Clarithromycin Common brand name: BiaxinDescription: Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It is related to erythromycin.Clarithromycin is acid stable and is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, irrespective of the presence of food. As the best absorbed macrolide, it has a bioavailability of 50%. A steady state is usually achieved after five doses. Clarithromycin concentrates well in tissues. The resultant tissue-serum ratio is greater than that of erythromycin but less than that of azithromycin. Its half-life is 3 to 7 hours, allowing twice daily administration, either orally or intravenously, with similar efficacy.Many Gram-positive microbes quickly develop resistance to clarithromycin after standard courses of treatment, most frequently by acquisition of the erm(B) gene, which confers high-level resistance to all macrolides.[15]Its antibacterial spectrum is the same as erythromycin, but it is also active against Mycobacterium avium complex MAV, M. leprae, and atypical mycobacteria.Side effects https:///wiki/ClarithromycinThe most common (>1%) side effects are gastrointestinal: diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. It also can cause headaches, insomnia, and abnormal liver function tests. Allergic reactions include rashes and anaphylaxis. Less common side effects include extreme irritability, hallucinations (auditory and visual), dizziness/motion sickness, and alteration in senses of smell and taste, including a metallic taste. Dry mouth, panic attacks, and nightmares have also been reported, albeit less frequently.[2]CardiacClarithromycin can lead to a prolonged QT interval. In patients with long QT syndrome, cardiac disease, or patients taking other QT-prolonging medications, this can increase risk for life-threatening arrhythmias.[6]Liver and kidneyClarithromycin has been known to cause jaundice, cirrhosis, and kidney problems, including renal failure.Central nervous systemCommon adverse effects of clarithromycin in the central nervous system include dizziness, headaches. Rarely, it can cause ototoxicity, delirium and mania.InfectionA risk of oral candidiasis, due to the elimination of the yeast's natural bacterial competitors by the antibiotic, is also incurred.Dental uses: The main dental use of clarithromycin is in people who are allergic to penicillins and at risk to develop bacterial endocarditis. This is a serious heart infection. It can be fatal. People at risk for this bacterial infection take antibiotics before dental procedures that tend to cause bleeding. People at risk include those who have:Artificial heart valves A history of endocarditis Certain forms of congenital heart diseaseA transplanted heart that develops valve diseaseBleeding can occur in procedures that:Puncture or cut into mouth tissue Manipulate the gums or the area around a tooth rootPeople who have a high risk of bacterial endocarditis usually take amoxicillin before these procedures. Clarithromycin is used for those who are allergic to amoxicillin and other relatives of penicillin.Clarithromycin is also used in patients with penicillin allergies who have dental infections. These may include abscesses, infections around wisdom teeth and infections after dental surgery. This drug can also be used when other drugs have not been effective.Dosages for dental purposes: To prevent bacterial endocarditis, the recommended dose is 500 milligrams. It should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before the dental procedure. For dental infections, the typical dose is 250 milligrams to 500 milligrams. Clarithromycin should be taken every 12 hours for 7 to 10 days.As with all medicines, be sure to follow your doctor's prescription. Take clarithromycin for the prescribed length of time, even if you start to feel better. Do not stop taking it without talking to your doctor. Stopping an antibiotic too soon may cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics. This means the antibiotics won't work the next time. Concerns and possible side effects: Tell your dentist and physician about all the medicines you take. This should include over-the-counter vitamins and herbal supplements. Also, let your dentist know if you have had a sensitive or allergic reaction to any medicine. If you are pregnant or nursing, or might be pregnant, talk to your primary care doctor before starting any new medicine. This also includes vitamins and supplements.Clarithromycin costs more than erythromycin. However, it is less likely to cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. People who take it occasionally get a strange taste in their mouths.People who take clarithromycin have a small risk of developing a serious heart condition (torsade de pointes). This risk increases by an unknown amount when a dentist gives an injection of local anesthesia that contains epinephrineor levonordefrin. These local anesthetics should be used with caution in people taking clarithromycin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also warned of another risk in 2005. It found that death rates are higher in people with stable coronary artery disease who use clarithromycin for 14 days or more.Clarithromycin can have bad interactions with several different drugs. For example, it can cause certain other drugs to build up in the body. These drugs include:The asthma drug theophylline (brand name, Theo-Dur)The blood-thinner warfarin (brand name, Coumadin)The "statin" cholesterol-lowering drugs such as lovastatin (brand name, Mevacor), simvastatin (brand name, Zocor) and atorvastatin (brand name, Lipitor)The headache medicine ergotamine and caffeine (brand names Cafergot, Wigraine)This list is not complete, and it continues to grow. These interactions can be serious and life threatening. Tell your doctor about any reaction to a prescribed medicine, no matter how minor it might be..英文药名: Biaxin(Clarithromycin Tablets) 中文药名: 克拉霉素片/article/2012/0104/28234.html简介：英文药名: Biaxin(Clarithromycin Tablets) 中文药名: 克拉霉素片生产厂家: Abbott 药品名称英文药名: Biaxin, Clarithromycin 中文药名:克拉霉素药品说明克拉霉素又名甲红霉素，生产厂家: Abbott 药品名称英文药名: Biaxin, Clarithromycin中文药名: 克拉霉素药品说明克拉霉素又名甲红霉素，是红霉素的衍生物，上世纪90年代初由日本大正公司开发成功，并以商品名Clarith注册。
