Detailed Drug Information:

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Clarithromycin is a semi-syntheticmacrolide antibiotic chemically related to erythromycin. It is effectiveagainst a wide variety of bacteria organisms, such as Haemophilusinfluenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae,Staphylococcus aureus, and mycobacterium avium, and many others.

PREPARATIONS: Tablets: 250 mg, 500 mg. Suspension: 125 mg per 5ml teaspoonful, 250 mg per 5 ml teaspoonful.

STORAGE: Tablets and suspension should be stored at roomtemperature in a tightly closed container. The oral suspension should notbe refrigerated.

PRESCRIBED FOR: Clarithromycin is effective against susceptible bacteria causing infections of the middle ear, tonsillitis, throatinfections, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and skin infections. It isalso used in treating infections caused by mycobacterium avium, anorganism closely related to the bacteria that causes tuberculosis.Clarithromycin has been used in combination withPrilosec in treatingH. Pylori bacteria thatcauses stomach ulcers.

DOSING: May be taken with or without food.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Clarithromycin should be avoided by patientsknown to be allergic to clarithromycin or other chemically similarmacrolide antibiotics, such as erythromycin.Clarithromycin can significantly increase blood levels of the activemetabolite of terfenadine (Seldane)when these two medications are co-administered. Erythromycin, anothermacrolide antibiotic structurally similar to clarithromycin, has beenknown to interact with astemizole(Hismanal), loratadine (Claritin), bromocriptine, warfarin(Coumadin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), cyclosporine, digoxin(Lanoxin), disopyramide (Norpace), ergotamine,lovastatin (Mevacor),phenytoin (Dilantin),theophylline, triazolam (Halcion), and valproate to alter the blood levels of these medicines.Whether clarithromycin can interfere similarly with these medications isnot clearly established. Treatment with clarithromycin and otherantibiotics can alter normal bacteria flora of the colon and permitovergrowth of C. difficile, a bacteria responsible for pseudomembranouscolitis. Patients who develop pseudomembranous colitis as a result of antibiotics treatment can experience diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, andsometimes even shock. Safe use with children has not been established. Itis not habit forming.

PREGNANCY: Safe use in pregnancy has not been established.

SIDE EFFECTS: Clarithromycin is generally well tolerated, sideeffects are usually mild and transient. Commonly reported side effectsinclude nausea, diarrhea, abnormal taste, dyspepsia, abdominal pain andheadache.