Selected Antidiabetic Agents/Clarithromycin; Telithromycin Interactions
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Moderate. These medicines may cause some risk when taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
Clarithromycin and telithromycin may slow down how quickly your liver processes your diabetes medicine.
What might happen:
The amount of your diabetes medicine in your blood may increase and may lower your blood sugar too much.
What you should do about this interaction:
Let your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together. Your doctor may want you to check your blood sugar more closely while you are taking your antibiotic. Let your healthcare professionals know if you experience signs of low blood sugar such as sweating, rapid heartbeat, or dizziness. Your doctor may want to change the dose of your diabetic medicine while you are taking your antibiotic.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
- 1.Bussing R, Gende A. Severe hypoglycemia from clarithromycin-sulfonylurea drug interaction. Diabetes Care 2002 Sep;25(9):1659-61.
- 2.Lilja JJ, Niemi M, Fredrikson H, Neuvonen PJ. Effects of clarithromycin and grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics of glibenclamide. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2007 Jun;63(6):732-40.
Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.
CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.