Theophylline and Clarithromycin Interaction
Drug interaction information between Theophylline and Clarithromycin.
Theophylline and Clarithromycin have a documented moderate interaction in FDA labeling.
FDA drug labeling documents a moderate-severity interaction between Theophylline 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 slows down how your body gets rid of theophylline, which can cause the drug to build up in your blood.
FDA Label Information
Xanthine Derivatives: Theophylline Use With Caution Theophylline: Clarithromycin use in patients who are receiving theophylline may be associated with an increase of serum theophylline concentrations [see Pharmacokinetics ( 12.3 )] . Monitoring of serum theophylline concentrations should be considered for patients receiving high doses of theophylline or with baseline concentrations in the upper therapeutic range.
Theophylline Also Interacts With
- Metoprolol major
- Albuterol major
- Omeprazole major
- Amoxicillin major
- Famotidine major
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 Theophylline + 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?
Theophylline has 86 labeled pairs on file vs Clarithromycin's 81. In the moderate band specifically: Theophylline has 5 (also Bupropion, Febuxostat, Levofloxacin, Rifampin); Clarithromycin has 35 (also Omeprazole, Methylprednisolone, Sildenafil, Valproate).
What mechanism field is on file for Theophylline and Clarithromycin?
Clarithromycin slows down how your body gets rid of theophylline, which can cause the drug to build up in your blood.
Theophylline carries more major-labeled pairs than Clarithromycin
SPL source-record counts only. This page's band is moderate · classes on file: Theophylline (Methylxanthine Bronchodilator); Clarithromycin (Macrolide Antibiotic).
Theophylline has 27 major-labeled pairs vs Clarithromycin's 16. This page itself is in the moderate band, not the major band.
27 major · 5 moderate · 54 minor · 86 total
- Other moderate peers for Theophylline
- Bupropion
- Febuxostat
- Levofloxacin
- Rifampin
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.