clarithromycin vs fluconazole
Side-by-side comparison of clarithromycin and fluconazole. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
major Known Drug Interaction
Fluconazole No Dose Adjustment Fluconazole: [see Pharmacokinetics ( 12.3 )] Anti-Gout Agents: Colchicine (in patients with renal or hepatic impairment) Contraindicated Colchicine: Colchicine is a substrate for both CYP3A and the efflux transporter, P-glycoprotein (Pgp).
Recommendation: No dose adjustments are necessary when taking these medications at the same time.
Biaxin
Diflucan
Clarithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacterial infections. It belongs to a class of drugs called macrolides.
Fluconazole is an antifungal medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by fungus.
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.
Fluconazole treats vaginal yeast infections. It also treats yeast infections in the mouth and esophagus. Fluconazole can also treat urinary tract infections, peritonitis, systemic Candida infections, and pneumonia. It can also treat cryptococcal meningitis. Fluconazole can also prevent candidiasis in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.
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.
Fluconazole works by stopping the growth of fungi. It blocks the fungus from producing a substance it needs to grow. This helps to clear up the infection.
- • Abdominal pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Taste changes
- • Headache
- • Nausea
- • Abdominal pain
- Drug Interaction 2,906
- Nausea 2,214
- Dyspnoea 1,959
- Diarrhoea 1,937
- Malaise 1,650
- Fever 4,121
- Feeling sick to your stomach 3,695
- Loose stools 3,536
- Feeling tired 3,152
- Discomfort 3,121
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.
Coadministration of other drugs known to prolong the QT interval and which are metabolized via the enzyme CYP3A4 such as erythromycin, pimozide, and quinidine are contraindicated in patients receiving fluconazole.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Fluconazole may not be safe for your baby. Talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while taking fluconazole.
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How to Read This clarithromycin vs fluconazole Comparison
clarithromycin is classified in the Macrolide Antibiotic drug class, while fluconazole sits within the Azole Antifungal 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 fluconazole has 17,625. 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 major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these two drugs do not significantly affect each other's levels in the body.. 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 clarithromycin and fluconazole - 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.