clarithromycin vs quetiapine
Side-by-side comparison of clarithromycin and quetiapine. 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
Colchicine (in patients with normal renal and hepatic function) Use With Caution Antipsychotics: Pimozide Contraindicated Pimozide: [See Contraindications ( 4.2 )] Quetiapine Lurasidone Quetiapine: Quetiapine is a substrate for CYP3A4, which is inhibited by clarithromycin. Co‑administration with clarithromycin could result in increased quetiapine exposure and possible quetiapine related toxicities. Refer to quetiapine prescribing information for recommendations on dose reduction if co‑administered with CYP3A4 inhibitors such as clarithromycin.
Recommendation: Your doctor may need to lower your quetiapine dose while you are taking this antibiotic.
Biaxin
Seroquel
Clarithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacterial infections. It belongs to a class of drugs called macrolides.
Quetiapine is a medicine that belongs to a class of drugs called atypical antipsychotics. It is used to treat mental disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
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.
Quetiapine is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and teens (13-17 years old). It also treats manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder in adults and children (10-17 years old). For bipolar disorder, it can be used alone or with other medicines like lithium or divalproex.
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.
Quetiapine works by changing the levels of certain natural substances in the brain. These substances are called neurotransmitters. By affecting these neurotransmitters, quetiapine can help reduce symptoms of mental disorders.
- • Abdominal pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Taste changes
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Dry mouth
- • Dizziness
- • Constipation
- • Feeling weak
- Drug Interaction 2,906
- Nausea 2,214
- Dyspnoea 1,959
- Diarrhoea 1,937
- Malaise 1,650
- Harmful effects from different substances 9,721
- Trouble sleeping 9,103
- Feeling tired 8,861
- Diabetes 8,343
- Weight gain 8,153
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.
Quetiapine may increase the risk of death in elderly patients who have psychosis related to dementia. Quetiapine can also increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, teens, and young adults. Watch for worsening symptoms or suicidal thoughts, and tell your doctor right away.
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.
If you take quetiapine during the last 3 months of pregnancy, your baby may have withdrawal symptoms or other problems after birth. There is a pregnancy registry to track outcomes in women who take quetiapine during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
Compare clarithromycin with
Compare quetiapine with
How to Read This clarithromycin vs quetiapine Comparison
clarithromycin is classified in the Macrolide Antibiotic drug class, while quetiapine sits within the Atypical Antipsychotic 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 quetiapine has 44,181. 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 clarithromycin stops your body from breaking down quetiapine, which can cause the drug to build up to toxic levels.. 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 quetiapine - 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.