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Clarithromycin

Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic used to treat mild to moderate bacterial infections of the lungs, sinuses, throat, skin and ears, certain mycobacterial infections in people with advanced HIV, and H. pylori infection linked to duodenal ulcers.

Brand names Biaxin FilmtabBiaxin GranulesBiaxin XL FilmtabBiaxin XL PacBiaxin
Drug class Macrolide Antimicrobial
Rx Forms 3
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 51 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Oct 5, 2026
Clarithromycin at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic, on the market since about 1991 and available as a generic, used only against bacterial infections of the lungs, sinuses, throat, skin and ears and in combination treatment for H. pylori, the stomach bacterium linked to duodenal ulcers. It is a familiar option for people who cannot take penicillin. Most people tolerate it reasonably well, and the usual complaints are stomach upset, diarrhea and a bitter, lingering taste. The real watch-out is interactions, because it boosts the effects of many other medicines and can affect heart rhythm (QT prolongation) and the liver, so give your pharmacist your full medication list.

Clinical pearls

  • Extended-release tablets are taken once daily with food and must be swallowed whole, never chewed, broken or crushed.
  • Simvastatin and lovastatin must never be combined with clarithromycin because of serious muscle damage, so flag any statin before starting.
  • Colchicine for gout and warfarin both become riskier with it, so expect dose changes or extra INR blood checks.
  • Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or a tender belly can signal liver injury, so stop it and call your doctor.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
How you get itPrescription only
Comes asTablet, Extended-release tablet, Oral suspension
Earliest FDA record1991
Companies listing it with the FDA24
FDA label last updatedJul 1, 2026
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)None on the label

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Clarithromycin, written from its FDA label.

What Clarithromycin is used for

▾

Clarithromycin is used for mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible bacteria.

  • Flare-ups of chronic bronchitis caused by bacteria (adults)
  • Acute sinus infection (maxillary sinusitis)
  • Community-acquired pneumonia
  • Strep throat and tonsillitis, as an alternative when first-line treatment cannot be used (tablets and oral suspension)
  • Uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections (tablets and oral suspension)
  • Middle ear infection (acute otitis media) in children (tablets and oral suspension)
  • Treatment and prevention of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection in people with advanced HIV (tablets and oral suspension)
  • H. pylori infection and duodenal ulcer disease in adults, in combination with other drugs (tablets only)
  • Extended-release tablets are approved only for chronic bronchitis flare-ups, sinus infection and community-acquired pneumonia in adults

How Clarithromycin works

▾

Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It acts against susceptible bacteria and spreads well into tissues, where it can reach higher levels than in the blood.

Some bacteria, including certain Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus, are resistant to macrolides. Your doctor may order testing when needed.

Clarithromycin dosage

▾

Clarithromycin is taken by mouth as tablets, extended-release tablets, or a liquid suspension. Tablets and suspension are usually taken every 12 hours, while extended-release tablets are taken once daily.

  • Tablets can be taken with or without food.
  • Extended-release tablets should be taken with food and swallowed whole.
  • Follow your prescriber's directions for how much to take and for how long. Complete the course as prescribed.

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Clarithromycin prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • Acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (adults)
    • 250 to 500 mg every 12 hours for 7-14 days
    • For M. catarrhalis and S. pneumoniae use 250 mg; for H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae use 500 mg; for H. parainfluenzae duration is 7 days
  • Acute maxillary sinusitis (adults)
    • 500 mg every 12 hours for 14 days
  • Community-acquired pneumonia (adults)
    • 250 mg every 12 hours for 7-14 days
    • For H. influenzae the duration is 7 days; for H. parainfluenzae and M. catarrhalis use extended-release tablets only
  • Pharyngitis/Tonsillitis (adults)
    • 250 mg every 12 hours for 10 days
  • Uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections (adults)
    • 250 mg every 12 hours for 7-14 days
  • H. pylori eradication with amoxicillin and omeprazole or lansoprazole (adults)
    • 500 mg every 12 hours for 10-14 days (500 mg clarithromycin with 30 mg lansoprazole and 1 gram amoxicillin every 12 hours for 10 or 14 days
    • Or with 20 mg omeprazole and 1 gram amoxicillin every 12 hours for 10 days)
    • With an ulcer present at start, an additional 18 days of omeprazole 20 mg once daily is recommended with the omeprazole triple therapy
  • H. pylori eradication with omeprazole, dual therapy (adults)
    • 500 mg clarithromycin every 8 hours with 40 mg omeprazole once every morning for 14 days
    • An additional 14 days of omeprazole 20 mg once daily is recommended for ulcer healing and symptom relief
  • Mycobacterial infections, treatment and prophylaxis (adults)
    • 500 mg every 12 hours
    • Continue if clinical response is observed; use with other antimycobacterial drugs for MAC treatment
  • Pediatric patients
    • 15 mg/kg/day divided every 12 hours for 10 days
    • Maximum: up to the adult dose
  • Mycobacterial infections, treatment and prophylaxis (pediatric patients)
    • 7.5 mg/kg every 12 hours
    • Maximum: 500 mg every 12 hours
Read the label’s full dosing text

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Adults: clarithromycin 250 mg or 500 mg every 12 hours for 7–14 days (2.2) Adults: H. pylori eradication (in combination with lansoprazole/amoxicillin, omeprazole/amoxicillin, or omeprazole): clarithromycin 500 mg every 8 or 12 hours for 10–14 days. See full prescribing information (FPI) for additional information. (2.3) Pediatric Patients: clarithromycin 15 mg/kg/day divided every 12 hours for 10 days (2.4) Mycobacterial Infections: clarithromycin 500 mg every 12 hours; clarithromycin 7.5 mg/kg up to 500 mg every 12 hours in pediatric patients (2.5) Reduce dose in moderate renal impairment with concomitant atazanavir or ritonavir-containing regimens and in severe renal impairment (2.6) 2.1 Important Administration Instructions Clarithromycin tablets may be given with or without food. 2.2 Adult Dosage The recommended dosages of clarithromycin for the treatment of mild to moderate infections in adults are listed in Table 1. Table 1. Adult Dosage Guidelines Clarithromycin tablets Infection Dosage (every 12 hours) Duration (days) Acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis 250 to 500 mg a 7 b -14 Acute maxillary sinusitis 500 mg 14 Community-acquired pneumonia 250 mg c 7 d -14 Pharyngitis/Tonsillitis 250 mg 10 Uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections 250 mg 7-14 Treatment and prophylaxis of disseminated Mycobacterium avium disease [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ] 500 mg e - H.pylori eradication to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence with amoxicillin and omeprazole or lansoprazole [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] 500 mg 10-14 H.pylori eradication to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence with omeprazole [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] 500 mg every 8 hours 14 a For M. catarrhalis and S. pneumoniae use 250 mg. For H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae , use 500 mg. b For H. parainfluenzae , the duration of therapy is 7 days. c For H. parainfluenzae and M. catarrhalis use clarithromycin extended-release tablets only. d For H. influenzae , the duration of therapy is 7 days. e Clarithromycin therapy should continue if clinical response is observed. Clarithromycin can be discontinued when the patient is considered at low risk of disseminated infection. 2.3 Combination Dosing Regimens for H.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Clarithromycin side effects

▾

The most common side effects involve the digestive system and taste.

Common side effects

  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Altered or bad taste (dysgeusia)
  • Indigestion
  • Headache
  • Rash
  • Abnormal liver tests and yeast infections (candidiasis) have also been reported

When to get medical help

  • Get emergency help for signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing, swelling, or a severe blistering skin rash.
  • Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems: loss of appetite, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, itching, or a tender belly.
  • Seek help if you have a racing, pounding or irregular heartbeat, or you faint. Clarithromycin can affect heart rhythm (QT prolongation).
  • Call your doctor if you have diarrhea that is severe, watery or bloody. This can happen during treatment or even up to two months after it ends.
  • Tell your doctor if you have myasthenia gravis and your muscle weakness gets worse.
  • Seek help if you take colchicine and develop signs of toxicity. Interactions can be life-threatening.

Clarithromycin warnings and precautions

▾
  • Drug interactions can be serious and even fatal. Several medicines must not be combined with clarithromycin.
  • Heart rhythm: it can prolong the QT interval and cause dangerous arrhythmias. Older adults may be more susceptible.
  • Liver: hepatitis and liver failure have been reported. Stop and call your doctor if symptoms appear.
  • Allergic reactions: severe reactions, including skin reactions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome, require stopping the drug immediately.
  • C. difficile diarrhea can occur during or up to two months after treatment.
  • Myasthenia gravis symptoms may worsen.
  • Pregnancy: avoid unless there is no alternative.

Clarithromycin interactions

▾

Clarithromycin strongly inhibits an enzyme (CYP3A4) that breaks down many medicines, so levels of other drugs can rise.

  • Cisapride, pimozide, ergot medicines, lomitapide, lurasidone, lovastatin and simvastatin: contraindicated
  • Colchicine: life-threatening toxicity possible
  • Warfarin: higher bleeding risk
  • Diabetes medicines and insulin: low blood sugar
  • Calcium channel blockers: low blood pressure and kidney injury
  • Digoxin, theophylline, carbamazepine, quetiapine, and certain benzodiazepines: higher levels or stronger effects
  • Sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil: not recommended together
  • Rifampicin, rifabutin, efavirenz, nevirapine: may lower clarithromycin effectiveness
  • QT-prolonging drugs and some heart rhythm medicines: avoid

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Clarithromycin prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • Theophylline: May increase serum theophylline concentrations. Consider monitoring serum theophylline concentrations in patients on high doses or with baseline concentrations in the upper therapeutic range.
  • Verapamil: Hypotension, bradyarrhythmias, and lactic acidosis have been observed with concurrent use.
  • Carbamazepine: Increases plasma concentrations of carbamazepine. Blood level monitoring of carbamazepine may be considered.
  • Terfenadine: Plasma concentrations of the active acid metabolite of terfenadine were threefold higher on average. Concomitant administration is contraindicated.
  • Omeprazole: Steady-state omeprazole concentrations increased (Cmax 30%, AUC0-24 89%, t½ 34%).
  • Zidovudine: May decrease steady-state zidovudine concentrations. Administration of clarithromycin and zidovudine should be separated by at least two hours.
  • Ritonavir: Clarithromycin AUC increased 77% and 14-OH clarithromycin AUC decreased 100%. Doses of clarithromycin greater than 1000 mg per day should not be co-administered with protease inhibitors; consider alternative antibacterial therapy for indications other than MAC.
  • Oral anticoagulants: May potentiate the effects of the oral anticoagulants. Prothrombin times should be carefully monitored.
  • Digoxin: Inhibition of Pgp may increase digoxin exposure, with reports of elevated serum concentrations and signs of digoxin toxicity including potentially fatal arrhythmias. Consider monitoring serum digoxin concentrations.
  • Colchicine: Colchicine Cmax increased 197% and AUC0-∞ increased 239%. Reduce colchicine dose in patients with normal renal and hepatic function; contraindicated in patients with renal or hepatic impairment.
Read the label’s full interactions text

Drug Interactions Clarithromycin use in patients who are receiving theophylline may be associated with an increase of serum theophylline concentrations. Monitoring of serum theophylline concentrations should be considered for patients receiving high doses of theophylline or with baseline concentrations in the upper therapeutic range. In two studies in which theophylline was administered with clarithromycin (a theophylline sustained-release formulation was dosed at either 6.5 mg/kg or 12 mg/kg together with 250 or 500 mg q12h clarithromycin), the steady-state levels of C max , C min , and the area under the serum concentration time curve (AUC) of theophylline increased about 20%. Hypotension, bradyarrhythmias, and lactic acidosis have been observed in patients receiving concurrent verapamil, belonging to the calcium channel blockers drug class. Concomitant administration of single doses of clarithromycin and carbamazepine has been shown to result in increased plasma concentrations of carbamazepine. Blood level monitoring of carbamazepine may be considered. When clarithromycin and terfenadine were coadministered, plasma concentrations of the active acid metabolite of terfenadine were threefold higher, on average, than the values observed when terfenadine was administered alone. The pharmacokinetics of clarithromycin and the 14-OH-clarithromycin were not significantly affected by coadministration of terfenadine once clarithromycin reached steady-state conditions. Concomitant administration of clarithromycin with terfenadine is contraindicated (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ). Clarithromycin 500 mg every 8 hours was given in combination with omeprazole 40 mg daily to healthy adult subjects. The steady-state plasma concentrations of omeprazole were increased (C max , AUC 0-24 , and t ½ increases of 30%, 89%, and 34%, respectively), by the concomitant administration of clarithromycin.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

🌿196 supplements and herbs with documented Clarithromycin interactions, ranked by severity Check Clarithromycin against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Clarithromycin

▾
  • Allergy to clarithromycin, erythromycin or other macrolides
  • Prior liver problems or jaundice from clarithromycin
  • Heart rhythm problems, slow heartbeat, low potassium or magnesium
  • Kidney or liver disease, especially with colchicine or certain other medicines
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Pregnancy: use only if no alternative; breastfeeding: small amounts pass into milk
  • Children under 6 months: safety and effectiveness not established
  • Older adults: higher risk of heart rhythm effects

Clarithromycin overdose

▾

Too much clarithromycin can cause stomach symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. Treatment is to remove unabsorbed drug and provide supportive care. Dialysis is not expected to lower clarithromycin levels much. If you suspect an overdose, contact poison control or emergency services.

How your body processes Clarithromycin

▾

Clarithromycin is absorbed quickly from the gut, and about half of a tablet dose reaches the bloodstream. Peak levels occur within a few hours. Food does not change how much is absorbed, which is why the tablets can be taken with or without food. It spreads into tissues, is converted to an active metabolite, and is cleared partly by the kidneys. Its half-life is roughly 3 to 7 hours depending on the dose.

How to store Clarithromycin

▾

Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) . Dispense in a tight container as described in the USP. Protect from light.

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

196

Supplements & herbs that interact with Clarithromycin

196 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Clarithromycin in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 9
  • Moderate · 146
  • Minor · 41
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major AMERICAN HELLEBORE Major ARSENIC Major CESIUM Major EPHEDRA Major GRAPEFRUIT Major OLEANDER Major SIDA CORDIFOLIA Major +188 more
Every supplement checked against Clarithromycin — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 9 major · 146 moderate · 41 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Clarithromycin against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

7

Nutrient depletion considerations

Clarithromycin has been associated with lower levels of 7 nutrients in the clinical literature. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these may be worth discussing with your pharmacist or healthcare provider, especially with long-term use.

Evidence & significance mix
  • Higher significance · 6
  • Moderate · 1
BIOTIN Insignificant Depletion FOLIC ACID Insignificant Depletion RIBOFLAVIN Insignificant Depletion THIAMINE Insignificant Depletion VITAMIN B12 Insignificant Depletion VITAMIN B6 Insignificant Depletion VITAMIN K Moderate Depletion
See the full Clarithromycin nutrient depletion report

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — not medical advice. Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

Clarithromycin: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Clarithromycin — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What is clarithromycin used for?

▾
It is an antibiotic for mild to moderate bacterial infections, such as bronchitis flare-ups, sinus infections, pneumonia, throat, skin and ear infections. Some forms are also used for H. pylori. It will not help colds or the flu, which are caused by viruses.

How should I take it?

▾
Take it by mouth exactly as your prescriber directed. Tablets can be taken with or without food. Extended-release tablets should be taken with food and swallowed whole. Finish the full course even if you feel better.

What side effects are normal?

▾
Stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, belly pain, headache and a strange taste in your mouth are the most common. Call your doctor if you get a severe rash, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, a fast or irregular heartbeat, or severe watery diarrhea.

Can I take it with my other medicines?

▾
It interacts with many drugs, so give me your full list. Some, like simvastatin, lovastatin, colchicine in certain people, and pimozide, should not be combined with it. Blood thinners like warfarin and diabetes medicines may need closer monitoring.

Is it safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

▾
It is generally avoided in pregnancy unless there is no suitable alternative, so tell your doctor if you are or may be pregnant. Small amounts pass into breast milk, so talk with your doctor about whether it is right for you.

Is Clarithromycin available over the counter?

▾
No. Clarithromycin is a prescription medicine: every Clarithromycin product listed with the FDA is prescription only, so it is not sold over the counter. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your pharmacist dispenses it.

When was Clarithromycin first available?

▾
The earliest FDA record we hold for Clarithromycin is from 1991: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Clarithromycin was first used.

Who makes Clarithromycin?

▾
24 companies currently list Clarithromycin products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including A-S Medication Solutions, PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Proficient Rx LP. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Clarithromycin on HelloPharmacist

📊Clarithromycin supplement interactions196 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerClarithromycin vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Clarithromycin NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Clarithromycin Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Clarithromycin forms and strengths (how it comes)

Clarithromycin is available in 3 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Need a version that does not list lactose, a gluten source, a dye or gelatin? Inactive ingredients differ by manufacturer: see Clarithromycin inactive ingredients by manufacturer.

Tablet

By mouth
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Clarithromycin tablets treat mild to moderate infections of the lungs, sinuses, throat, skin and ears, and certain mycobacterial infections in people with advanced HIV.
  • Clarithromycin tablets are also used with other drugs in adults to eradicate H. pylori in people with duodenal ulcer disease.
Important instructions
  • Clarithromycin tablets may be taken with or without food.
  • Clarithromycin tablets are generally taken every 12 hours for most infections; some H. pylori regimens differ. Follow your prescriber's directions.
Available strengths 2 strengths
250 mg 500 mg
91 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Extended-release tablet

By mouth
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Clarithromycin extended-release tablets are for adults only, for bacterial flare-ups of chronic bronchitis, acute sinus infection, and community-acquired pneumonia.
Important instructions
  • Clarithromycin extended-release tablets should be taken with food.
  • Swallow Clarithromycin extended-release tablets whole. Do not chew, break or crush them.
  • Clarithromycin extended-release tablets are taken once every 24 hours.
Available strengths 1 strength
500 mg
10 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Oral suspension

By mouth
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Clarithromycin oral suspension treats mild to moderate infections of the lungs, sinuses, throat, skin and ears, and certain mycobacterial infections in people with advanced HIV.
  • Clarithromycin oral suspension is not listed for H. pylori infection.
Available strengths 2 strengths
125 mg/5 mL 250 mg/5 mL
7 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Clarithromycin on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Clarithromycin appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

24 companies list 54 Clarithromycin product records with the FDA, mostly as tablet, extended-release tablet, oral suspension; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1991. Brand names on the directory include Biaxin Filmtab, Biaxin Granules, Biaxin XL Filmtab and 2 more; the rest are generics.

3
Dose forms ⓘ
24
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
1
Brand names
54
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1991
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (11) · Pellet (1) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

A-S Medication Solutions7%
PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.7%
Proficient Rx LP7%
Sandoz Inc7%
Sportpharm LLC7%
Chartwell RX, LLC.6%
Other makers57%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Clarithromycin is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Clarithromycin is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Clarithromycin is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

119,512
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$5.1M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Clarithromycin prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Clarithromycin ranks #483 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 70% of them.

Where Clarithromycin ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #483 of 1,601
#478 Olanzapine and Samidor... 123,672 Rx #479 Mometasone Oral Inhala... 120,997 Rx #480 Paricalcitol 120,979 Rx #481 Risperidone Injection 120,886 Rx #482 Testosterone Transderm... 120,370 Rx #483 Clarithromycin 119,512 Rx #484 Azathioprine 118,943 Rx #485 Clonidine Transdermal... 118,585 Rx #486 Pseudoephedrine 118,552 Rx #487 Rifaximin 118,294 Rx #488 Modafinil 117,062 Rx

Utilization by Clarithromycin product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 500 mg oral tablet is the most-dispensed Clarithromycin product — about 86% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

clarithromycin 500 MG Oral Tablet Most dispensed

102,558 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 86% of Clarithromycin prescriptions shown $2.6M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $25 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 7 of 157 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 197517

clarithromycin 50 MG/ML Oral Suspension

10,511 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 9% of Clarithromycin prescriptions shown $2.2M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $209 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 3 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 309322

clarithromycin 250 MG Oral Tablet

4,491 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 4% of Clarithromycin prescriptions shown $95,879 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $21 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 4 of 44 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 197516

clarithromycin 25 MG/ML Oral Suspension

1,588 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 1% of Clarithromycin prescriptions shown $212,891 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $134 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 2 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 240741

24 HR clarithromycin 500 MG Extended Release Oral Tablet

364 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Clarithromycin prescriptions shown $34,271 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $94 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 7 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 359385

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Clarithromycin, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 17 of 213 listed Clarithromycin NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Clarithromycin products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Clarithromycin — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 54 of 54 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 54 Clarithromycin NDCs →

Clarithromycin recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Clarithromycin recalls since July 2021.

✅No Clarithromycin recalls on record since July 2021

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Clarithromycin RxCUI 21212 3 dose forms · 6 strengths
  1. Dose form (SCDF) Extended Release Oral Tablet RxCUI 371541 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 24 HR clarithromycin 500 MG RxCUI 359385 1000 MG RxCUI 597455
  2. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Suspension RxCUI 371539 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 25 MG/ML RxCUI 240741 50 MG/ML RxCUI 309322
  3. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Tablet RxCUI 371540 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 250 MG RxCUI 197516 500 MG RxCUI 197517

Look up RxCUI 21212 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

💵 What Clarithromycin costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Tablet, Film Coated · Oral 500 mg $0.466 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet, Film Coated · Oral 250 mg $0.394 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet · Oral 500 mg $0.488 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet · Oral 250 mg $0.371 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet, Film Coated, Extended Release · Oral 500 mg $1.92 per tablet NDC details & price history
For Suspension · Oral 250 mg/5 mL $1.35–$1.57 per mL NDC details & price history
For Suspension · Oral 125 mg/5 mL $0.939–$0.950 per mL NDC details & price history
Tablet, Film Coated 250 mg $0.394 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet, Film Coated 500 mg $0.466 per tablet NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Clarithromycin brand names

Clarithromycin is sold under 5 brand names in the FDA directory — Biaxin Filmtab, Biaxin Granules, Biaxin XL Filmtab, Biaxin XL Pac and others. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Biaxin Filmtab Biaxin Granules Biaxin XL Filmtab Biaxin XL Pac Biaxin

Who makes Clarithromycin: manufacturers and labelers

24 companies list Clarithromycin products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are A-S Medication Solutions, PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Proficient Rx LP. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

A-S Medication Solutions 4 PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 4 Proficient Rx LP 4 Sandoz Inc 4 Sportpharm LLC 4 Chartwell RX, LLC. 3 Lannett Company, Inc. 3 Solaris Pharma Corporation 3 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited 2 American Health Packaging 2 Aurobindo Pharma Limited 2 AvPAK 2 Bryant Ranch Prepack 2 DirectRx 2 Northwind Health Company, LLC 2 Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc. 2 Actavis Pharma, Inc. 1 Asclemed USA, Inc. 1 Coupler LLC 1 Major Pharmaceuticals 1 NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc. 1 Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. 1 Remedyrepack Inc. 1

Clarithromycin drug class (RxNorm)

Clarithromycin belongs to the Macrolide Antimicrobial class.

Pharmacologic class Macrolide Antimicrobial
Drug family (ATC) Macrolides
How it works Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors, P-Glycoprotein Inhibitors, Cytochrome P450 3A Inhibitors

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for this Clarithromycin page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Jul 1, 2026
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Clarithromycin.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Clarithromycin after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
51
Finished products in the current FDA directory
54
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
24
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
27
Linked representative label ⓘ
NuCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Linked label effective
Jul 1, 2026
Composite sections available
23
Linked SPL Set ID
4a3febd5-8cf4-5306-e054-00144ff8d46c
Linked SPL Document ID
558f5b29-32b9-2731-e063-6394a90a8d2d
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. NuCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →