What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Clarithromycin and dexamethasone
Dexamethasone's FDA label of June 6, 2025 names clarithromycin in its drug interactions section; the clarithromycin label PlainMeds reads does not name dexamethasone. The dexamethasone label: “Co-administration with other drugs which strongly inhibit CYP 3A4 may lead to increased plasma concentrations of corticosteroids and potentially increase the risk for systemic corticosteroid side effects.”
Check it at the source: the clarithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 9, 2026, Solaris Pharma Corporation); the dexamethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 6, 2025, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.).
What does the clarithromycin label say about dexamethasone?
Clarithromycin's label (effective April 9, 2026) does not name dexamethasone in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Clarithromycin), Solaris Pharma Corporation, effective April 9, 2026 (SPL set 4d42821d-ce7a-7d64-e063-6294a90a0875), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the dexamethasone label say about clarithromycin?
Dexamethasone label, drug interactionsCo-administration with other drugs which strongly inhibit CYP 3A4 (e.g., itraconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir, cobicistat-containing products) may lead to increased plasma concentrations of corticosteroids and potentially increase the risk for systemic corticosteroid side effects.
Source: FDA drug label (Dexamethasone Intensol), Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., effective June 6, 2025 (SPL set b15200fb-1826-472b-a907-e677a272513b), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Clarithromycin | Dexamethasone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Acid reflux and ulcers | Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Herpes and shingles, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, Allergies, Anemia, Pain |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.466 per tablet 500 mg tablet | $0.193 per tablet 4 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once