Klaricid

How does it work?

Klaricid tablets, suspension and injection all contain 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 duodenal 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.

What is it used for?

Bacterial infections of the lungs (lower respiratory tract), eg bronchitis, pneumonia

Bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract, eg 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 duodenal ulcers.

Warning!

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

Abnormal heart rhythm seen on the heart monitoring trace as a 'prolonged QT interval', or people at risk of this (your doctor will know).

Not to be used in

Allergy to other macrolide-type antibiotics, eg erythromycin

People taking pimozide, cisapride, terfenadine or ergot derivatives, eg ergotamine, dihdyroergotamine.

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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