clarithromycin vs glimepiride
Side-by-side comparison of clarithromycin and glimepiride. 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 following are examples of medications that may increase the glucose-lowering effect of sulfonylureas including glimepiride, increasing the susceptibility to and/or intensity of hypoglycemia: oral anti-diabetic medications, pramlintide acetate, insulin, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, H 2 receptor antagonists, fibrates, propoxyphene, pentoxifylline, somatostatin analogs, anabolic steroids and androgens, cyclophosphamide, phenyramidol, guanethidine, fluconazole, sulfinpyrazone, tetracyclines, clarithromycin, disopyramide, quinolones, and those drugs that are highly...
Recommendation: Check your blood sugar frequently and let your healthcare provider know if you experience symptoms of low blood sugar.
Biaxin
Amaryl
Clarithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacterial infections. It belongs to a class of drugs called macrolides.
Glimepiride is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It works along with diet and exercise.
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.
Glimepiride is used to help control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It should be used with a healthy diet and regular exercise. This medicine will not work for type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
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.
Glimepiride helps your body release more insulin. Insulin helps move sugar from your blood into your cells for energy. This lowers your blood sugar levels.
- • Abdominal pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Taste changes
- • Low blood sugar
- • Headache
- • Nausea
- • Dizziness
- Drug Interaction 2,906
- Nausea 2,214
- Dyspnoea 1,959
- Diarrhoea 1,937
- Malaise 1,650
- High blood sugar 2,972
- Feeling sick to your stomach 2,274
- Loose stools 2,169
- Feeling tired 1,827
- Low blood sugar 1,639
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.
Glimepiride can cause low blood sugar, which can be severe. Be careful when driving or operating machinery. If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking glimepiride right away. People with a certain enzyme problem (G6PD deficiency) may get anemia.
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. Glimepiride may not be safe for your baby. It is usually stopped 2 weeks before delivery.
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How to Read This clarithromycin vs glimepiride Comparison
clarithromycin is classified in the Macrolide Antibiotic drug class, while glimepiride sits within the Sulfonylurea 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 glimepiride has 10,881. 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 can increase how much glimepiride lowers your blood sugar, which increases your risk of having a low blood sugar reaction.. 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 glimepiride - 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.