Clarithromycin

[luelle]

On clarithromycin for pneumonia.. but oh my god it's somehow worse than the pneumonia. The most agonising, gut wrenching stomach cramps I have ever had in my life, nausea, diarrhoea and not vomited yet but come very bloody close. Anyone else felt like this? I can't take another 6 days of this :(

Yep. I’m allergic to penicillin and was prescribed clarithromycin.

I gave up after a couple of days of awful symptoms and horrendous thrush - which I wouldn’t normally do, but the Dr diagnosed an infection which I’m pretty certain was actually an auto-immune response as I had exact same symptoms previously.

I would go back to the GP. Sometimes they can prescribe a second medication to help with the stomach problems caused by the first, or give you something else instead.

Are you allergic to other antibiotics, it sounds horrendous.

Yes I've had these and won't ever take them again! They cause so much pain in my stomach that I had to get a different medication from the gp as I couldn't cope taking them. Go back to your doctors and let them know of the side effects you are having.

How long is the course?

Call the surgery i the morning and ask for a phone appt if they can't fit you in.
It's often not well tollerated

Are they those ginormous yellow things

I'm allergic to this group of antibiotics (my gut sheds its lining).
Ask for a different antibiotic. If they can't suggest one, go for taking probiotics at least twice a day to replenish the 'good' gut bacteria that it's killing off.

Yes. I'm also allergic to penicillin and get gastritis when prescribed this. Also terrible vertigo and motion sickness leading to nausea (way-worse than the underlying infection being treated).

.... and yet, when I explain this to Drs, they prescribe it anyway. Even though I warn them I'll be unable to finish the course. I can only assume it's cheap.

Tetracycline antibiotics don't do this but I have no idea if they're effective for pneumonia.

*probiotics will do nothing. You'll still have gastric pain and diahorrea.

A couple of times I had horrid side effects from this. I had 7 days worth in one a day capsules. To be taken with food.

I worked out that if I took then exactly 24 hours apart I was ok. Well felt less sick. But it had to be exactly 24 hours. Anything less and I felt worse than whatever I’d been prescribed them for.

Oh no that's awful :( I had a horrible response to amoxycillin when I was on that for pneumonia, but no reaction to the clarythromicin. Definitely absolutely go back to GP, or get a phone appointment, and get them to urgently switch to something else.

I am allergic to penicillin and can't take clarithromycin (oh my god the dizziness and diarrhoea - I'm the only person to have lost weight over Christmas ).
Go back to your GP.

I've been ill for 2 months now. Got hit by a bad bout of the flu and was bed bound for 3 weeks. Infection spread to my ears and sinuses so been on every medication under the sun. When I still wasn't getting back after 6 weeks went back and I had developed pneumonia. Couldn't have amoxicillin again due to already having it for the ear infection.. just so exhausted after already being ill for so long. I've missed so much work and been moving house so extremely stressed out and run down and it's all getting a bit much tonight. These stomach cramps are like nothing I've ever had, crippled in pain. Tempted to not take more but need to get better...

I bet your stomach/gut flora was already upset from amoxicillin

Horrendous, refused to take it and they switched it for something else.

I get on well with this antibiotic. I always take it with food and it barely upsets my digestive system at all. I do make sure I have probiotics when I'm on antibiotics.

The only side effect I don't like is that it gives me a horrid taste in my mouth.

I'd let your GP know that you're struggling with the drug in case they can offer you an alternative.

Get well soon!

I was on erithromycin once. Wiped out my digestion so I couldn't keep anything down - I was really ill and had to have a couple of weeks off work.

I've often said to GPs that I might be allergic to it. You've reminded me to say that next time. It was horrific.

Im sorry you feel unwell OP .Was it a once daily dosage of Clarithromycin you had.?that would stay in system for 24hrs.
If its the 250 or 500 twice daily it will last for 12hours so hopefully should start to wear off soon.
I suggest you take no more until you contact GP first thing in the morning and they may change the antibiotic.
Clatithromycin is for some people hard on the digestive tract and generally more so than penicillins,but most people tolerate it well.I would not ignore those cramps and would discuss with GP. Particularly after a previous antibiotic.
Digestive issues are not normally a symptom of allergy to an antibiotic ,more usually just an adverse effect.It is important not to be incorrectly labelled as allergic to antibiotics as it limits future appropriate treatment.
I hope you feel better soon.

@Moviestar It's the 500mg twice daily dosage. It's finally wearing off but I should of taken my second dosage hours ago. Going to take it right before bed to hopefully try and sleep through the symptoms.

I found that decent high dose probiotics (capsules, not drinks) helps quite a lot with the gripes, and the diarrhoea, but does nothing for the nausea. Still, helping one end is worth it.