Brand Names

How to Use

Clarithromycin may be taken with meals or milk or on an empty stomach, extended release tablets must be taken with food.

If you are taking clarithromycin and zidovudine, these medication must be taken at least 4 hours apart.

To help clear up your infection completely, keep taking clarithromycin for the full time of treat , even if you begin to feel better after a few days. If you stop taking this drug too soon, your symptoms may return.

If you are using clarithromycin oral suspension , use a specially marked measuring spoon or other device to measure each dose accurately. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.

Dosage

The number of tablets or teaspoonfuls of suspension that you take depends on the strength of the drug.

• For oral dosage forms - suspension and tablets:
  • For bacterial infections:
    For oral dosage form - suspension and tablets:
    • Adults and teenagers 250 to 500 milligrams - mg every twelve hours for seven to fourteen days.
    • Children 6 months of age and older 7.5 mg per kilogram - kg - 3.4 mg per pound of body weight every twelve hours for ten days.
    • Infants up to 6 months of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
  • For long-acting oral dosage form - extended release tablets
    • Adults and teenagers 1000 milligrams - mg once a day for seven to fourteen days.
  • For Community-acquired pneumonia
    For oral dosage form - suspension and tablets:
    • Adults and teenagers 250 to 500 milligrams - mg every twelve hours for seven to fourteen days.
    • Children 6 months of age and older 7.5 mg per kilogram - kg - 3.4 mg per pound of body weight every twelve hours for ten days.
    
    For long-acting oral dosage form - extended-release tablets:
    • Adults and teenagers 1000 milligrams - mg once a day for seven days
  • For prevention or treat of Mycobacterium avium complex - MAC infection:
    For oral dosage form - suspension and tablets:
    • Adults and teenagers 500 mg two times a day.
    • Children 6 months of age and older 7.5 mg per kg - 3.4 mg per pound of body weight, up to 500 mg, two times a day.
    • Infants up to 6 months of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
  • For treat of ulcers associated with Helicobacter pylori :
    For oral dosage form - suspension and tablets:
    • Adults and teenagers 500 mg three times a day for fourteen days, in combination with omeprazole or ranitidine bismuth sulfate; or 500 mg every twelve hours in combination with amoxicillin and lansoprazole for fourteen days.
    • Infants and children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

Missed dose If you miss a dose of this drug, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.
• Do not store suspension in the refrigerator.