Q: My Husband is 31 year old. When he was 12 he suffered from Septic Tonsils. The problem relapsed again now. He has been prescribed CLARIWIN - 500 mg. What are the side effects of the drug and what are the precautions to be taken to avoid another relapse apart from surgery?

A:The diagnosis is acute tonsillitis. It is unlikely to be a relapse of the tonsillitis that he had when he was 12 years old. Clarithromycin (Clariwin 500) is a relatively safe drug. Possible side effects are upset stomach & rash. If you have any side effects you should consult a doctor. Precautions to avoid another relapse are that the antibiotic Clariwin should be taken for a minimum of 7-10 days.