Clarithromycin

Macrolide Antimicrobial — ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM

Key facts

Clarithromycin is an ofp drug in the Macrolide Antimicrobial class catalogued in DrugCentral. It was first approved by the FDA in 1991. Its mechanism of action is classified as Cytochrome P450 3A Inhibitors, Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors and P-Glycoprotein Inhibitors. DrugCentral lists 1 molecular target, including KCNH2. Recorded indications include Acute bacterial bronchitis, Acute bacterial sinusitis, Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis and Acute maxillary sinusitis.

• Approval status: ofp (first approved 1991 by the FDA).
• Drug class: Macrolide Antimicrobial.
• Mechanism of action: Cytochrome P450 3A Inhibitors; Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors; P-Glycoprotein Inhibitors.
• Molecular targets: KCNH2 (1 listed in DrugCentral).
• Indications: Acute bacterial bronchitis, Acute bacterial sinusitis, Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, Acute maxillary sinusitis and Acute Moraxella catarrhalis bronchitis and others.
• ATC code: A02BD04 (Combinations for eradication of Helicobacter pylori).
• Molecular formula: C38H69NO13; molecular weight 747.96 g/mol.

Indications & contraindications

Drug–disease relationships curated by DrugCentral (OMOP / SNOMED concepts).

Indications (25)

• Acute bacterial bronchitis
• Acute bacterial sinusitis
• Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis
• Acute maxillary sinusitis
• Acute Moraxella catarrhalis bronchitis
• Acute otitis media
• Bacterial pneumonia
• Chlamydial pneumonia
• Duodenal Ulcer due to H. Pylori
• Haemophilus Influenzae Acute Otitis Media
• Haemophilus Influenzae Bronchitis
• Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia
• Haemophilus Parainfluenzae Pneumonia
• Infection caused by Helicobacter pylori
• Infection due to Staphylococcus aureus
• Infection of skin AND/OR subcutaneous tissue
• Infective otitis media
• Moraxella Catarrhalis Acute Otitis Media
• Moraxella Catarrhalis Pneumonia
• Pneumococcal pneumonia
• Pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae
• Pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex infection
• Streptococcal tonsillitis
• Streptococcus Pneumoniae Bronchitis
• Streptococcus pyogenes infection

Off-label uses (7)

• Boutonneuse fever
• Gastrointestinal anthrax
• Inhalational anthrax
• Legionnaires' Disease
• Lyme disease
• Pertussis
• Prevention of Bacterial Endocarditis

Contraindications (17)

• Acute nephropathy
• Cholestatic hepatitis
• Disease of liver
• Fracture of bone
• Hepatic failure
• Hypomagnesemia
• Infectious mononucleosis
• Kidney disease
• Liver function tests abnormal
• Myasthenia gravis
• Obstruction of bile duct
• Osteoporosis
• Porphyria
• Prolonged QT interval
• Pseudomembranous enterocolitis
• Torsades de pointes
• Ventricular tachycardia

Mechanism & targets

• Mechanism of action (MoA): Cytochrome P450 3A Inhibitors; Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors; P-Glycoprotein Inhibitors
• Established pharmacologic class: Macrolide Antimicrobial

Molecular targets (1)

Target	Gene	Action	Activity
Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 2	KCNH2	unknown	IC50 4.23

Regulatory approvals (1)

Date	Agency	Marketed as	Applicant	Orphan
1991-10-31	FDA	—	ABBVIE

ATC classification

ATC code	Therapeutic hierarchy
A02BD04	ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM › DRUGS FOR ACID RELATED DISORDERS › DRUGS FOR PEPTIC ULCER AND GASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GORD) › Combinations for eradication of Helicobacter pylori
A02BD05	ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM › DRUGS FOR ACID RELATED DISORDERS › DRUGS FOR PEPTIC ULCER AND GASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GORD) › Combinations for eradication of Helicobacter pylori
A02BD06	ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM › DRUGS FOR ACID RELATED DISORDERS › DRUGS FOR PEPTIC ULCER AND GASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GORD) › Combinations for eradication of Helicobacter pylori
A02BD07	ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM › DRUGS FOR ACID RELATED DISORDERS › DRUGS FOR PEPTIC ULCER AND GASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GORD) › Combinations for eradication of Helicobacter pylori
A02BD09	ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM › DRUGS FOR ACID RELATED DISORDERS › DRUGS FOR PEPTIC ULCER AND GASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GORD) › Combinations for eradication of Helicobacter pylori
A02BD11	ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM › DRUGS FOR ACID RELATED DISORDERS › DRUGS FOR PEPTIC ULCER AND GASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GORD) › Combinations for eradication of Helicobacter pylori
A02BD12	ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM › DRUGS FOR ACID RELATED DISORDERS › DRUGS FOR PEPTIC ULCER AND GASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GORD) › Combinations for eradication of Helicobacter pylori
A02BD14	ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM › DRUGS FOR ACID RELATED DISORDERS › DRUGS FOR PEPTIC ULCER AND GASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GORD) › Combinations for eradication of Helicobacter pylori
J01FA09	ANTIINFECTIVES FOR SYSTEMIC USE › ANTIBACTERIALS FOR SYSTEMIC USE › MACROLIDES, LINCOSAMIDES AND STREPTOGRAMINS › Macrolides

Reported adverse-event signals

Strongest FDA FAERS disproportionality signals (log-likelihood ratio). A signal is a statistical association in spontaneous reports, not proof that the drug causes the event.

MedDRA term	LLR
Drug interaction	2381.5
Pathogen resistance	948.0
Macular degeneration	886.5
Labelled drug-drug interaction medication error	565.4
Swollen tongue	459.7
Drug hypersensitivity	440.7
Chronic sinusitis	401.0
Swelling face	386.5
Female genital tract fistula	340.3
Paraesthesia oral	333.5
Drug resistance	313.1
Lip swelling	311.7

Chemical structure

• Molecular formula: C₃₈H₆₉NO₁₃
• Molecular weight: 747.96 g/mol
• CAS number: 81103-11-9
• InChIKey: AGOYDEPGAOXOCK-KCBOHYOISA-N
• PubChem CID: 84029

CC[C@H]1OC(=O)[C@H](C)[C@@H](O[C@H]2C[C@@](C)(OC)[C@@H](O)[C@H](C)O2)[C@H](C)[C@@H](O[C@@H]2O[C@H](C)C[C@@H]([C@H]2O)N(C)C)[C@@](C)(C[C@@H](C)C(=O)[C@H](C)[C@@H](O)[C@]1(C)O)OC

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the structured data on this page, not written by hand.

What is Clarithromycin used for?

DrugCentral lists the following indications for Clarithromycin: Acute bacterial bronchitis, Acute bacterial sinusitis, Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, Acute maxillary sinusitis, Acute Moraxella catarrhalis bronchitis, Acute otitis media, Bacterial pneumonia and Chlamydial pneumonia and others.

How does Clarithromycin work?

Clarithromycin is classified as Cytochrome P450 3A Inhibitors, Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors and P-Glycoprotein Inhibitors; its molecular targets in DrugCentral include KCNH2.

When was Clarithromycin first approved?

Clarithromycin was first approved by the FDA in 1991.

What drug class does Clarithromycin belong to?

Clarithromycin is in the Macrolide Antimicrobial class.

What is the chemical formula of Clarithromycin?

Clarithromycin has the molecular formula C38H69NO13 and a molecular weight of 747.96 g/mol.

Sources

• DrugCentral drug card 668 — structure, indications, targets, approvals, pharmacologic classes (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• ChEMBL CHEMBL1741 — compound record and bioactivity
• PubChem CID 84029 — chemical identifiers
• DrugBank DB01211 — drug record
• FDA UNII H1250JIK0A — substance identity
• DailyMed: FDA labels for Clarithromycin — current prescribing information (label search)
• UniProt Q12809 (KCNH2) — target protein
• FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (openFDA FAERS) — adverse-event signals, as aggregated by DrugCentral

How this page is built: methodology · editorial policy & corrections.