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clarithromycin vs vilazodone

Side-by-side comparison of clarithromycin and vilazodone. 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

Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors (e.g., itraconazole, clarithromycin, voriconazole) The concomitant use of vilazodone hydrochloride tablets and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors increased the exposure of vilazodone compared to the use of vilazodone hydrochloride tablets alone [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Recommendation: Your doctor may need to lower your dose of vilazodone. Watch closely for any new or worsening side effects.

Drug Class
clarithromycin Macrolide Antibiotic
vilazodone SSRI / 5-HT1A Partial Agonist
Type
clarithromycin Prescription
vilazodone Prescription
Summary
clarithromycin

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

vilazodone

Vilazodone (Viibryd) is a medicine used to treat depression in adults. It helps to improve your mood.

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.

vilazodone

Vilazodone is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. MDD can cause you to feel sad, lose interest in activities, and have trouble with daily life. This medicine can help improve these symptoms.

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.

vilazodone

Vilazodone works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain. It increases the amount of serotonin available. Serotonin helps to regulate mood and emotions.

Common Side Effects
clarithromycin
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Taste changes
vilazodone
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
FAERS Reports
clarithromycin
  • Drug Interaction 2,906
  • Nausea 2,214
  • Dyspnoea 1,959
  • Diarrhoea 1,937
  • Malaise 1,650
vilazodone
  • Diarrhea 808
  • Nausea 808
  • Anxiety 662
  • Trouble sleeping 634
  • Headache 565
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.

vilazodone

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. Your doctor should closely monitor you for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts, especially when you first start taking this medicine or when your dose is changed. Vilazodone is not approved for use in children.

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.

vilazodone

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Taking vilazodone late in pregnancy may cause problems for the newborn. There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes in women exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy. You can call 1-844-405-6185 to register.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This clarithromycin vs vilazodone Comparison

clarithromycin is classified in the Macrolide Antibiotic drug class, while vilazodone sits within the SSRI / 5-HT1A Partial Agonist 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 vilazodone has 3,477. 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 slows down the liver enzymes that break down vilazodone. this causes the amount of vilazodone in your blood to rise, which could increase the risk of side effects.. 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 vilazodone - 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.