clarithromycin vs itraconazole
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Side-by-side comparison of clarithromycin and itraconazole. 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
Antifungals: Itraconazole Use With Caution Itraconazole: Both clarithromycin and itraconazole are substrates and inhibitors of CYP3A, potentially leading to a bi-directional drug interaction when administered concomitantly (see also Itraconazole under “Drugs That Affect Clarithromycin Tablets” in the table below). Clarithromycin may increase the plasma concentrations of itraconazole. Patients taking itraconazole and clarithromycin concomitantly should be monitored closely for signs or symptoms of increased or prolonged adverse reactions.
Biaxin
Sporanox
Clarithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacterial infections. It belongs to a class of drugs called macrolides.
Itraconazole capsules are an antifungal medicine. They treat fungal infections in your body.
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.
Itraconazole treats fungal infections like blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, and aspergillosis. It can help both people with healthy immune systems and those with weakened immune systems. It also treats onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the toenails or fingernails.
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.
Itraconazole stops fungi from growing. It does this by interfering with the production of a substance fungi need to build their cell membranes. This eventually kills the fungus and clears the infection.
- • Abdominal pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Taste changes
- • Nausea
- • Rash
- • Headache
- Drug Interaction 2,906
- Nausea 2,214
- Dyspnoea 1,959
- Diarrhoea 1,937
- Malaise 1,650
- Drug Interaction 1,118
- Pyrexia 568
- Dyspnoea 474
- Pneumonia 461
- Nausea 445
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.
Itraconazole can cause congestive heart failure. You should not take this medicine if you have heart problems. Itraconazole can also interact with many other medicines. Some of these interactions can be dangerous or even fatal. Check with your doctor about all the medicines you take.
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.
You should not take itraconazole if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about safe alternatives.
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How to Read This clarithromycin vs itraconazole Comparison
clarithromycin is classified in the Macrolide Antibiotic drug class, while itraconazole 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 itraconazole has 3,066. 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 these two drugs interfere with each other's breakdown in the body, which can cause the levels of both to rise. this makes it more likely that you will experience side effects from either drug.. 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 itraconazole.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.