Drug Information for CLARITHROMYCIN (KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITALS): CONTRAINDICATIONS

Clarithromycin is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to clarithromycin,erythromycin, or any of the macrolide antibiotics.

Concomitant administration of clarithromycin and any of the following drugs is contraindicated:cisapride, pimozide, astemizole, terfenadine and ergotamine or dihydroergotamine (See DrugInteractions). There have been post-marketing reports of drug interactions when clarithromycin and/orerythromycin are coadministered with cisapride, pimozide, astemizole, or terfenadine resulting incardiac arrhythmias (QT prolongation, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and torsades depointes) most likely due to inhibition of metabolism of these drugs by erythromycin and clarithromycin.Fatalities have been reported.

For information about contraindications of other drugs indicated in combination with clarithromycin,refer to the CONTRAINDICATIONS section of their package inserts.