clarithromycin vs dabigatran

PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.

Side-by-side comparison of clarithromycin and dabigatran. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

The use of the P-gp inhibitors verapamil, amiodarone, quinidine, clarithromycin, and ticagrelor does not require a dosage adjustment of dabigatran etexilate.

Drug Class
clarithromycin Macrolide Antibiotic
dabigatran Direct Thrombin Inhibitor
Type
clarithromycin Prescription
dabigatran Prescription
Summary
clarithromycin

Clarithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacterial infections. It belongs to a class of drugs called macrolides.

dabigatran

Dabigatran (Pradaxa) is a drug that helps to prevent blood clots from forming. It is used to lower the risk of stroke and treat or prevent other dangerous clots in your body.

What It Treats
clarithromycin

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.

dabigatran

This medicine can help prevent strokes in people with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. It can also treat blood clots in your legs (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) or lungs (pulmonary embolism or PE). Dabigatran can also lower the risk of these clots coming back. It is also used to prevent blood clots after hip replacement surgery.

How It Works
clarithromycin

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.

dabigatran

Dabigatran is a direct thrombin inhibitor. Thrombin is a substance in the blood that helps clots form. By blocking thrombin, dabigatran helps to keep your blood from clotting too easily.

Common Side Effects
clarithromycin
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Taste changes
dabigatran
  • Upset stomach
  • Bleeding more easily (such as nosebleeds or heavier periods)
FAERS Reports
clarithromycin
  • Drug Interaction 2,906
  • Nausea 2,214
  • Dyspnoea 1,959
  • Diarrhoea 1,937
  • Malaise 1,650
dabigatran

No adverse event reports.

Serious Warnings
clarithromycin

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.

dabigatran

Dabigatran has two important warnings. First, stopping this medicine too early can raise your risk of blood clots. Do not stop taking it without talking to your doctor. Second, this medicine can cause bleeding around the spine if you get an epidural or spinal tap. This can lead to paralysis. Tell your doctor if you are going to have any spinal procedures.

Pregnancy
clarithromycin

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.

dabigatran

Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Dabigatran may increase the risk of bleeding in the fetus. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking this medicine.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This clarithromycin vs dabigatran Comparison

clarithromycin is classified in the Macrolide Antibiotic drug class, while dabigatran sits within the Direct Thrombin Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. 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, clarithromycin has 10,666 submissions while dabigatran has 0. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to clarithromycin affects a protein that moves dabigatran, but the change is too small to affect how the medicine works in your body.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for clarithromycin or dabigatran.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.