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Clarithromycin

Generic name: clarithromycin [ kla-RITH-roe-MYE-sin ]
Brand names: Biaxin, Biaxin XL
Drug class: Macrolides

Medically reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD. Last updated on Mar 22, 2024.

What is clarithromycin?

Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body.

Clarithromycin is used to treat many different types of bacterial infections affecting the skin and respiratory system.

Clarithromycin is also used together with other medicines to treat stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori.

Warnings

Take clarithromycin for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics. This medicine will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to clarithromycin or similar antibiotics, if you have ever had jaundice or liver problems caused by taking this medicine, or if you have liver or kidney disease and are also taking colchicine.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact with clarithromycin, and some drugs should not be used together.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to clarithromycin or similar medicines such as azithromycin (Zithromax, Z-Pak, Zmax), erythromycin, or telithromycin, or if:

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with clarithromycin. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use any of the following drugs:

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

Clarithromycin may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

In animal studies, clarithromycin caused birth defects. However, it is not known whether these effects would occur in humans. Ask your doctor about your risk.

Clarithromycin can pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in the nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

This medicine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 months old.

How should I take clarithromycin?

Take clarithromycin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Do not use this medicine to treat any condition that has not been checked by your doctor. Do not share this medicine with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

You may take the regular tablets and oral suspension (liquid) with or without food.

Clarithromycin extended-release tablets (Biaxin XL) should be taken with food.

Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow it whole.

Shake the oral liquid well just before you measure a dose. Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Clarithromycin is usually given for 7 to 14 days. Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses can increase your risk of infection that is resistant to medication. Clarithromycin will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.

Store this medicine in the original container at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light.

Do not keep the oral liquid in a refrigerator. Throw away any liquid that has not been used within 14 days.

If your infection is treated with a combination of drugs, use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice.

prednisone, omeprazole, amoxicillin, pantoprazole, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, cephalexin, azithromycin, metronidazole, ceftriaxone

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

What to avoid

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Clarithromycin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to clarithromycin: (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).

Call your doctor at once if you have:

If you've ever had heart problems, clarithromycin may cause a heart attack or stroke years after you've taken this medicine. Seek medical attention right away if you have chest pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, trouble breathing, slurred speech, or sudden numbness or weakness on one side of your body.

Older adults may be more likely to have heart rhythm side effects, including a life-threatening fast heart rate.

Common clarithromycin side effects may include:

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect clarithromycin?

When you start or stop taking clarithromycin, your doctor may need to adjust the doses of any other medicines you take on a regular basis.

Clarithromycin can cause a serious heart problem, especially if you use certain medicines at the same time, such as antibiotics, antifungal medicine, antidepressants, anti-malaria medicine, asthma inhalers, antipsychotic medicine, cancer medicine, certain HIV/AIDS medicine, heart or blood pressure medicine, or medicine to prevent vomiting.

Many drugs can interact with clarithromycin, and some drugs should not be used together. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Does clarithromycin interact with my other drugs?

Enter other medications to view a detailed interaction report.

Popular FAQ

What is the best antibiotic to treat strep throat?

Penicillin or amoxicillin are considered the best first-line treatments for Strep throat. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) “ There has never been a report of a clinical isolate of group A strep that is resistant to penicillin”. For people with a penicillin allergy, treat Strep throat with either a narrow-spectrum cephalosporin (such as cephalexin or cefadroxil), clindamycin, azithromycin, or clarithromycin. Note that resistance to azithromycin and clarithromycin has been reported. Continue reading

Can Biaxin cause headaches?

Yes, Biaxin has been associated with the occurrence of headaches in clinical studies. It is a common side effect, occurring in about 1% to 10% of patients. Continue reading

More FAQ

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use clarithromycin only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.