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Medications and Drugs

Brand Names: Biaxin, Biaxin XL, Biaxin XL-Pak

Generic Name: clarithromycin (Pronunciation: kla RITH roe MYE sin)

What is clarithromycin (Biaxin, Biaxin XL, Biaxin XL-Pak)?

Clarithromycin is in a group of drugs called macrolide antibiotics. Clarithromycin 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.

Clarithromycin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Biaxin 250 mg

oblong, yellow, imprinted with A KT

Biaxin 500 mg

oblong, yellow, imprinted with a KL

Biaxin XL 500 mg

oval, yellow, imprinted with aKJ

Clarithromycin 250 mg-ROX

round, white, imprinted with 54 271

Clarithromycin 250 mg-TEV

oval, yellow, imprinted with 7157, 93

Clarithromycin 500 mg-TEV

oval, yellow, imprinted with 7158, 93

Clarithromycin ER 500 mg-AND

oblong, orange, imprinted with Logo 777

What are the possible side effects of clarithromycin (Biaxin, Biaxin XL, Biaxin XL-Pak)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • uneven heartbeats, chest pain, shortness of breath;
  • diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
  • nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
  • fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or
  • problems with your hearing.

Less serious side effects may include:

  • mild stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach;
  • unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth;
  • tooth discoloration;
  • dizziness, headache, anxiety, confusion;
  • skin rash; or
  • vaginal itching or discharge.

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 is the most important information I should know about clarithromycin (Biaxin, Biaxin XL, Biaxin XL-Pak)?

Do not use clarithromycin if you are also using any of the drugs listed below. They can interact with clarithromycin and cause life-threatening heart rhythm disorders:

  • cisapride (Propulsid);
  • pimozide (Orap); or
  • ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), or dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray).

Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Clarithromycin is usually given for 7 to 14 days (or longer when treating stomach ulcer). Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Clarithromycin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking clarithromycin (Biaxin, Biaxin XL, Biaxin XL-Pak)?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to clarithromycin or to similar medicines such as azithromycin (Zithromax), dirithromycin (Dynabac), erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), or troleandomycin (Tao).

Do not use clarithromycin if you are also using any of the drugs listed below. They can interact with clarithromycin and cause life-threatening heart rhythm disorders:

  • cisapride (Propulsid);
  • pimozide (Orap); or
  • ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), or dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray).

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take clarithromycin:

  • liver disease;
  • kidney disease;
  • myasthenia gravis;
  • porphyria; or
  • a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome."

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether clarithromycin is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether clarithromycin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 6 months of age.

How should I take clarithromycin (Biaxin, Biaxin XL, Biaxin XL-Pak)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take this medication with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.

Clarithromycin tablets and oral suspension (liquid) can be taken 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 the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

Shake the oral suspension well just before you measure a dose. To be sure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Clarithromycin is usually given for 7 to 14 days (or longer when treating stomach ulcer). Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Clarithromycin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not keep the oral liquid in a refrigerator.

What happens if I miss a dose (Biaxin, Biaxin XL, Biaxin XL-Pak)?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose (Biaxin, Biaxin XL, Biaxin XL-Pak)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.

What should I avoid while taking clarithromycin (Biaxin, Biaxin XL, Biaxin XL-Pak)?

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

What other drugs will affect clarithromycin (Biaxin, Biaxin XL, Biaxin XL-Pak)?

Before taking clarithromycin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

  • a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
  • omeprazole (Prilosec);
  • fluconazole (Diflucan);
  • ranitidine bismuth citrate (Tritec);
  • sildenafil (Viagra);
  • theophylline (Respbid, Theo-Dur, Theoclear, Theochron, Uniphyl);
  • cholesterol-lowering medicines such as lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol), fluvastatin (Lescol), or atorvastatin (Lipitor);
  • drugs that weaken your immune system, such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf), sirolimus (Rapamune), tacrolimus (Prograf), or steroids;
  • heart rhythm medicine such as digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin), disopyramide (Norpace), or quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute);
  • HIV medicines such as ritonavir (Norvir) or zidovudine (Retrovir);
  • a sedative such as alprazolam (Xanax), midazolam (Versed), or triazolam (Halcion); or
  • seizure medications such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene).

This list is not complete and there are many other medicines that can interact with clarithromycin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about clarithromycin.

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

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2009 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 10.01. Revision date: 07/02/2009.

Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read,understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement,which can be accessed by clicking on this link.

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You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.



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