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Roxithromycin

 

Roxithromycin (generic Rulide) Review

generic name: Clarithromycin

What is clarithromycin?

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 purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Clarithromycin side effects

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:

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

Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

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

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect clarithromycin?

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

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

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect clarithromycin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, herbal products, minerals, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use clarithromycin, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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 should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking clarithromycin?

Do not use this medication if you are alleric to clarithromycin or to similar medicines such as dirithromycin (Dynabac), azithromycin (Zithromax), erythromycin (E.E.S., Surlid), Roxithromycin (Rulid, Erythrocin), Ery-Tab, E-Mycin, or telithromycin (Ketek). 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:

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

Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

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

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use clarithcomyin, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. 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.

What happens if I overdose?

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

Symptoms of a clarithromycin overdose may include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort.