ballya_logo
What-are-the-side-effects-of-clarithromycin-500-mg

What are the side effects of clarithromycin 500 mg?

Posted on  January 12, 2021, Edited by Jason, Category  

What is clarithromycin?

1. Definition

Clarithromycin is a derivative of erythromycin. It was successfully developed by Taisho Corporation of Japan in the early 1990s and registered under the trade name Clarith. After that, Taisho first transferred its technology to Abbott of the United States for production. It was listed in Ireland and Italy in 1990. In October 1991, it was approved by the FDA as a new drug for the IB category. The brand name is Biaxin. In 1993, it was listed in Hong Kong, China as Klacid.

The brand name in Europe and Asia is Klaxian. It has been listed in many countries, and the market share has grown steadily, and it has played an important role in clinical practice. Clarithromycin has the characteristics of high efficiency, easy absorption by oral administration, and good acid stability. The drug has strong activity against gram-positive bacteria, stable to enzymes, and has a high concentration in serum and lung tissue. It is clinically proven that the in vivo activity is 6-10 times that of erythromycin and 14-35 times that of josamycin.

It is characterized by improved bioavailability, excellent distribution in tissues and cells, long half-life, and its adverse reaction rate is only 3%. It is used for the treatment of upper and lower respiratory tract and skin and soft tissue infections. It has become a replacement for erythromycin of macrolide antibiotics. In addition, the US FDA has approved the combination of clarithromycin and losec as a treatment plan for gastric and duodenal ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori; this drug is also the first choice for the treatment of infections in AIDS patients.

2. Pharmacological effects

Clarithromycin is a 14-membered ring macrolide antibiotic. The antibacterial spectrum is the same as that of erythromycin and roxithromycin, but the antibacterial effect on Gram-positive bacteria such as Streptococcus, pneumococcus, and staphylococcus is slightly better, and it also has certain effects on induced erythromycin-resistant strains.

Clarithromycin and its metabolites in the body have enhanced antibacterial effects on influenza bacilli. Clarithromycin also has a certain effect on Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Listeria, Campylobacter jejuni, and has a stronger effect on Legionella pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, etc. than erythromycin.

In addition, it has certain activity against Treponema pallidum, Mycobacterium avium and Toxoplasma murine, and most of them are better than other species. In addition to having a strong antibacterial effect on anaerobic cocci, the effect on Bacteroides fragilis is better than that of erythromycin. The effect of Clarithromycin on Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Influenza bacillus and other antibiotics is significantly stronger than erythromycin.

This drug is a macrolide antibiotic, and its mechanism is to inhibit the synthesis of protein by blocking the connection of the 50S subunit of the nucleoprotein to produce antibacterial effects. This drug has an inhibitory effect on Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, pneumococcus, etc., and against some Gram-negative bacteria such as Haemophilus influenzae, Bacillus pertussis, Gonorrhoeae, Legionella pneumophila and some Anaerobic bacteria such as Bacteroides fragilis, Peptostreptococcus, and Propionibacterium acnes.

In addition, it also has an inhibitory effect on mycoplasma. The characteristic of this medicine is that its antibacterial activity is similar to erythromycin in vitro, but its antibacterial activity against some bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, Haemophilus influenzae etc. is stronger than that of erythromycin. There is cross-resistance with erythromycin.

3. Main function

Because the antibacterial spectrum of clarithromycin is similar to that of erythromycin, the two can be used interchangeably in some ways. But different from erythromycin, clarithromycin has a much stronger effect on Streptococcus, Legionella, and Chlamydia trachomatis than erythromycin, especially Helicobacter pylori, which is simply used to eliminate it. Clarithromycin is also different from erythromycin. It can be taken orally directly. After taking it, the absolute bioavailability can reach about fifty. After taking it, the concentration of each organ is also different. Generally speaking, the concentration in the tonsils is higher than the concentration in the blood.

In general, clarithromycin can treat and relieve sensitive bacterial infections of the ear, nose, throat, lower respiratory tract, skin and soft tissues. For example, if there is acute otitis media, or urethritis, etc., this medicine can be used.

Clarithromycin uses

clarithromycin-uses
clarithromycin-uses

1. Indications

It is mainly used for upper and lower respiratory tract caused by sensitive bacteria, including tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc., skin and soft tissue infections, purulent furuncle, erysipelas, folliculitis, wound infections, etc. The curative effect is comparable to other macrolides. Clarithromycin can also be used for genitourinary tract infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis or Ureaplasma urealyticum, and atypical mycobacterial infections in AIDS patients.

2. Uses

The antibacterial spectrum is similar to erythromycin. It is stable to gastric acid and has a stronger effect on Gram-positive bacteria. It has antibacterial activity against some Gram-negative bacteria, Streptococcus, Mycoplasma and Chlamydia. It is effective against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Moraxella catarrhalis, Haemophilus influenzae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Clinically, it is mainly used for bronchitis, pneumonia, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, mycoplasma pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections, otitis media, periodontitis, whooping cough, scarlet fever.

Clarithromycin is a biochemical reagent, which plays a role in preventing microbial contamination and resistance screening in tissue culture. In addition, clarithromycin is a 14-membered ring macrolide antibiotic in remedies. The antibacterial spectrum is the same as that of erythromycin and roxithromycin, but the antibacterial effect on Gram-positive bacteria such as Streptococcus, pneumococcus, and staphylococcus is slightly better, and it also has certain effects on induced erythromycin resistant strain Antibacterial activity.

Clarithromycin and its metabolites in the body have enhanced antibacterial effects on influenza bacilli. Clarithromycin also has a certain effect on Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Listeria, Campylobacter jejuni, and Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, etc.

3. Clarithromycin dose

Adults take 250 mg every 12h, and the dose for severe patients can be increased to 500 mg every 12h; the course of treatment depends on the degree of infection, usually 7 to 14 days. If the creatinine clearance rate is less than 0.501ml/1.73 square meters, the dose is halved.

Children's dose: 7.5 mg/kg each time, 2 times a day, the highest dose does not exceed 500 mg per day. Mild cases: 250 mg each time, 500 mg each time for severe cases, once every 12 hours, and the course of treatment is 7-14 days. Children over 12 years old are counted as adults. Children under 12 should not use this medicine.

Clarithromycin side effects

clarithromycin-side-effects
clarithromycin-side-effects

1. Adverse reactions

Except that its eliminating inflammation, clarithromycin also has its own adverse reactions. The common ones are diarrhea, nausea, taste changes, indigestion, abdominal pain, etc. The general conditions are relatively mild; leukopenia, elevated alkaline phosphatase, and elevated bilirubin are common during medication; occasionally pseudomembranous enteritis and Pancreatitis can be seen; in some cases, clarithromycin may also cause ventricular arrhythmia and prolonged Q-T interval.

  • All macrolide drugs have serious adverse reactions such as QT interval prolongation, ventricular fibrillation, and torsade de pointes ventricular tachycardia. There are also reports of increased mortality in patients with heart disease after taking clarithromycin in clinical applications.
  • The most common adverse reactions of oral clarithromycin are gastrointestinal discomfort, headaches and changes in taste. Like other macrolide drugs, clarithromycin has also been reported to cause abnormal liver function. This abnormality can be serious, and there are very few reports of death due to liver failure.
  • The combination of clarithromycin and calcium channel blockers can cause acute kidney injury, and the drug interaction between clarithromycin and nifedipine is the most likely cause of renal failure. Although many studies have proved this adverse reaction, the interaction between clarithromycin and calcium channel blockers is often underestimated.
  • For sulfonylurea drugs, the most common adverse reaction is hypoglycemia. Elderly patients are susceptible to hypoglycemia. Clarithromycin is an inhibitor of liver drug enzyme CYP3A4, which can increase the blood concentration of glipizide by inhibiting the metabolism of glipizide and enhance its blood sugar lowering effect. The combination of the two drugs can cause severe hypoglycemia.
  • Concurrent use of clarithromycin and statins that are not metabolized by CYP3A4 (rosuvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin) in the elderly also has a high risk of hospitalization due to acute kidney injury, hyperkalemia or higher all-cause mortality.
  • Clarithromycin can clear the intestinal flora that can inactivate digoxin, thereby causing digoxin intestinal hepatic circulation, which can increase the blood concentration of digoxin and cause toxic reactions.

2. Contraindications

People who are allergic to macrolides, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, people with severe liver and kidney dysfunction, arrhythmia, bradycardia, prolonged QT interval, iron deficiency heart disease, congestive heart failure and water and electrolyte disorders should use it with caution. The product is mainly metabolized and excreted in the liver, so patients with liver insufficiency, severe renal insufficiency, and elderly people over 65 years old need to pay special attention to adverse reactions when using the drug.

Gastrointestinal dysfunction and systemic symptoms may be caused by overdose, and gastric lavage and supportive therapy can be given. Neither hemodialysis nor peritoneal dialysis can remove the product, so gastric lavage should be performed as soon as possible, and corresponding treatment should be given. It is forbidden for pregnant women (the concentration of Clarithromycin in animal embryos is 2-17 times that of human serum). Breastfeeding women should use it with caution (breastfeeding should be suspended).

3. Matters needing attention

  • Use with caution in patients with liver damage or moderate to severe renal damage.
  • For severely impaired renal function (creatinine clearance rate is less than 30ml/min), dose adjustment is required. The usual dose is 0.25g once, once a day; for severely infected patients, the first dose is 0.5g, and then 0.25g once, twice a day.
  • There is cross allergy and cross drug resistance between Clarithromycin and erythromycin and other macrolide drugs.
  • Like other antibiotics, serious infections caused by fungi or drug-resistant bacteria may occur. At this time, you need to stop using Clarithromycin and adopt appropriate treatment.
  • Clarithromycin can be taken orally on an empty stomach, or taken with food or milk. Taking it with food will not affect its absorption.
  • Blood or peritoneal dialysis cannot reduce the blood concentration of this product.
  • Clarithromycin in laboratory animals is toxic to embryos and fetuses. Clarithromycin is a class C drug used during pregnancy. Clarithromycin and its metabolites can enter breast milk. Pregnant women and lactating women should fully weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether to use it. If there are indeed indications for nursing women, breastfeeding should be suspended when applying this product.
  • Do not place the medicine in the reach of children.
  • Waste drug packaging should not be discarded randomly.

Conclusion

Clarithromycin is a derivative of erythromycin. It is highly effective, easy to absorb orally, and has good acid stability. In general, clarithromycin can basically replace erythromycin. But doctors still need to pay attention to the dosage and combination of clarithromycin, because if it is used improperly, it will put the patient in danger.

BALLYA provides a clarithromycin-rapid-test-dipsticks to tell you if there are clarithromycin residues in aquatic products you eat.

References

Recent Posts

FOOD SAFETYMYCOTOXIN TESTPESTICIDE TESTHONEY TESTMILK TESTEGG TESTLIQUID HANDLER
Proudly designed by BALLYA
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram