Colchicine and Clarithromycin Interaction
Drug interaction information between Colchicine and Clarithromycin.
Colchicine and Clarithromycin have a documented major interaction in FDA labeling.
FDA drug labeling documents a major-severity interaction between Colchicine and Clarithromycin. 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
Clarithromycin blocks the enzymes and transporters that remove colchicine from your body, which can lead to toxic levels of the drug.
FDA Label Information
Fluconazole No Dose Adjustment Fluconazole: [see Pharmacokinetics ( 12.3 )] Anti-Gout Agents: Colchicine (in patients with renal or hepatic impairment) Contraindicated Colchicine: Colchicine is a substrate for both CYP3A and the efflux transporter, P-glycoprotein (Pgp). The dose of colchicine should be reduced when co-administered with clarithromycin in patients with normal renal and hepatic function [see Contraindications ( 4.4 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] . Colchicine (in patients with normal renal and hepatic function) Use With Caution Antipsychotics: Pimozide Contraindicated...
Colchicine Also Interacts With
- Darunavir major
- Itraconazole major
- Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir major
- Atorvastatin moderate
- Ezetimibe moderate
Clarithromycin Also Interacts With
- Quetiapine major
- Pioglitazone major
- Fluconazole major
- Cyclosporine major
- Lurasidone major
Frequently Asked Questions
What SPL severity band is on file for Colchicine + Clarithromycin?
Compiled FDA labeling labels this pair major. 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 Colchicine's 28. In the major band specifically: Colchicine has 4 (also Darunavir, Itraconazole, Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir); Clarithromycin has 16 (also Quetiapine, Pioglitazone, Fluconazole, Cyclosporine).
What mechanism field is on file for Colchicine and Clarithromycin?
Clarithromycin blocks the enzymes and transporters that remove colchicine from your body, which can lead to toxic levels of the drug.
Clarithromycin carries more major-labeled pairs than Colchicine
SPL source-record counts only. This page's band is major · classes on file: Colchicine (Anti-Gout Agent); Clarithromycin (Macrolide Antibiotic).
Clarithromycin has 16 major-labeled pairs vs Colchicine's 4.
4 major · 9 moderate · 15 minor · 28 total
- Other major peers for Colchicine
- Darunavir
- Itraconazole
- Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir
16 major · 35 moderate · 30 minor · 81 total
- Other major peers for Clarithromycin
- Quetiapine
- Pioglitazone
- Fluconazole
- Cyclosporine
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.