What is Clarithromycin?
Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic used to treat various types of bacterial infections.
This drug works by killing and stopping the growth of bacteria that cause infections.
So, it needs to be emphasized that this drug is not intended for diseases caused by viruses such as flu and colds.
- Group: Macrolide antibiotics.
- Category: Prescription drugs.
- Used by: Adults and children.
- Clarithromycin for pregnant women: Animal studies have shown side effects of clarithromycin on the fetus in the womb. However, there are no controlled studies in pregnant women. Consult your doctor first before using it.
- Clarithromycin for breastfeeding mothers: Clarithromycin can be absorbed into breast milk. Breastfeeding mothers should consult a doctor before taking clarithromycin.
- Drug form: Tablets.
Benefits of Clarithromycin
Clarithromycin can be used to treat certain bacterial infections such as:
1. Treating infections related to the lungs
Clarithromycin is used to treat lung infections ( pneumonia ), as well as infections of the airways leading to the lungs ( bronchitis ).
In addition, clarithromycin can also treat and prevent Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections, a type of lung infection that often attacks HIV sufferers.
2. Treating infections in the ear, nose, or throat
Clarithromycin can also be used to treat infections related to the ear, nose, and throat (ENT). Examples include ear infections, sinusitis, and throat infections.
3. Treat skin infections
Clarithromycin is an antibiotic to treat skin infections caused by bacteria. Usually, skin infections trigger symptoms such as rashes and redness.
In addition, clarithromycin is also often combined with other drugs to eliminate the Helicobacter pylori bacteria that cause skin ulcers.
4. Treating soft tissue infections
This antibiotic is also often recommended by doctors to treat soft tissue infections. Examples that often occur in tendons, muscles, and blood vessels.
5. Treating stomach ulcers
In some conditions, clarithromycin is widely prescribed to treat gastric ulcers caused by H. pylori bacteria. However, its use needs to be combined with other antibiotics or anti-ulcer drugs.
Antibiotics such as clarithromycin will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.
As a result, taking these antibiotics when they are not needed can increase a person’s risk of developing infections later on due to antibiotic resistance.
Clarithromycin Dosage
The dose of clarithromycin for each person will vary, depending on the symptoms and severity of the infection experienced.
However, in general, the doses needed to treat respiratory tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, and other bacterial infections, are:
- Adults: 250 milligrams twice daily. The dose may be increased to 500 milligrams twice daily if needed or in severe infections within 7-14 days.
- Children: 7.5 milligrams/kilogram of body weight for 5-10 days.
In addition to adults, bacterial infections also often occur in children.
Clarithromycin Drug Trademark
Here are a number of brands of clarithromycin drugs that you can find on the market:
- Bicrolid 250 mg 10 Caplets. Contains clarithromycin 250 mg to treat upper and lower respiratory tract infections, tonsillitis, acute maxillary sinusitis, acute middle ear inflammation, and uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections.
- Hecobac Caplet 500 mg. Contains clarithromycin 500 mg to treat respiratory tract infections, acute middle ear inflammation, skin and skin structure infections. Can be taken with food by swallowing whole.
- Abbotic 500 mg 10 Tablets. You can use it to treat upper and lower respiratory tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, and eradication of H. pylori.
- Comtro Dry Syrup 30 ml. Contains clarithromycin 125 mg in every 5 ml. This medicine is used to treat respiratory tract infections, tonsillitis, sinusitis, ear infections, and skin infections.
- Abbotic Forte 250 mg/5 ml Dry Syrup 50 ml. This antibiotic drug with clarithromycin content can help treat respiratory tract infections, acute otitis media, skin infections, and skin structures.
How to Use Clarithromycin
Before using this medication, be sure to follow your doctor’s directions and the usage information on the packaging carefully.
The following is the correct way to use clarithromycin:
- Clarithromycin medication can be taken with or without food.
- In children, the dosage will be determined based on kilograms of body weight.
- The medicine should be taken at the same time every day, to maximize its effect.
- It is important not to increase, decrease, or stop taking the medication without your doctor’s advice, even if symptoms have resolved.
- Make sure to continue taking this medication according to the time period specified in the doctor’s prescription. The goal is for optimal treatment of bacterial infections so that the use of clarithromycin can prevent recurrent infections.
- Contact a doctor if the condition does not improve.
Cautions in Using Clarithromycin
It is important to discuss with your doctor first before taking clarithromycin.
Especially related to medical conditions that you have had or currently have, such as:
- Kidney or liver disorders.
- Coronary artery disease.
- Severe heart failure.
- Low magnesium levels (hypomagnesemia).
- Symptoms of myasthenia gravis (breakdown of communication between nerves and muscles).
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding?
Clarithromycin Side Effects
Although rare, the use of clarithromycin also has the potential to cause side effects.
Here are some common side effects that may occur:
- Diarrhea.
- Nauseous.
- Vomit.
- Stomach ache.
- Indigestion.
- Bloated.
- Changes in taste on the tongue.
- Headache.
In addition to common side effects, there are also some serious side effects that require immediate medical attention, such as:
- Shortness of breath accompanied by chest pain.
- Pain or weakness in one side of the body, or slurred speech.
- Severe diarrhea with watery or bloody stools (up to 2 months after treatment).
- The appearance of a rash on certain areas of the skin.
- The skin experiences itching.
- Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs.
- Difficulty swallowing food or drink.
- The voice becomes hoarse.
- Peeling or blistering skin.
- Fever.
- The appearance of jaundice or yellowing of the skin and eyes.
- Extreme fatigue.
- Unusual bleeding or bruising.
- Loss of appetite.
- Upper right abdominal pain.
- Dark-colored urine.
- The appearance of flu-like symptoms.
- Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat.
If these side effects persist or get worse, contact your doctor immediately for care and treatment.
Clarithromycin Interactions
If clarithromycin is used together with certain drugs, this may cause drug interactions.
In addition to triggering side effects, drug interactions in the body can also reduce the effectiveness of drugs in treating disease.
Here are some interactions that can occur:
- Increased metabolism and decreased plasma levels of clarithromycin, when used concomitantly with strong inducers of the CYP450 system (e.g. efavirenz or rifampicin).
- Decreased drug effectiveness, if used together with CYP3A inducers (eg phenytoin or carbamazepine).
- Inhibition of clarithromycin metabolism, if used together with Ritonavir.
- Increased risk of toxicity, if used together with drugs for heart failure, such as Digoxin.
- Increased risk of hypoglycemia, if used concomitantly with oral hypoglycemic drugs, such as pioglitazone and insulin.
- Causes live vaccine bacteria if vaccinated or deimmunized during treatment with clarithromycin.
Contraindications of Clarithromycin
Clarithromycin medication is not recommended for consumption by people who have the following conditions:
- Liver dysfunction.
- History of ventricular cardiac arrhythmia.
- History of cholestatic jaundice or liver dysfunction associated with previous use of clarithromycin.