Health Centres - Clarosip (clarithromycin)
How does it work?
Clarosip straws contains the active ingredient clarithromycin, which is a type of medicine known as a macrolide antibiotic. It is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. (NB. Clarithromycin is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.)
Clarithromycin works by preventing bacteria from producing proteins that are essential to them. Without these proteins the bacteria cannot grow, replicate and increase in numbers. Clarithromycin doesn't directly kill the bacteria, but leaves them unable to increase in numbers. The remaining bacteria eventually die or are destroyed by the immune system. This treats the infection.
Clarithromycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is active against a wide variety of bacteria that cause a wide variety of infections. Clarithromycin may be used to treat infections of the upper or lower airways, skin or soft tissue, or ears.
Clarithromycin is also used to eradicate a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) from the gut. The presence of these bacteria in the gut is associated with ulcers of the stomach and duodenum (an area of the intestine directly after the stomach). Eradicating H pylori from the gut allows peptic ulcers to heal and also helps prevent them recurring. Clarithromycin is used in combination with a proton pump inhibitor such as lansoprazole or omeprazole and the antibiotics metronidazole or amoxicillin for this purpose (triple therapy). Proton pump inhibitors reduce the production of acid in the stomach and help create an environment in the stomach in which the antibiotic can work more effectively against the bacteria. They also help the ulcer to heal.
To make sure the bacteria causing an infection are susceptible to clarithromycin your doctor may take a tissue sample, for example a swab from the throat or skin.
Clarosip drinking straws are single use straws that each contain a single dose of clarithromycin in granules. You put the lower end of the straw into a suitable drink and then sip the drink through the straw. This disperses the granules of medicine contained in the straw and you swallow them with the drink. The straw has a white controller that moves up the straw as you drink through it. When it reaches the top of the straw this indicates that the full dose has been taken. You should take all the dose at the same time - several sips of the drink may be needed.
Suitable drinks are clear fluids, for example lemonades, fruit juices (without pulp), tea, milk or water. Hot drinks above 40°C should be avoided. Carbonated (fizzy) drinks are preferable, as these can mask the sensation in the mouth caused by the granules. Full-fat milk (more than 3.5 per cent fat), milkshakes or drinks with particles should not be used, as they may clog the straw.
What is it used for?
- Bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract, eg tonsillitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis.
- Bacterial infections of the skin or soft tissue.
- Bacterial infection of the middle ear (otitis media).
- Eradicating Helicobacter pylori bacteria from the gut in people with peptic ulcers.
Warning!
- Follow the instructions provided with your Clarosip straws. When handling them avoid damaging the straws by squashing or pinching them. If you are unsure about anything ask your pharmacist.
- Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is important that you finish the prescribed course of this antibiotic medicine, even if you feel better or it seems the infection has cleared up. Stopping the course early increases the chance that the infection will come back and that the bacteria will grow resistant to the antibiotic.
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics can sometimes cause inflammation of the bowel (colitis). For this reason, if you get diarrhoea that becomes severe or persistent or contains blood or mucus, either during or after taking this medicine, you should consult your doctor immediately.
Use with caution in
- Decreased kidney function.
- Decreased liver function.
- Disturbances in the levels of electrolytes such as magnesium or potassium in the blood.
- Severe heart failure.
- Coronary artery disease, eg angina.
- Slow heart rate of less than 50 beats per minute.
- History of irregular heartbeats (ventricular arrhythmias).
- Abnormal heart rhythm seen on a heart monitoring trace as a 'prolonged QT interval', or people at risk of this (your doctor will know).
- People taking medicines that increase the risk of a 'prolonged QT interval' (see end of factsheet for more information).
-
Abnormal muscle weakness (myaesthenia gravis).
- Allergy to lincomycin or clindamycin.
Not to be used in
- Allergy to other macrolide-type antibiotics, eg erythromycin.
- People taking astemizole, pimozide, cisapride, terfenadine or ergot derivatives, eg ergotamine, dihdyroergotamine.
- People with low levels of potassium in their blood (hypokalaemia).
- Severe liver failure in combination with decreased kidney function.
- Children weighing less than 12kg or who are too young to use a drinking straw (other forms of clarithromycin are suitable for this age group - see links at end of factsheet for more information).
- Rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency (Clarosip straws contain a source of sucrose).
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- The safety of this medicine during pregnancy has not been established. It should not be used by pregnant women unless the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
- This medicine passes into breast milk but the effect on the nursing infant is unknown. It should not be used by breastfeeding women unless the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the nursing infant. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Label warnings
- Take at regular intervals. Complete the prescribed course unless otherwise directed.
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