Clarithromycin Oral
In Depth
- Uses and How to Use
- Dosage and Storage
- Precautions and Side Effects
- Drug Interactions
- Drug Images
Pronounced: (kla-RITH-row-MYE-sin)
Clarithromycin Oral Interactions
Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur:
- eletriptan
- eplerenone
- ergot alkaloids (e.g., ergotamine, dihydroergotamine)
- ivabradine
- quinupristin-dalfopristin
- ranolazine
- drugs which may affect the heart rhythm (cisapride, pimozide)
If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting clarithromycin.
Other drugs besides clarithromycin and those listed above that may affect the heart rhythm (QT prolongation) include amiodarone, dofetilide, quinidine, sotalol, moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, propafenone, thioridazine among others. Before using clarithromycin, report all medications you are currently using to your doctor or pharmacist. QT prolongation can infrequently result in serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (e.g., severe dizziness, fainting) that require immediate medical attention. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details and for instructions on how you may reduce the risk of this effect.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of:
- drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove clarithromycin from your body (such as rifamycins - including rifabutin and rifampin, and azole antifungals - including itraconazole and fluconazole)
- certain HIV medications (e.g., zidovudine, delavirdine, protease inhibitors such as atazanavir, ritonavir)
- certain anti-seizure medications (e.g., carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproate)
- "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin)
- colchicine
- digoxin
- live bacterial vaccines
- certain "water pills" (potassium-wasting diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide)
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