Anxious about Clarithromycin

[JanesSadLittleLife]

I've got a nasty recurring throat infection, and after peering at the pus follicles in my throat from as far away as possible this morning, the GP prescribed 500mg per day of clarithromycin (I'm allergic to penicillin).

I didn't get to ask any questions but I gather it isn't well tolerated - I struggle with stomach cramps on erythromycin, and this is the next choice in the list (other than azithromycin).

I had antibiotics for strep a good 20 years ago but I can't remember what they were, don't recall any reaction though.

I'm really nervous about stomach sensations and nausea etc, can anyone give me some reassuring anecdotes from their use of it?

Oh I'm so sorry, I totally get that anxious wobble with things like this. I really hope it was just a hungry growl! Also, I doubt your appetite will have been amazing lately, so it may be that you're catching up now the antibitoics are kicking it. Toast and porridge for a whole day really isn't very much at all so no surprise you were rumbling!

Thanks! It's so daft isn't it - I'm overweight and eat too much, but trying to be sensible and not overeat this week. Just come back from holiday where I ate everything, so yes it was just a hungry rumble and I was over thinking. No other effects, no rumbling once I'd eaten and I slept fine.

Still have a sore throat, how long do the bloody things take to work! I guess it hasn't been 48 hrs yet...my throat started 8 days ago.

The tablets have a peculiar perfume, floral taste. Like pot pourri. 😂🤢

Another here allergic to penicillin. I take clarithromycin when needed and have never had an issues, sometimes leaves a weird taste in my mouth but think that's the yellow coating on the tablets.

Hope you start to feel better soon.

Thank you! Yes they certainly taste bizarre, almost perfumed, but I try to take it mid-meal and chase it with bites of food and gulps of drink until its gone!

I thought I might have have had it before, but I'd remember that sickly yellow coating and the taste so it's a first for me. So far so good, no sign of the infection abating yet though. 😕

@JanesSadLittleLife they are very sickly sweet. I believe that this antibiotic tends to work towards the end of the course, therefore you won't really feel the benefit until you have had a fair few of them. They aren't as strong as the penicillin brands, but they work the same from my experience.

Also, you might still have the after taste for a little while too. I know I certainly did. Yuk!

Oh really @yaboreme , I didn't know that about them working towards the end!

Well as long as they're working slowly eh.

I've had 4 of 14 doses, no lingering taste yet - only when I actually take them.