I must have fell asleep for about 30 mins, then woke up suddenly gasping for air...It felt like my heart was about to stop. I sat up in the bed panicked. I then got a little nervous, but calmed myself down, drank another glass of water and tried to fall back asleep. Sure enough just as I was about to drift off, the same sudden feeling of my breathing or heartbeat was interrupted and I sat up again. I had tingling in my chin area and in my arms. Walking to the bathroom I felt slightly disoriented and dizzy, and my legs and whole body felt weak. I also started getting itchy in my legs and groin area. Now I'm scared to go to sleep so I come to the computer and started researching this Avelox. It's 3:30 am now as I'm writing this. I looked at this site and http://www.fluoroquinolones.org/ before decided to post my experience.
I am still very itchy, slight nauseous, and feel disoriented. I'm scared to lay down to sleep now, but hopefully that will wear off soon - but I feel very nervous, uncontrollably. I almost want to induce vomiting to maybe get out any of the drug that is left in my stomach, but hate vomiting.
I will not take another dosage of this Avelox, no matter what this doctor tells me...and will give him a piece of my mind for prescribing this instead of something like ammoxocillin or just penicillin.

Been taking the generic Clarithromycin for a little over 4 months now. I have Lyme Disease and this drug along with Plaquenil, really helps. With Lyme you feel worse before you can feel any inkling of feeling better Sure it's got some side effects like metallic taste and a few others. I will tell you for me the Lyme symptoms far outweigh the side effects, so I really don't mind the side effects at all. It's all relative. The metallic taste is one of the worst ones.

Of course you have to keep your gut in line with any antibiotic. Probiotics, yogurt, kefir, kombucha all help to do that.

IM trying to figure out if Boniva is causing me to have severe eczema on my hands and feet; palms and soles. I am 58 yrs old and never had this happen before. I began taking Boniva in late Nov 2007. Followed directions carefully. The first week I STARTED TO HAVE the flu like symptoms and fatigue lasted well into january and also seemed to lose a sense OF TASTE FO R FOOD AND DRINK. JAN17TH -FEB 2 GOT AN AWFUL FLU THAT LASTED ABOUT 5 DAYS. 102 FEVER, MUSCLE ACHES, PAIN, JUST AWFUL. THEN MISSED TEN DAYS AT WORK BECAUSE IT TURNED INTO A SERIOUS BRONCHIAL/ UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION- I FELT LIKE I HAD WHOOPING COUGH.THE DOC GAVE ME A REALLY STRONG ANTIBIOTIC-( CLARITHROMYCIN ) AND IT TOOK ME UNTIL MID MARCH TO FEEL LIKE MY SELF. NOTE; I HAVE NOT MISSED MORE THAN A DAY OF WORK FOR SICKNESS IN OVER TEN YEARS.)drink. The taste buds seem to have come back but WHEN I TAKE THE BONIVA PILL I FEEL FLU LIKE AGAIN- FOR ABOUT THREE-FIVE DAYS.
ALL OF THIS WAS BAD ENOUGH BUT I CHALKED IT UP TO FLU SEASON ETC' THEN IN MID MARCH I STARTED TO HAVE A TERRIBLE CASE OF ECZEMA ON THE SOLES OF MY FEET AND PALMS OF MY HANDS, IT IS REALLY CHRONIC AND VERY PAINFUL. I HAVE TO SLATHER MY HANDS AND FEET WITH VASELENE EVERY NIGHT .AND HAVE BEEN TAKING PROBIOTICS AND L-LYSINE FOR THE PAST MONTH WHICH DOES SEEMS TO BE HELPING- BUT NOW I'M WONDERING IF THE SKIN CONDITION IS A SIDE EFFECT FROM THE BONIVA? FIRST THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE CLARITHROMYCIN. BUT I HAVE A GUT FEELING ITS THE BONIVA/ ANY IDEAS?

I have been taking doxycycline for about 4 days now. Last night I took it right before bed, with water, and upon waking at about 1 am I felt that the pill was stuck in my esophagus. And then my stomach starting burning and acid started coming up. I still feel like the pill is lodged in there, and it is very uncomfortable. Along with this issue, I have felt rather depressed, dizzy, yeast infection, and am extremely tired. I don't really know what to do at this point. I was prescribed it for pneumonia and a double ear infection. My chest is still killing me from the pneumonia and still have trouble breathing. My doctors have not been helpful what so ever through this process. I had to actually go to the hospital for the proper diagnosis. I don't even know if it is even working for me, but I don't have health insurance and have been out of work for over a week. Can any one give me ANY advice PLEASE???!!!!!

Hi All

Don't know what to do.. Been daignosed with Pneumonia, completed 7 days of Amoxicillan 500mg and now on day 4 of Clarithromycin 500mg, and 7 day course of Prednisolone 40mg per day.
Like everyone else, the most horrific taste in my mouth tried everything to rid of it. It is Sat night and I am NOT going to take my next dose of Clarithromycin as it is upsetting me so much. I will have to wait until Monday am to speak to my doctor and hopefully he can give me something else. I am still struggling with pneumonia however I will take the risk. The bad taste, and upset tum must be the worst side effects ever what do you all think? The companies surely mus be able to something about this and put us patients out of our misery!!

I am a 43 year old female who, until I found this site, thought I was dying of bone cancer - I am not even kidding. I just finished the last of my 10 day prescription for Avelox (for bronchitis and sinusitis). And I feel like I have been beaten about the head and body. Honestly, every part of my body aches and I can barely walk. I have absolutely no energy; throbbing and shooting pains up and down my arms and legs. Not to mention sharp pains in my chest area periodically. I have very clouded and unclear thinking abilities; and my neck and head hurt so bad not even an 800 mg ibuprofen helps. Oh and let's not forget the chills which are right down to the bone - I cannot get warm and I have yucky night sweats to boot. I would most certainly be interested in a class action lawsuit. I really hate that I took 10 days worth and wonder when I will start feeling better. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE AVELOX - it is not worth the painful side effects! The prescription flyer I received with the medication did not mention any of the side effects I encountered.

I got the metalic bitter taste in my mouth from Clarithromycin. I'm taking it for pneumonia.
No diarrea yet though!
Boy do I feel better after just 4 doses. But that metalic taste sucks.

I am on my 7th day of 500mg/once a day clarithromycin, prescribed to me for a sinus infection. On the third day, I read all of the below comments and had a mild panic attack fueled by paranoia. Once I came back to reality, and in touch with my body, I realized which, in fact, of the common side effects I have been experiencing. The most notable is sleeplessnes. I have been having very intense dreams which have been waking me up every 30 to 45 minutes; upon waking my mind is charged and rearing to go. This side effect was attended to by a prescription of Ambien, made to me for this specific incidence. The Ambien has helped, I am now getting a solid 5 hours of sleep, still intense dreams, but sleep. For someone who typically requires 8 -10 hours a night, I find this 5 hour deal amusing. I don't feel particularly tired as a result, although I admit it has only been a week - it could catch up with me. This brings me to the other most obvious side effect, which I can only describe as mania - ready to go go go, constantly up, alert, ambitious (for what, I am not sure). Again, for a groggy girl like me these are actually welcome side effects! Other than that, I am experiencing a small amount of gas, and a slight spacieness (lack of sleep? or just an effect?). For these I have found lots of yougurt, fresh foods, and fluids, all in small servings and at regular intervals, ie: every 1 1/2 - 2 hours, to be allievating. My infection seems to have cleared up, I have a small amount of clear drainage in the morning, no more facial tenderness, headaches, and obviously my sense of fatigue is gone. All in all, I must say I would take this antibiotic again, which is not how I usually feel after most antibiotics I have, as an adult, taken.

I have not had any adverse reactions to Levaquin. After age 30 I suddenly became allergic to penicillan AND erythromycin,clarithromycin,azithromycin-- making prescribing antibiotics very difficult, especially since I was already allergic to sulfa drugs, too. I have taken Levaquin approx 5 times for various upper-respiratory infections, ear infections, etc---works great, but very expensive.