Cyclosporine and Clarithromycin Interaction
Drug interaction information between Cyclosporine and Clarithromycin.
Cyclosporine and Clarithromycin have a documented major interaction in FDA labeling.
FDA drug labeling documents a major-severity interaction between Cyclosporine 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 liver enzyme that breaks down cyclosporine, which causes the drug to build up in your body.
FDA Label Information
Gastroprokinetic Agents: Cisapride Contraindicated Cisapride: [See Contraindications ( 4.2 )] Lipid-lowering agents: Lomitapide Lovastatin Simvastatin Contraindicated Lomitapide, Lovastatin, Simvastatin: Clarithromycin may increase the exposure of these drugs by inhibition of CYP3A metabolism, thereby increasing the risk of toxicities from these drugs [see Contraindications ( 4.5 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Atorvastatin, Pravastatin, Fluvastatin: [See Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Atorvastatin Pravastatin Use With Caution Fluvastatin No Dose Adjustment Hypoglycemic Agents:...
Cyclosporine Also Interacts With
- Ezetimibe major
- Ezetimibe/Simvastatin major
- Pitavastatin major
- Simvastatin major
- Aliskiren moderate
Clarithromycin Also Interacts With
- Quetiapine major
- Pioglitazone major
- Fluconazole major
- Lurasidone major
- Pimozide major
Frequently Asked Questions
What SPL severity band is on file for Cyclosporine + 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?
Cyclosporine has 89 labeled pairs on file vs Clarithromycin's 81. In the major band specifically: Cyclosporine has 5 (also Ezetimibe, Ezetimibe/Simvastatin, Pitavastatin, Simvastatin); Clarithromycin has 16 (also Quetiapine, Pioglitazone, Fluconazole, Lurasidone).
What mechanism field is on file for Cyclosporine and Clarithromycin?
Clarithromycin blocks the liver enzyme that breaks down cyclosporine, which causes the drug to build up in your body.
Clarithromycin carries more major-labeled pairs than Cyclosporine
SPL source-record counts only. This page's band is major · classes on file: Cyclosporine (Calcineurin Inhibitor (Immunosuppressant)); Clarithromycin (Macrolide Antibiotic).
Clarithromycin has 16 major-labeled pairs vs Cyclosporine's 5.
5 major · 24 moderate · 60 minor · 89 total
- Other major peers for Cyclosporine
- Ezetimibe
- Ezetimibe/Simvastatin
- Pitavastatin
- Simvastatin
16 major · 35 moderate · 30 minor · 81 total
- Other major peers for Clarithromycin
- Quetiapine
- Pioglitazone
- Fluconazole
- Lurasidone
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.