Details

Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It fights bacteria in your body. Clarithromycin is used to treat many different types of bacterial infections affecting the skin and respiratory system. It is also used together with other medicines to treat stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori. To make sure clarithromycin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have liver disease kidney disease myasthenia gravis porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system) an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood) a family history of Long QT syndrome or if you take certain heart rhythm medicine.

Typical Uses

Clarithromycin is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. This medication can also be used in combination with anti-ulcer medications to treat certain types of stomach ulcers. It may also be used to prevent certain bacterial infections. Clarithromycin is known as a macrolide antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections. It will not work for viral infections (such as common cold, flu). Unnecessary use or misuse of any antibiotic can lead to its decreased effectiveness. If you are using clarithromycin to treat an infection, continue to take this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping clarithromycin too early may result in a return of the infection.

Side Effects

Some of the side effects of clarithromycin include headache with chest pain and severe dizziness, fast or pounding heartbeats, shortness of breath, fainting diarrhoea that is watery or bloody fever, swollen glands, body aches, flu symptoms, new or worsening cough skin rash, easy bruising or bleeding, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness problems with your hearing signs of a kidney problem-little or no urinating painful or difficult urination swelling in your feet or ankles feeling tired or short of breath or severe skin reaction-fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling. Older adults may be more likely to have heart rhythm side effects, including a life-threatening fast heart rate. Clarithromycin may also cause severe liver symptoms.

Drug Interactions

• Clarithromycin+apixaban- Talk to your doctor before using apixaban together with clarithromycin. Combining these medications can significantly elevate the blood levels of apixaban and increase the risk of bleeding. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.

• Clarithromycin+anisindione- Using clarithromycin together with anisindione may cause you to bleed more easily. You may need a dose adjustment based on your prothrombin time.

• Clarithromycin+brexpiprazole- Clarithromycin may increase the blood levels of brexpiprazole. This can make you more likely to develop side effects such as drowsiness, seizure, Parkinson-like symptoms, abnormal muscle movements, and low blood pressure. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.

• Clarithromycin+cerivastatin- Talk to your doctor before using cerivastatin together with clarithromycin. Combining these medications may significantly increase the blood levels of cerivastatin. This can increase the risk of side effects such as liver damage and a rare but serious condition called rhabdomyolysis that involves the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. In some cases, rhabdomyolysis can cause kidney damage and even death.

Mechanism of action

Clarithromycin belongs to class of medications called macrolide antibiotics. Clarithromycin stops the production of proteins inside the bacteria thereby stopping bacterial growth.

Pregnancy Category : C