What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Clarithromycin and colchicine
Clarithromycin's FDA label of April 9, 2026 names colchicine in its contraindications section, and colchicine's label names clarithromycin too. The clarithromycin label: “Colchicine Contraindicated Colchicine: Colchicine is a substrate for both CYP3A and the efflux transporter, P-glycoprotein (Pgp).”
Check it at the source: the clarithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 9, 2026, Solaris Pharma Corporation); the colchicine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 22, 2025, Aurobindo Pharma Limited).
What does the clarithromycin label say about colchicine?
Clarithromycin label, contraindicationsCONTRAINDICATIONS Hypersensitivity to clarithromycin or any macrolide drug (4.1) Cisapride and pimozide (4.2) History of cholestatic jaundice/hepatic dysfunction with use of clarithromycin (4.3) Colchicine in renal or hepatic impairment (4.4) Lomitapide, lovastatin, and simvastatin (4.5) Ergot alkaloids (ergotamine or dihydroergotamine) (4.6) Lurasidone
Clarithromycin label, drug interactionsColchicine (in patients with renal or hepatic impairment) Contraindicated Colchicine: Colchicine is a substrate for both CYP3A and the efflux transporter, P-glycoprotein (Pgp).
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 colchicine label say about clarithromycin?
Colchicine label, drug interactionsNamed in a table that the FDA label file prints without its column breaks; the full label shows the table.
Lodoco label (AGEPHA Pharma USA, LLC, August 13, 2026), drug interactionsDrug class: Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors † atazanavir clarithromycin darunavir/ritonavir indinavir itraconazole ketoconazole lopinavir/ritonavir nefazodone nelfinavir ritonavir saquinavir telithromycin tipranavir/ritonavir; Outcome/effect: Significant increases in colchicine plasma levels [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].; Clinical comment: Concomitant use of LODOCO with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors is contraindicated [see Contraindications (4)].
Gloperba label (Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc., November 1, 2024), drug interactionsFatal drug interactions have been reported when colchicine is administered with clarithromycin, a dual inhibitor of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein.
Gloperba label (Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc., November 1, 2024), warnings and precautionsInhibition of both CYP3A4 and P-gp by dual inhibitors (i.e., clarithromycin) has been reported to produce life threatening or fatal colchicine toxicity due to significant increases in systemic colchicine levels.
Source: FDA drug label (Lodoco, NDA215727), AGEPHA Pharma USA, LLC, effective August 13, 2026 (SPL set ff06d68f-d65f-d097-e053-6294a90a7e5f), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Gloperba, NDA210942), Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective November 1, 2024 (SPL set 467cd83f-d695-4040-9434-10e80b4271da), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Colchicine), Aurobindo Pharma Limited, effective July 22, 2025 (SPL set dd93a40f-92ab-47ac-9083-b8a7a0b18ad6), 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 | Colchicine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Acid reflux and ulcers | Gout |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.466 per tablet 500 mg tablet | $0.122 per tablet 0.6 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