Clarithromycin and Erythromycin Interaction
Drug interaction information between Clarithromycin and Erythromycin.
Clarithromycin and Erythromycin have a documented minor interaction in FDA labeling.
FDA drug labeling documents a minor-severity interaction between Clarithromycin and Erythromycin. This page displays the available source-record category and label text. The category is not an individual risk estimate or medication-combination direction.
How They Interact
These two drugs are in the same family of antibiotics and work in the same way. Taking them together can increase the risk of side effects without providing extra benefit for your infection.
FDA Label Information
In postmarketing experience, erythromycin has been reported to decrease the clearance of triazolam and midazolam, and thus, may increase the pharmacologic effect of these benzodiazepines.
Clarithromycin Also Interacts With
- Quetiapine major
- Pioglitazone major
- Fluconazole major
- Cyclosporine major
- Lurasidone major
Erythromycin Also Interacts With
- Eplerenone major
- Pitavastatin major
- Risperidone major
- Sildenafil major
- Lefamulin moderate
Frequently Asked Questions
What SPL severity band is on file for Clarithromycin + Erythromycin?
Compiled FDA labeling labels this pair minor. That is a source-record field, not an individual medication-combination decision.
Which drug in this pair has the larger labeled-interaction portfolio?
Clarithromycin has 81 labeled pairs on file vs Erythromycin's 63. In the minor band specifically: Clarithromycin has 30 (also Amlodipine, Lorazepam, Diltiazem, Temazepam); Erythromycin has 53 (also Acetaminophen/Oxycodone, Alprazolam, Atorvastatin, Bromocriptine).
What mechanism field is on file for Clarithromycin and Erythromycin?
These two drugs are in the same family of antibiotics and work in the same way. Taking them together can increase the risk of side effects without providing extra benefit for your infection.
Clarithromycin carries more major-labeled pairs than Erythromycin
SPL source-record counts only. This page's band is minor · classes on file: Clarithromycin (Macrolide Antibiotic); Erythromycin (Macrolide Antibiotic).
Clarithromycin has 16 major-labeled pairs vs Erythromycin's 4. This page itself is in the minor band, not the major band.
16 major · 35 moderate · 30 minor · 81 total
- Other minor peers for Clarithromycin
- Amlodipine
- Lorazepam
- Diltiazem
- Temazepam
4 major · 6 moderate · 53 minor · 63 total
- Other minor peers for Erythromycin
- Acetaminophen/Oxycodone
- Alprazolam
- Atorvastatin
- Bromocriptine
Sources: FDA Drug Labels (SPL) via openFDA (2026). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This registry does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.