Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of clarithromycin to treat bacterial infections in children younger than 6 months of age, and to prevent and treat Mycobacterium avium complex in children younger than 20 months of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established in these age groups.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of clarithromycin in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have severe kidney problems and heart rhythm problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving clarithromycin.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Alfuzosin
  • Alprazolam
  • Astemizole
  • Bepridil
  • Cisapride
  • Colchicine
  • Conivaptan
  • Dihydroergotamine
  • Domperidone
  • Dronedarone
  • Eletriptan
  • Eliglustat
  • Eplerenone
  • Ergotamine
  • Finerenone
  • Flibanserin
  • Fluconazole
  • Gepirone
  • Isavuconazonium Sulfate
  • Ivabradine
  • Ketoconazole
  • Levoketoconazole
  • Lomitapide
  • Lovastatin
  • Lurasidone
  • Maraviroc
  • Mavacamten
  • Mesoridazine
  • Naloxegol
  • Nelfinavir
  • Nimodipine
  • Pacritinib
  • Pimozide
  • Piperaquine
  • Posaconazole
  • Ranolazine
  • Saquinavir
  • Silodosin
  • Simvastatin
  • Sparfloxacin
  • Terfenadine
  • Thioridazine
  • Tolvaptan
  • Ubrogepant
  • Venetoclax
  • Voclosporin
  • Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Abametapir
  • Abiraterone Acetate
  • Acalabrutinib
  • Acecainide
  • Adagrasib
  • Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine
  • Afatinib
  • Ajmaline
  • Alfentanil
  • Amiodarone
  • Amisulpride
  • Amitriptyline
  • Amlodipine
  • Amprenavir
  • Anagrelide
  • Apalutamide
  • Apixaban
  • Apomorphine
  • Aprepitant
  • Aripiprazole
  • Aripiprazole Lauroxil
  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Artemether
  • Asciminib
  • Asenapine
  • Atazanavir
  • Atogepant
  • Atorvastatin
  • Avacopan
  • Avanafil
  • Avapritinib
  • Avatrombopag
  • Axitinib
  • Azithromycin
  • Bedaquiline
  • Belumosudil
  • Benzhydrocodone
  • Berotralstat
  • Betrixaban
  • Bictegravir
  • Boceprevir
  • Bosentan
  • Bosutinib
  • Bretylium
  • Brexpiprazole
  • Brigatinib
  • Bromocriptine
  • Budesonide
  • Buprenorphine
  • Buserelin
  • Buspirone
  • Cabazitaxel
  • Cabozantinib
  • Calcifediol
  • Cannabidiol
  • Capivasertib
  • Capmatinib
  • Carbamazepine
  • Cariprazine
  • Cenobamate
  • Ceritinib
  • Chloroquine
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Cholera Vaccine, Live
  • Cilostazol
  • Cinacalcet
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Citalopram
  • Clindamycin
  • Clofazimine
  • Clomipramine
  • Clothiapine
  • Clozapine
  • Cobicistat
  • Cobimetinib
  • Codeine
  • Copanlisib
  • Crizotinib
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Cyclosporine
  • Dabigatran Etexilate
  • Dabrafenib
  • Daclatasvir
  • Daridorexant
  • Darifenacin
  • Darolutamide
  • Darunavir
  • Dasatinib
  • Deflazacort
  • Degarelix
  • Delamanid
  • Desipramine
  • Deslorelin
  • Deutetrabenazine
  • Dexamethasone
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Diazepam
  • Dienogest
  • Digoxin
  • Dihydrocodeine
  • Diltiazem
  • Dipyrone
  • Disopyramide
  • Docetaxel
  • Dofetilide
  • Dolasetron
  • Dolutegravir
  • Donepezil
  • Doravirine
  • Doxepin
  • Doxorubicin
  • Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome
  • Droperidol
  • Drospirenone
  • Duvelisib
  • Ebastine
  • Edoxaban
  • Efavirenz
  • Elacestrant
  • Elagolix
  • Elbasvir
  • Elexacaftor
  • Encorafenib
  • Entrectinib
  • Enzalutamide
  • Eravacycline
  • Eribulin
  • Erlotinib
  • Erythromycin
  • Escitalopram
  • Estradiol
  • Eszopiclone
  • Etrasimod
  • Etravirine
  • Everolimus
  • Famotidine
  • Fedratinib
  • Felbamate
  • Felodipine
  • Fentanyl
  • Fesoterodine
  • Fexinidazole
  • Fingolimod
  • Flecainide
  • Fluoxetine
  • Fluticasone
  • Formoterol
  • Fosamprenavir
  • Fosaprepitant
  • Foscarnet
  • Fosnetupitant
  • Fosphenytoin
  • Fostamatinib
  • Fostemsavir
  • Futibatinib
  • Galantamine
  • Ganaxolone
  • Gatifloxacin
  • Gemifloxacin
  • Gilteritinib
  • Glasdegib
  • Gonadorelin
  • Goserelin
  • Granisetron
  • Grazoprevir
  • Halofantrine
  • Haloperidol
  • Halothane
  • Histrelin
  • Hydrocodone
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Hydroquinidine
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Ibrexafungerp
  • Ibrutinib
  • Ibutilide
  • Idelalisib
  • Ifosfamide
  • Iloperidone
  • Imatinib
  • Imipramine
  • Indinavir
  • Infigratinib
  • Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
  • Irinotecan
  • Irinotecan Liposome
  • Isoflurane
  • Istradefylline
  • Itraconazole
  • Ivacaftor
  • Ivosidenib
  • Ixabepilone
  • Ixazomib
  • Lapatinib
  • Larotrectinib
  • Lefamulin
  • Lemborexant
  • Lenacapavir
  • Leniolisib
  • Lenvatinib
  • Lercanidipine
  • Lesinurad
  • Leuprolide
  • Levamlodipine
  • Levofloxacin
  • Levomethadyl
  • Levomilnacipran
  • Linagliptin
  • Lofexidine
  • Loperamide
  • Lopinavir
  • Loratadine
  • Lorlatinib
  • Lumacaftor
  • Lumateperone
  • Lumefantrine
  • Lurbinectedin
  • Macimorelin
  • Macitentan
  • Manidipine
  • Mefloquine
  • Meperidine
  • Methadone
  • Methotrexate
  • Methotrimeprazine
  • Methylprednisolone
  • Metronidazole
  • Midazolam
  • Midostaurin
  • Mifepristone
  • Mirtazapine
  • Mirvetuximab Soravtansine-gynx
  • Mitapivat
  • Mitotane
  • Mizolastine
  • Mobocertinib
  • Modafinil
  • Moricizine
  • Morphine
  • Morphine Sulfate Liposome
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Nafarelin
  • Nafcillin
  • Naldemedine
  • Neratinib
  • Netupitant
  • Nifedipine
  • Nilotinib
  • Nintedanib
  • Nirmatrelvir
  • Nirogacestat
  • Nisoldipine
  • Norfloxacin
  • Octreotide
  • Ofloxacin
  • Olanzapine
  • Olaparib
  • Omaveloxolone
  • Omeprazole
  • Ondansetron
  • Osilodrostat
  • Osimertinib
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Oxycodone
  • Ozanimod
  • Palbociclib
  • Paliperidone
  • Palovarotene
  • Panobinostat
  • Papaverine
  • Paritaprevir
  • Paroxetine
  • Pasireotide
  • Pazopanib
  • Pemigatinib
  • Pentamidine
  • Pentazocine
  • Perphenazine
  • Pexidartinib
  • Phenobarbital
  • Phenytoin
  • Pimavanserin
  • Pipamperone
  • Pirtobrutinib
  • Pitolisant
  • Pixantrone
  • Ponatinib
  • Ponesimod
  • Prajmaline
  • Pralsetinib
  • Pravastatin
  • Praziquantel
  • Primidone
  • Probucol
  • Procainamide
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Progesterone
  • Promethazine
  • Propafenone
  • Protriptyline
  • Quetiapine
  • Quinidine
  • Quinine
  • Quizartinib
  • Reboxetine
  • Regorafenib
  • Relugolix
  • Repotrectinib
  • Retapamulin
  • Ribociclib
  • Rifabutin
  • Rifampin
  • Rifapentine
  • Rilpivirine
  • Rimegepant
  • Riociguat
  • Risperidone
  • Ritonavir
  • Rivaroxaban
  • Roflumilast
  • Rolapitant
  • Romidepsin
  • Ruxolitinib
  • Salmeterol
  • Samidorphan
  • Selpercatinib
  • Selumetinib
  • Sertindole
  • Sertraline
  • Sevoflurane
  • Sibutramine
  • Sildenafil
  • Simeprevir
  • Siponimod
  • Sirolimus
  • Sirolimus Protein-Bound
  • Sodium Phosphate
  • Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
  • Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
  • Solifenacin
  • Sonidegib
  • Sorafenib
  • Sotalol
  • Sparsentan
  • Sparteine
  • Spiramycin
  • St John's Wort
  • Sufentanil
  • Sulfamethoxazole
  • Sulpiride
  • Sultopride
  • Sunitinib
  • Suvorexant
  • Tacrolimus
  • Tadalafil
  • Talazoparib
  • Tamoxifen
  • Tamsulosin
  • Tazemetostat
  • Tedisamil
  • Telaprevir
  • Telavancin
  • Telithromycin
  • Telotristat Ethyl
  • Temsirolimus
  • Tenofovir Alafenamide
  • Tepotinib
  • Tetrabenazine
  • Tezacaftor
  • Theophylline
  • Thiotepa
  • Ticagrelor
  • Tivozanib
  • Tolterodine
  • Topotecan
  • Toremifene
  • Trabectedin
  • Tramadol
  • Trazodone
  • Tretinoin
  • Triazolam
  • Triclabendazole
  • Trimethoprim
  • Trimipramine
  • Triptorelin
  • Tucatinib
  • Ulipristal
  • Upadacitinib
  • Valbenazine
  • Valproic Acid
  • Vamorolone
  • Vandetanib
  • Vardenafil
  • Velpatasvir
  • Vemurafenib
  • Venlafaxine
  • Verapamil
  • Vilanterol
  • Vilazodone
  • Vinblastine
  • Vincristine
  • Vincristine Sulfate Liposome
  • Vinflunine
  • Vinorelbine
  • Vorapaxar
  • Voriconazole
  • Vorinostat
  • Voxelotor
  • Voxilaprevir
  • Warfarin
  • Zanubrutinib
  • Zidovudine
  • Zolpidem
  • Zotepine
  • Zuclopenthixol
  • Zuranolone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Acenocoumarol
  • Delavirdine
  • Glipizide
  • Glyburide
  • Linezolid
  • Nevirapine
  • Prednisone
  • Repaglinide
  • Tipranavir

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Cholestatic jaundice, history of or
  • Liver disease, history of—Should not be used in patients with these conditions caused by clarithromycin.
  • Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) or
  • Heart rhythm problems (eg, QT prolongation, torsades de pointes, ventricular arrhythmia), history of or
  • Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood), uncorrected or
  • Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood), uncorrected—Use is not recommended in patients with these conditions.
  • Decreased kidney function or
  • Porphyria (enzyme problem), history of—Clarithromycin together with ranitidine bismuth citrate should not be used in patients with these conditions.
  • Diarrhea or
  • Heart disease or
  • Liver disease or
  • Myasthenia gravis (severe muscle weakness)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Kidney disease or
  • Liver disease—Clarithromycin together with colchicine should not be used in patients with these conditions.
  • Kidney disease, severe—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.