Suvorexant and Clarithromycin Interaction
Drug interaction information between Suvorexant and Clarithromycin.
Suvorexant and Clarithromycin have a documented moderate interaction in FDA labeling.
FDA drug labeling documents a moderate-severity interaction between Suvorexant 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 enzyme that breaks down suvorexant, which can cause the sleep medicine to build up to high levels in your body.
FDA Label Information
CYP3A Inhibitors Concomitant use of BELSOMRA with strong inhibitors of CYP3A (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, clarithromycin, nefazodone, ritonavir, saquinavir, nelfinavir, indinavir, boceprevir, telaprevir, telithromycin and conivaptan) is not recommended [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Suvorexant Also Interacts With
- Ketoconazole moderate
- Posaconazole moderate
- Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir moderate
- Diltiazem minor
- Ciprofloxacin minor
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 Suvorexant + Clarithromycin?
Compiled FDA labeling labels this pair moderate. 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 Suvorexant's 15. In the moderate band specifically: Suvorexant has 4 (also Ketoconazole, Posaconazole, Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir); Clarithromycin has 35 (also Omeprazole, Methylprednisolone, Sildenafil, Valproate).
What mechanism field is on file for Suvorexant and Clarithromycin?
Clarithromycin blocks the enzyme that breaks down suvorexant, which can cause the sleep medicine to build up to high levels in your body.
Clarithromycin carries more major-labeled pairs than Suvorexant
SPL source-record counts only. This page's band is moderate · classes on file: Suvorexant (Orexin Receptor Antagonist); Clarithromycin (Macrolide Antibiotic).
Clarithromycin has 16 major-labeled pairs vs Suvorexant's 0. This page itself is in the moderate band, not the major band.
0 major · 4 moderate · 11 minor · 15 total
- Other moderate peers for Suvorexant
- Ketoconazole
- Posaconazole
- Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir
16 major · 35 moderate · 30 minor · 81 total
- Other moderate peers for Clarithromycin
- Omeprazole
- Methylprednisolone
- Sildenafil
- Valproate
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.