Clarithromycin (By mouth)

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Do not refrigerate or freeze the oral liquid.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Introduction

Clarithromycin (kla-rith-roe-MYE-sin)

Treats and prevents infections. This medicine is a macrolide antibiotic.

Brand Name(s)

Biaxin XL, Prevpac, Biaxin Filmtab, Biaxin

There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to clarithromycin, erythromycin (Ery-tab®) or other similar medicines (such as telithromycin Ketek®). Do not use this medicine if you also use astemizole, cisapride (Propulsid®), pimozide (Orap®), terfenadine, certain ergot medicines (such as dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, D.H.E. 45®, Ergomar®, Ergostat®, or Migranal®), or certain medicines to lower cholesterol (such as lovastatin, simvastatin, Altocor®, Mevacor®, or Zocor®). Do not use this medicine if you have a history of cholestatic jaundice or liver problems caused by clarithromycin. If you have kidney or liver disease, do not take both this medicine and colchicine (Colcrys®). Do not use this medicine if you have heart rhythm problems (such as arrhythmia or QT prolongation).

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, myasthenia gravis, diabetes, or a history of porphyria.
• Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach; pale stools; dark urine; loss of appetite; nausea; unusual tiredness or weakness; or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.
• If you have severe diarrhea, ask your doctor before taking any medicine to stop the diarrhea. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop using this medicine.
• Serious skin reactions can occur with this medicine. Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin; red skin rash; sores or ulcers on the skin; or fever or chills while you are using this medicine.
• Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor.
• Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for side effects.
• Use this medicine only to treat the infection your doctor has prescribed it for. Do not use this medicine for any infection or condition that has not been checked by a doctor. This medicine will not treat the flu or the common cold.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash
• Change in how much or how often you urinate
• Dark-colored urine or pale stools
• Diarrhea that may be bloody
• Fast, slow, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Muscle or joint pain
• Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or pain in your upper stomach
• Unusual bruising or bleeding
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Bad or unusual taste in your mouth
• Mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain
• Mild skin rash

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

How to Use This Medicine

Liquid, Tablet, Long Acting Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• Keep using this medicine for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon.
• Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.
• While taking the extended-release form of this medicine, part of the tablet may pass into your stools. This is normal and is nothing to worry about.
• Take the extended-release tablet (Biaxin® XL) with food. The Biaxin® tablet and oral liquid can be taken with or without food or with milk.
• Measure the oral liquid (Biaxin® Granules) with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup. Shake the medicine well just before you use it. Use the oral liquid within 14 days after you fill the prescription.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are use digoxin (Lanoxin®), itraconazole (Sporanox®), omeprazole (Prilosec®), ranitidine bismuth citrate (Tritec®), rifabutin (Mycobutin®), rifampicin (Rifadin®, Rimactane®), rifapentine (Priftin®), theophylline (Theo-Dur®), tolterodine (Detrol®), certain blood pressure medicine (such as amlodipine, diltiazem, verapamil, Calan®, Cardizem®, Isoptin®, Norvasc®, or Verelan®), medicine for heart rhythm problems (such as disopyramide, quinidine, Cardioquin®, Norpace®, or Quinaglute®), medicines to lower cholesterol (such as atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, Crestor®, Lescol®, Lipitor®, or Pravachol®), medicine to treat diabetes (such as insulin, nateglinide, pioglitazone, repaglinide, rosiglitazone, Actos®, Avandia®, Prandin®, or Starlix®), or a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®).
• Make sure your doctor knows if you also use medicine to treat HIV or AIDS (such as atazanavir, efavirenz, nevirapine, ritonavir, saquinavir, Norvir®, Reyataz®, Sustiva®, Tegretol®, or Viramune®), medicine for seizures (such as carbamazepine, hexobarbital, phenytoin, valproate, Depakene®, or Dilantin®), medicine to treat impotence (such as sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, Adcirca®, Cialis®, Levitra®, or Viagra®), medicine for nerves or sleeping (such as alprazolam, midazolam, triazolam, Halcion®, Versed®, or Xanax®), alfentanil (Alfenta®), bromocriptine (Parlodel®), cilostazol (Pletal®), cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®), methylprednisolone (Medrol®), tacrolimus (Prograf®), or vinblastine (Velban®).
• If you also take zidovudine (Retrovir®), take it at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take clarithromycin.