Clarithromycin

What is clarithromycin?

Clarithromycin is a medicine called an antibiotic. Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent certain types of infections caused by the germs called bacteria.

You may hear clarithromycin called by its brand name, Biaxin. Clarithromycin comes as a tablet, a long-acting tablet and a liquid.

Before giving clarithromycin to your child

Tell your doctor if your child is allergic to clarithromycin, an ingredient in the formulation, or any other antibiotics belonging to the macrolide group. This includes erythromycin and azithromycin.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if your child has any of the following conditions. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• kidney disease
• liver disease
• heart disease
• myasthenia gravis (neuromuscular disease)
  
• seizures

How should you give your child this medicine?

Follow these instructions when you give your child clarithromycin:

• Give your child clarithromycin for as long as your doctor or pharmacist tells you, even if your child seems better. Talk to your child's doctor before you stop giving this medicine for any reason.
• Give your child clarithromycin at regular intervals and the same times every day, exactly as your child's doctor or pharmacist tells you. Pick times that are easy for you so that you do not miss doses.
• Your child may take clarithromycin tablets or liquid with or without food. Give clarithromycin with food if it upsets your child's stomach.
• If your child is taking the long-acting tablets, they should be swallowed whole and taken with food or milk, not on an empty stomach. Do not break, crush or chew them.
• If your child is taking liquid clarithromycin, shake the bottle well before you give your child the medicine. Measure the doses with the special spoon or syringe that the pharmacist gave you. Store the liquid at room temperature in a cool, dark place. Do NOT store in a refrigerator.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of clarithromycin?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child two doses to make up for one missed dose.

How long does clarithromycin take to work?

It may take several days for your child to start feeling better after starting this medicine. It may also take several further days before the full benefit is seen.

What are the possible side effects of clarithromycin?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take clarithromycin. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects, and they do not go away, or they bother your child:

• stomach upset, including mild diarrhea (watery bowel movements), cramps or discomfort, throwing up, heartburn or indigestion, feeling bloated or passing gas
• headaches
• change in the taste of food or drink

Call your child's doctor during office hours if your child has any of these side effects:

• mild skin rash or itchy skin

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to Emergency if your child has any of these side effects:

• problems breathing, wheezing or chest tightness
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
• severe nausea or vomiting (throwing up), severe diarrhea (watery bowel movements) or abdominal pain
• blistering, peeling skin or a severe skin rash
• skin or eyes turning yellow, pale-coloured stools or dark-coloured urine
• fast, slow or irregular heartbeat
• severe dizziness or fainting

What safety measures should you take when your child is using clarithromycin?

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with clarithromycin or in some cases the dose of clarithromycin or the other medicine may need to be adjusted. It is important that you tell your doctor and pharmacist if your child takes any other medications, including:

• antiepileptic medicines including carbamazepine, valproate, and phenytoin and phenobarbital
• heart medicines including digoxin and amiodarone
• warfarin
• antihistamines
• cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus
• theophylline
• cisapride, domperidone
• pimozide
• colchicine
• lovastatin, simvastatin
• ergotamine, dihydroergotamine

Check with your child's doctor or pharmacist before giving your child any other medicines (prescription, non-prescription, herbal or natural products).

Do not give grapefruit or grapefruit juice to your child while they are taking clarithromycin.

What other important information should you know about clarithromycin?

• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others and do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Make sure you always have enough clarithromycin to finish the prescribed course. Call your pharmacy at least 2 days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills if necessary.
• Keep clarithromycin tablets and liquid at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
  

Keep clarithromycin out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much clarithromycin, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.