clarithromycin vs fesoterodine

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

moderate Known Drug Interaction

7.2 CYP3A4 Inhibitors Doses of fesoterodine fumarate greater than 4 mg are not recommended in adult patients taking strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, and clarithromycin [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ] .

Drug Class
clarithromycin Macrolide Antibiotic
fesoterodine Anticholinergic (Overactive Bladder)
Type
clarithromycin Prescription
fesoterodine Prescription
Summary
clarithromycin

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

fesoterodine

Fesoterodine is a medicine that helps control an overactive bladder. It reduces the feeling of needing to go to the bathroom so often.

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.

fesoterodine

This medicine treats overactive bladder (OAB) in adults. OAB can cause you to feel a sudden need to urinate. It can also cause you to urinate more often than normal, and leak urine.

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.

fesoterodine

Fesoterodine belongs to a class of drugs called anticholinergics. It works by blocking certain nerve signals to the bladder. This helps to relax the bladder muscles and reduce the urge to urinate.

Common Side Effects
clarithromycin
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Taste changes
fesoterodine
  • Dry mouth
  • Constipation
FAERS Reports
clarithromycin
  • Drug Interaction 2,906
  • Nausea 2,214
  • Dyspnoea 1,959
  • Diarrhoea 1,937
  • Malaise 1,650
fesoterodine
  • Dry mouth 823
  • Fall 529
  • Tiredness 505
  • Constipation 503
  • Unable to empty bladder 502
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.

fesoterodine

Fesoterodine can cause swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. This can be life-threatening, so stop taking the medicine and get medical help right away if this happens. Fesoterodine is not recommended if you have a blockage in your bladder or have problems with food moving through your digestive system. Use with caution if you have narrow-angle glaucoma or myasthenia gravis.

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.

fesoterodine

It is not known if fesoterodine can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if fesoterodine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking this medicine.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This clarithromycin vs fesoterodine Comparison

clarithromycin is classified in the Macrolide Antibiotic drug class, while fesoterodine sits within the Anticholinergic (Overactive Bladder) 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 fesoterodine has 2,862. 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 moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to clarithromycin blocks the process your body uses to get rid of fesoterodine, causing the drug levels to rise.. 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 fesoterodine.

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