What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Clarithromycin and nimodipine
Nimodipine's FDA label of August 30, 2024 names clarithromycin in its drug interactions section; clarithromycin's label does not name nimodipine itself but warns about its class (Calcium channel blockers (dihydropyridines)). The nimodipine label: “Risk of Hypotension with Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors Concomitant use of strong inhibitors of CYP3A4, such as some macrolide antibiotics, some HIV protease inhibitors, some HCV protease inhibitors, some azole antimycotics …”
Check it at the source: the clarithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 9, 2026, Solaris Pharma Corporation); the nimodipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 30, 2024, Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.).
What does the clarithromycin label say about nimodipine?
Clarithromycin's label does not name nimodipine itself; it warns about its class (Calcium channel blockers (dihydropyridines)):
Clarithromycin label, warnings and precautionsThese include colchicine toxicity with colchicine; markedly increased transaminases with lomitapide; rhabdomyolysis with simvastatin, lovastatin, and atorvastatin; hypoglycemia and cardiac arrhythmias (e.g., torsades de pointes ) with disopyramide; and hypotension and acute kidney injury with calcium channel blockers metabolized by CYP3A4 (e.g., verapamil, amlodipine, diltiazem, nifedipine).
Clarithromycin label, warnings and precautionsDiscontinue if signs and symptoms of hepatitis occur (5.3) Serious adverse reactions can occur due to drug interactions of clarithromycin with colchicine, some lipid-lowering agents, some calcium channel blockers, and other drugs (5.4) Risk of all-cause mortality one year or more after the end of treatment in patients with coronary artery disease.
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 nimodipine label say about clarithromycin?
Nimodipine label, drug interactionsStrong CYP3A4 inhibitors include some members of the following classes: macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, telithromycin), HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir), HCV protease inhibitors (e.g., boceprevir, telaprevir), azole antimycotics (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole), conivaptan, delavirdine, nefazodone Nimodipine plasma concentration can also be increased in the presence of moderate and weak inhibitors of CYP3A4.
Nimodipine label, warnings and precautionsRisk of Hypotension with Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors Concomitant use of strong inhibitors of CYP3A4, such as some macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, telithromycin), some HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir), some HCV protease inhibitors (e.g., boceprevir, telaprevir), some azole antimycotics (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole), conivaptan, delavirdine, and nefazodone with nimodipine should generally be avoided because of a risk of significant hypotension [see Drug Interactions (7.2) ].
Source: FDA drug label (Nymalize), Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective August 30, 2024 (SPL set e660fa26-b5c4-4d6d-8887-9e22b6666a10), 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 | Nimodipine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Acid reflux and ulcers | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.466 per tablet 500 mg tablet | $1.37 per capsule 30 mg capsule |
| 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