azithromycin vs clarithromycin
Side-by-side comparison of azithromycin and clarithromycin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Biaxin
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria. It is used to treat many different types of infections.
Clarithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacterial infections. It belongs to a class of drugs called macrolides.
Azithromycin treats mild to moderate infections caused by certain bacteria. In adults, it can treat bronchitis, sinus infections, skin infections, urethritis, cervicitis, and genital ulcers. In children over 6 months old, it can treat ear infections and pneumonia. It can also treat pharyngitis/tonsillitis in children 2 years and older.
Clarithromycin treats mild to moderate infections caused by certain bacteria. It can treat bronchitis, sinus infections, pneumonia, and throat/tonsil infections. It also treats skin infections, ear infections in children, certain mycobacterial infections, and H. pylori infections that cause ulcers.
Azithromycin belongs to a class of drugs called macrolide antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps your body fight off the infection.
Clarithromycin works by stopping the growth of bacteria. It prevents bacteria from making proteins they need to survive. This helps your body fight off the infection.
- • Diarrhea (5-14%)
- • Nausea (3-18%)
- • Abdominal pain (3-7%)
- • Vomiting (2-7%)
- • Abdominal pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Taste changes
- Using the medicine for a condition it's not approved for 3,915
- The medicine is not working 3,661
- Difficulty breathing 3,058
- Feeling sick to your stomach 2,232
- Ache or discomfort 2,204
- Drug Interaction 2,906
- Drug Ineffective 2,476
- Nausea 2,214
- Dyspnoea 1,959
- Diarrhoea 1,937
This drug can cause serious allergic reactions, liver problems, and heart rhythm changes. Tell your doctor right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, like rash or swelling. Also, tell your doctor if you have liver problems, heart problems, or muscle weakness.
Clarithromycin can cause severe allergic reactions. Stop taking it and get medical help right away if you have signs of a reaction. This medicine can also cause heart rhythm problems (QT prolongation) and liver problems. Tell your doctor if you have heart or liver issues. Clarithromycin may increase the risk of death in patients with coronary artery disease.
Studies haven't shown major risks to the baby during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking this medicine.
Clarithromycin is not recommended during pregnancy unless there are no other options. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if clarithromycin passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.
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How to Read This azithromycin vs clarithromycin Comparison
azithromycin is classified in the Macrolide Antibiotic drug class, while clarithromycin sits within the Macrolide Antibiotic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, azithromycin has 15,070 submissions while clarithromycin has 11,492. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between azithromycin and clarithromycin — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.