Consumer Information for: DOM-CLARITHROMYCIN

Consumer Information

Information about the product including what the product is used for, dosage, warnings, proper use and side effects. This summary will not tell you everything about the product. Contact your healthcare professional if you have any questions about the product.


What the medication is used for
  • Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN is used to treat certain infections like pneumonia, bronchitis and infections of the sinuses, skin, and throat, that are caused by bacteria.

  • It is used with other medications to kill bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). This mayt prevent duodenal ulcer from coming back. Duodenal ulcer are sore on the upper part of the small intestine.

  • It is used to prevent and to treat MAC disease in patients with HIV. MAC is a short word for Mycobacterium avium complex, the bacteria that cause MAC disease.

Antibacterial drugs like Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN treat only bacterial infections. They do nottreat viral infections such as the common cold. Although you may feel better early in treatment, Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN should be taken exactly as directed. Misuse or overuse of Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN could lead to growth of bacteria that will not be killed by Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN (resistance). This means that Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN may not work for you in the future. Do not share your medicine.

What it does

Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN is an antibiotic that kills bacteria in your body.

What the medicinal ingredient is

Clarithromycin

What the non-medicinal ingredients are

Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, Croscarmellose Sodium, D&C Yellow No. 10, Hypromellose, Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polydextrose, Polyethylene Glycol, Povidone, Pregelatinized Starch, Talc, Titanium Dioxide and Triacetin.

What dosage form it comes in

500 mg tablets.

When it should not be used
  • You are allergic to clarithromycin or any of the other ingredients in Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN.

  • You are allergic to anyother medicine called erythromycin or any other medicines from a class of antibiotics called macrolides (such as azithromycin or telithromycin).

  • You are taking any of the following medications:
    • Eergotamine, dihydroergotamine (for migraine); Lovastatin, simvastatin (for high cholesterol); Ticagrelor (for cardiovascular disease); Saquinavir (treatment for HIV); Oral midazolam (for trouble sleeping or agitation); Pimozide (for schizophrenia); colchicine (for gout).
    • Pimozide, ergotamine, dihydroergotamine and colchicine can interact with Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN, possibly leading to an irregular heartbeat pattern. Deaths have occurred.

  • You had liver problems after taking Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN in the past.

  • You have severe liver failure in combination with kidney impairment.

  • You have a history of heart disturbance or irregular heartbeat such as arrhythmias, QT prolongation or torsades de pointes.

  • You have hypokalaemia (low potassium levels in the blood).
Warnings and precautions

Serious Warnings and Precautions

  • Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN should not be used in pregnancy especially during the first 3 months. If there are no other medicines you can take for your infection, your doctor may give you Dom—CLARITHROMYCIN. If this happens, they will discuss the risks to your baby with you. Talk to your doctor before taking Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant.

  • Taking Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN along with certain other drugs may lead to serious safety issues. Talk to your doctor about all the medicines you take.

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

  • Have now or have had health problems in the past.
  • Have or develop severe diarrhea as this may be a sign of a more serious condition.
  • Have kidney problems.
  • Have liver problems.
  • Are taking medicines called digoxin (for heart failure); atorvastatin or pravastatin (for high cholesterol); or midazolam (a sedative).
  • Are taking a medicine called quetiapine (for schizophrenia, bipolar depression). Serious and life-threatening side effects have occurred in people taking clarithromycin and quetiapine, including malignant neuroleptic syndrome (fever, rigid muscles, dizziness, fainting, and altered mental state). Your doctor will decide if you should take this medication.
  • Are allergic to other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives.
  • Are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or think you might be pregnant.
  • Are breast-feeding or are planning to breastfeed. Clarithromycin can get into your breastmilk and harm your baby.
  • Have a condition called myasthenia gravis which is a chronic disease that causes muscle weakness. Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN may make your myasthenia gravis worse.
  • Are taking clarithromycin and oral drugs for diabetes (such as gliclazide, glyburide) and/or with insulin as this can result in serious low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist how you should monitor your blood sugar levels.
  • Are taking warfarin, as there is a risk of serious bleeding with clarithromycin.
  • Are taking triazolam, alprazolam or other benzodiazepines (midazolam). These should be used cautiously with clarighthromycin due to serious risk of effects on you brain and spinal cord.

Other warnings you should know about:
Use of antibiotics like clarithromycin have resulted in heart problems such as irregular heartbeat, torsades de pointes and QT prolongation sometimes leading to death. Talk to your doctor if you are elderly or have risk factors such as:

  • Heart disease, heart problems or slow heartbeat.
  • If you are taking other medicines which are known to cause serious disturbances in heart rhythm.
  • If you have disturbances in the levels of salts (electrolytes) in your blood, such as low leves of magnesium (hypomagnesemia).

Development of antibiotic resistance (where the medicine no longer works to kill bacteria) has been seen in patients with HIV taking clarithromycin. To avoid this, you should always take your medicine as advised by your doctor.

Driving and using machines:
If you feel dizzy, confused or disorientated while taking Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN, do not drive or operate machines.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

Interactions with this medication
  • Alfentanil (used during surgery).
  • Alprazolam, hexobarbital, phenobarbital, midazolam, triazolam (sedative medications).
  • Amlodipine, diltiazem, verapamil (calcium channel clockers often used for high blood pressure).
  • Aripiprazole, pimozide, quetiapine, risperidone (for schizophrenia, bipolar depression).
  • Atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, nevirapine, efavirenz, etravirine, zidovudine (treatments for HIV).
  • Atorvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin (for high cholesterol).
  • Bromocriptine (used for problems with your pituitary gland and Parkinson’s disease).
  • Carbamazepine (for seizures, nerve pain or bipolar depression).
  • Cilostazol, digoxin, quinidine, disopyramide, warfarin/acenocoumarol, ticagrelor (diseases for your blood vessels and heart).
  • Colchicine (treatment for gout).
  • Cyclosporine (used for psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and after organ translplant).
  • Ergotamine, dihydroergotamine (oftern used for migraine headaches).
  • Fluconazole, itraconazole (for fungal infections).
  • Insulin, nateglinide, pioglitazone, repaglinide, rosiglitazone (for diabetes).
  • Lansoprazole, omeprazole (proton pump inhibitors for heart burn and reflux).
  • Methylprednisolone (an anti-inflammatory).
  • Phenytoin, valproic acid (treatment of seizures and epilepsy).
  • Rifabutin, rifampin (treatments for infections).
  • Sildenafil tadalafil, vardenafil (treatments for erectile dysfunction).
  • St. John’s Wort (for depression).
  • Tacrolimus (used after organ transplant).
  • Theophylline (asthma and other lung problems).
  • Tolterodine (treatment for overactive bladder).
  • Vinblastine (cancer treatment).
Proper use of this medication
  • Always take it exavtly how your doctor has told you.
  • Your doctor will tell you how much Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN to take and when to take it.
  • How much you are prescribed will depend on the condition you have.
  • You can take Dom CLARITHROMYCIN with or without meals.

Usual dose

For respiratory tract infections (like pneumonia, bronchitis and infections of the sinuses and throat) or skin infections:

The usual dose of Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN is 250 mg to 500 mg every 12 hours for 7 to 14 days.

For infections with H. pylori and treatment of duodenal ulcers (a sore in your intestine):
The usual dose of Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN is 500 mg every 12 hours for 10 days. You will take Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN together with omeprazole (20 mg once a day) and amoxillin (1 g every 12 hours).

For prevention and treatment of MAC disease in patients with HIV:

The usual dose of Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN is 500 mg every 12 hours. Your doctor will tell you how long you should continue taking Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN for.

Overdose

Symptoms of Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN overdose are abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.

If you think you have taken too much Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed Dose

  • If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
  • If it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the missed dose.
  • Take your next dose when you would normally take it.
  • Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Side effects and what to do about them

These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking Dom-CLARITHROMYCIN. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.

Side effects may include:

  • abdominal pain
  • abnormal taste
  • diarrhea
  • ear disorder (trouble hearing and ringing in your ears)
  • flatulence
  • indigestion
  • headache
  • nausea
  • rash
  • vomiting
Serious side effects and what to do about them
Symptom / effect Talk to your healthcare professional Only if severe Talk to your healthcare professional In all cases Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help
UNCOMMON
Allergic reactions: itching, hives, rash, sore throat, fever, swelling, difficulty breathing, lightheadedness/dizziness, swelling of your tongue or throat, warm red skin or wheezing.     ✔
Clostridium difficile colitis (bowel inflammation): severe diarrhea (bloody or watery) with or without fever, abdominal pain, or tenderness.   ✔  
Irregular heartbeat.     ✔
Myasthenia gravis: muscle weakness, drooping eyelid, vision changes, difficulty chewing and swallowing, trouble breathing.     ✔
Hepatitis (liver inflammation): abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of skin and eyes dark urine.     ✔

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.
How to store

Store between 15° and 25°C in a tightly closed container. Protect from light. Do not use beyond the expiration date.

Keep out of reach and sight of children.

Reporting side effects

You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:

NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

More information
  • Talk to your healthcare professional
  • Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website (health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/index-eng.jsp); the manufacturer’s website, or by calling 1-888-550-6060.

This leaflet was prepared by Dominion Pharmacal, Montréal, Québec, H4P 2T4

Last revised: March 15, 2019

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