Clarithromycin (Systemic)
Brand Names : Biaxin
Before Using This MedicineIn 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
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