What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Clarithromycin and erythromycin
Clarithromycin's FDA label of April 9, 2026 names erythromycin in its contraindications section; the erythromycin labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name clarithromycin. The clarithromycin label: “Clarithromycin is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to clarithromycin, erythromycin, or any of the macrolide antibacterial drugs.”
Check it at the source: the clarithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 9, 2026, Solaris Pharma Corporation); the erythromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 1, 2024, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.).
What does the clarithromycin label say about erythromycin?
Clarithromycin label, contraindicationsClarithromycin is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to clarithromycin, erythromycin, or any of the macrolide antibacterial drugs [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].
Clarithromycin label, drug interactionsIn postmarketing experience, erythromycin has been reported to decrease the clearance of triazolam and midazolam, and thus, may increase the pharmacologic effect of these benzodiazepines.
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 erythromycin label say about clarithromycin?
Erythromycin's label (effective August 1, 2024) and its 3 other brand-application labels do not name clarithromycin in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Erythromycin), Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., effective August 1, 2024 (SPL set 75a0bd5a-d09f-483b-bfd8-f8343b149eb2), 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 | Erythromycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Acid reflux and ulcers | Bacterial infections, Acne |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.466 per tablet 500 mg tablet | $1.96 per tablet 250 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
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