Clarithromycin

Generic Name: Clarithromycin

Brand Names:

Availability: Available with Prescription

Drug Class: Macrolide antibiotics

Therapeutic action

  • Macrolide antibacterial

Indications

  • Eradication of Helicobacter pylori, in combination with omeprazole and amoxicillin

Forms and strengths

  • 500 mg tablet

Dosage and duration

  • Adult: 500 mg 2 times daily for 7 days

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

  • Do not administer to patients with allergy to clarithromycin or another macrolide.
  • Maycause:
    • headache, taste disturbances, insomnia, gastrointestinal disturbances, reversible hearing disorders;
    • heart rhythm disorders (QT prolongation);
    • hypersensitivity reactions sometimessevere (in this event, stop treatment immediately). 
  • Administer with caution and reduce dosage by half in patients with severe renal impairment. Avoid combination with drugs that prolong the QT interval: amiodarone, antimalarials, antipsychotics, efavirenz, fluconazole, fluoroquinolones, hydroxyzine, ondansetron, etc.
  • Administer with caution and monitor combination with: oral antidiabetics, atorvastatin, carbamazepine, daclatasvir, digoxin, phenytoin, rifabutin(increased plasma concentrations of these drugs).

Pregnancy: avoid (safety not established)

Breast-feeding: no contra-indication

Remarks

Clarithromycin is also used for the treatment of non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections.

Storage

-Below 25 °C