Complete adverse effect profile including incidence rates and management
Important Safety Information
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any unexpected symptoms. For serious or life-threatening side effects, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions are described below and elsewhere in the labeling: Acute Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] QT Prolongation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Serious Adverse Reactions Due to Concomitant Use with Other Drugs [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Clostridium difficile Associated Diarrhea [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Exacerbation of Myasthenia Gravis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Most frequent adverse reactions for both adult and pediatric populations in clinical trials: abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dysgeusia ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Sandoz Inc.
at 1-800-525-8747 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Based on pooled data across all indications, the most frequent adverse reactions for both adult and pediatric populations observed in clinical trials are abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and dysgeusia.
Also reported were dyspepsia, liver function test abnormal, anaphylactic reaction, candidiasis, headache, insomnia, and rash.
The subsequent subsections list the most common adverse reactions for prophylaxis and treatment of mycobacterial infections and duodenal ulcer associated with H.
pylori infection.
In general, these profiles are consistent with the pooled data described above.
Prophylaxis of Mycobacterial Infections In AIDS patients treated with clarithromycin over long periods of time for prophylaxis against M.
avium , it was often difficult to distinguish adverse reactions possibly associated with clarithromycin administration from underlying HIV disease or intercurrent illness.
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Severe Acute Hypersensitivity Reactions : Discontinue clarithromycin tablets if occurs ( 5.1 ) QT Prolongation : Avoid clarithromycin tablets in patients with known QT prolongation or receiving drugs known to prolong the QT interval, ventricular arrhythmia ( torsades de pointes ), hypokalemia/hypomagnesemia, significant bradycardia, or taking Class IA or III antiarrhythmics ( 5.2 ) Hepatotoxicity : Discontinue if signs and symptoms of hepatitis occur ( 5.3 ) Serious adverse reactions can occur due to drug interactions of clarithromycin tablets with colchicine, some lipid-lowering agents, some calcium channel blockers, and other drugs ( 5.4 ) Risk of all-cause mortality one year or more after the end of treatment in patients with coronary artery disease.
Balance this potential risk with the treatment benefits when prescribing clarithromycin tablets in these patients ( 5.5 ) Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) : Evaluate if diarrhea occurs ( 5.6 ) Embryo-Fetal Toxicity : Based on animal findings, clarithromycin tablets is not recommended for use in pregnant women except in clinical circumstances where no alternative therapy is appropriate ( 5.7 ) Exacerbation of myasthenia gravis has been reported in patients receiving clarithromycin tablets therapy ( 5.8 ) 5.1 Severe Acute Hypersensitivity Reactions In the event of severe acute hypersensitivity reactions, such as anaphylaxis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Henoch-Schonlein purpura, and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, discontinue clarithromycin tablets therapy immediately and institute appropriate treatment.
5.2 QT Prolongation Clarithromycin tablets have been associated with prolongation of the QT interval and infrequent cases of arrhythmia.
Cases of torsades de pointes have been spontaneously reported during postmarketing surveillance in patients receiving clarithromycin tablets.
Fatalities have been reported.
Like all medications, Clarithromycin can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes this medication will experience them. Many side effects are dose-dependent and may improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Others may require dose adjustment or medical attention.
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you experience:
Seek immediate emergency medical care if you experience signs of: