Clarithromycin (Systemic)

Brand Names : Biaxin

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For clarithromycin, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to clarithromycin or to any related medicines, such as erythromycin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Clarithromycin has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that clarithromycin causes birth defects and other problems. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - Clarithromycin passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - Studies on this medicine have not been done in children up to 6 months of age. In effective doses, the medicine has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in children over the age of 6 months than it does in adults.

Older adults - This medicine has been tested in a limited number of elderly patients and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking clarithromycin, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners) or
• Carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol) or
• Cisapride (e.g., Propulsid) or
• Digoxin (e.g., Lanoxin) or
• Pimozide (e.g., Orap) or
• Theophylline (e.g., Theodur, Slo-Bid) - Clarithromycin may increase the chance of side effects of these medicines; cisapride and pimozide should not be taken with clarithromycin

• Rifabutin (e.g., Mycobutin) or
• Rifampin (e.g., Rifadin) - Rifabutin or rifampin may decrease the amount of clarithromycin in the blood

• Zidovudine (e.g., Retrovir) - Clarithromycin may decrease the amount of zidovudine in the blood

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of clarithromycin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Kidney disease - Patients with severe kidney disease may have an increased chance of side effects