Clarithromycin, Oral

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is taken by mouth to treat bacterial infections. Take it exactly as directed.
• If you develop severe diarrhea or diarrhea that lasts more than 2 or 3 days while taking this medicine, or for several weeks after you stop taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away.
• Keep all appointments for tests to see how this medicine affects you.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antibiotic

Generic and brand names: clarithromycin, oral; Biaxin Filmtabs; Biaxin XL Filmtabs; Biaxin Oral Suspension

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is an antibiotic taken by mouth to treat bacterial infections. This medicine will not cure viral infections such as colds and the flu.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• An irregular heart rhythm
• Colitis, Crohn's disease, or inflammatory bowel disease
• Kidney disease
• Liver problems
• Long QT syndrome (problems with electrical activity in the heart muscle)
• Low levels of magnesium or potassium in the blood
• Myasthenia gravis
• Porphyria (nerve pain or sensitivity to sunlight)

Do not take this medicine if you are taking lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), pimozide (Orap), or some medicines used for migraines such as Cafergot.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval, even if you feel better. If you stop taking it too soon, the infection may return. Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in children. Some brands should not be used in children under a certain age.

This medicine comes in regular tablets, extended release tablets, and liquid forms. You may take the regular tablets and liquid form with or without meals or milk. Take the extended release tablets with food. Do not break, crush, or chew the extended release tablets. Swallow them whole.

If you have the liquid form, shake the bottle well before pouring a dose. Use the measuring spoon, cup, dropper, or oral syringe that comes with the medicine, or ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen spoon because the dose may not be correct.

What if I miss a dose?

Do not miss any doses. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, ringing in the ears, loss of hearing, dizziness, weakness.

What should I watch out for?

Do not take this medicine for other infections unless your healthcare provider approves. Do not use it beyond the expiration date on the label.

Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve in a few days or if it gets worse.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

If you take this medicine for a long time, you may need to have lab tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

This medicine may cause or worsen diarrhea. If you develop severe diarrhea or diarrhea that lasts more than 2 or 3 days while taking this medicine, or for several weeks after you stop taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not take medicine to treat diarrhea without your provider's approval.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Blistering or peeling skin rash; chest pain; dark urine; fast or irregular heartbeat; light-colored bowel movements; severe stomach pain; severe, bloody or constant diarrhea; unusual bruising or bleeding; yellowing of the eyes or skin.

Other: Change in sense of taste; headache; loss of appetite; mild diarrhea; nausea; stomach cramps; vomiting.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Alpha blockers such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral), silodosin (Rapaflo), and tamsulosin (Flomax)
• Antianxiety medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), and triazolam (Halcion)
• Antiarrhythmic medicines (to treat irregular heartbeat) such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), disopyramide (Norpace), dofetilide (Tikosyn), dronedarone (Multaq), flecainide, ibutilide (Corvert), procainamide, propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine, and sotalol (Betapace, Sorine)
• Antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine, citalopram (Celexa), desipramine (Norpramin), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Tofranil), nefazodone, nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone, and venlafaxine (Effexor)
• Antifungal medicines such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and voriconazole (Vfend)
• Antipsychotic medicines such as asenapine (Saphris), brexpiprazole (Rexulti), chlorpromazine, clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo), haloperidol (Haldol), iloperidone (Fanapt), paliperidone (Invega), pimozide (Orap), quetiapine (Seroquel), risperidone (Risperdal), thioridazine, and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• Antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), and valproic acid (Depacon, Depakene, Depakote)
• Antiviral medicines such as elbasvir/grazoprevir (Zepatier), simeprevir (Olysio), and ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir/dasabuvir (Viekira)
• Artemether/lumefantrine (Coartem)
• Birth control pills
• Bromocriptine (Cycloset, Parlodel)
• Buspirone
• Calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Tiazac), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia), nisoldipine (Sular), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan)
• Cancer medicines such as abiraterone (Zytiga), arsenic trioxide (Trisenox), axitinib (Inlyta), bortezomib (Velcade), bosutinib (Bosulif), cabozantinib (Cometriq), ceritinib (Zykadia), crizotinib (Xalkori), dabrafenib (Tafinlar), dasatinib (Sprycel), docetaxel (Docefrez, Taxotere), doxorubicin (Doxil), enzalutamide (Xtandi), erlotinib (Tarceva), etoposide, everolimus (Afinitor, Zortress), idelalisib (Zydelig), imatinib (Gleevec), lapatinib (Tykerb), nilotinib (Tasigna), olaparib (Lynparza), pazopanib (Votrient), regorafenib (Stivarga), sorafenib (Nexavar), sunitinib (Sutent), tamoxifen, temsirolimus (Torisel), toremifene (Fareston), trastuzumab (Herceptin), vandetanib (Caprelsa), vemurafenib (Zelboraf), vinblastine, and vincristine (Marqibo)
• Cholesterol-lowering medicines such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lomitapide (Juxtapid), lovastatin (Altoprev), and simvastatin (Zocor)
• Colchicine (Colcrys)
• Dextromethorphan/quinidine (Nuedexta)
• Diabetes medicines such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Glynase), insulin, metformin (Fortamet, Glucophage, Riomet), pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide (Prandin), and rosiglitazone (Avandia)
• Digoxin (Lanoxin)
• Diuretics (water pills) such as amiloride, bumetanide, chlorothiazide (Diuril), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), spironolactone (Aldactone), torsemide (Demadex), and triamterene (Dyrenium)
• Doxepin (Silenor)
• Eplerenone (Inspra)
• Erectile dysfunction medicines such as avanafil (Stendra), sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn)
• Ergot medicines such as dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergotamine (Ergomar), and methylergonovine
• Flibanserin (Addyi)
• HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), rilpivirine (Edurant), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase), and zidovudine (Retrovir)
• Immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Astagraf, Prograf, Protopic)
• Ivabradine (Corlanor)
• Medicines to treat low sodium levels such as conivaptan (Vaprisol) and tolvaptan (Samsca)
• Medicines to treat or prevent blood clots such as anagrelide (Agrylin), apixaban (Eliquis), cilostazol (Pletal), ticagrelor (Brilinta), and warfarin (Coumadin)
• Methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)
• Methylprednisolone (Medrol, Solu-Medrol)
• Mifepristone (Korlym, Mifeprex)
• Migraine medicines such as almotriptan (Axert) and eletriptan (Relpax)
• Naloxegol (Movantik)
• Nausea medicines such as aprepitant (Emend), dolasetron (Anzemet), droperidol (Inapsine), ondansetron (Zofran), and prochlorperazine (Compro)
• Other antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), erythromycin (E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin), and telithromycin (Ketek)
• Paroxetine (Brisdelle, Paxil, Pexeva)
• Quinine
• Ranolazine (Ranexa)
• St. John's wort
• Suvorexant (Belsomra)
• Theophylline
• Zafirlukast (Accolate)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Do not store in the refrigerator. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light. Discard any unused liquid after 14 days because it loses its strength.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.