CLARITHROMYCIN

CLARITHROMYCIN (kla RITH roe mye sin) prevents and treats infections caused by bacteria. It belongs to a group of medications called antibiotics. It will not treat colds, the flu, or infections caused by viruses.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

Take this medication by mouth with water. Take it as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day. You can take it with or without food. If it upsets your stomach, take it with food. Take all of this medication unless your care team tells you to stop it early. Keep taking it even if you think you are better.
Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. While it may be prescribed for children for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

Do not take this medication with any of the following:
-Cisapride
-Dronedarone
-Elagolix
-Ergot alkaloids, such as ergotamine and dihydroergotamine
-Finerenone
-Flibanserin
-Gepirone
-Lonafarnib
-Lurasidone
-Naloxegol
-Pacritinib
-Pimozide
-Red yeast rice
-Some benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam or triazolam
-Some medications for blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heartbeat
-Some medications for cholesterol, such as lomitapide, lovastatin, simvastatin
-Some medications for fungal infections, such as fluconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole
-Some medications for headaches, such as eletriptan and ubrogepant
-Some medications for low sodium levels, such as conivaptan or tolvaptan
-Some medications for prostate problems, such as alfuzosin or silodosin
-Suzetrigine
-Thioridazine
-Voclosporin
This medication may also interact with the following:
-Calcium channel blockers, such as amlodipine, diltiazem, nifedipine, verapamil
-Cannabis
-Carbamazepine
-Colchicine
-Cyclosporine
-Digoxin
-Grapefruit and foods or drinks that contain grapefruit
-Other medications that cause heart rhythm changes
-Quetiapine
-Some antivirals for HIV or hepatitis
-Some medications for cholesterol, such as atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin
-Some medications for diabetes
-Some medications for erectile dysfunction, such as sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil
-St. John's wort
-Tacrolimus
-Theophylline
-Tolterodine
-Venetoclax
-Warfarin
This medication may affect how other medications work. Talk with your care team about all the medications you take. They may suggest changes to your treatment plan to lower the risk of side effects and to make sure your medications work as intended.

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.
This medication may cause serious skin reactions. They can happen weeks to months after starting the medication. Contact your care team right away if you notice fevers or flu-like symptoms with a rash. The rash may be red or purple and then turn into blisters or peeling of the skin. You may also notice a red rash with swelling of the face, lips, or lymph nodes in your neck or under your arms.
Do not treat diarrhea with over the counter products. Contact your care team if you have diarrhea that lasts more than 2 days or if it is severe and watery.
If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar carefully while on this medication.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
-Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
-Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing
-Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
-Rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes
-Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
-Severe diarrhea, fever
-Unusual vaginal discharge, itching, or odor
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
-Change in taste
-Confusion
-Diarrhea
-Dizziness
-Muscle weakness
-Nausea
-Stomach pain
-Vomiting

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Keep out of the reach of children and pets.
Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Protect from light. Keep the container tightly closed. Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date.
To get rid of medications that are no longer needed or have expired:
-Take the medication to a medication take-back program. Check with your pharmacy or law enforcement to find a location.
-If you cannot return the medication, check the label or package insert to see if the medication should be thrown out in the garbage or flushed down the toilet. If you are not sure, ask your care team. If it is safe to put it in the trash, empty the medication out of the container. Mix the medication with cat litter, dirt, coffee grounds, or other unwanted substance. Seal the mixture in a bag or container. Put it in the trash.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.