Clarithromycin 500 Mg Film-Coated Tablets

Document: leaflet MAH GENERIC_PL 04569-1213 change

Package leaflet: Information for the patient

Clarithromycin 250 mg Film-coated Tablets Clarithromycin 500 mg Film-coated Tablets

(clarithromycin)

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.

• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

1. What Clarithromycin is and what it is used for

2. What you need to know before you take Clarithromycin

3. How to take Clarithromycin

4. Possible side effects

5. How to store Clarithromycin

6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Clarithromycin is and what it is used for

Clarithromycin belongs to a group of medicines called macrolide antibiotics and is used to treat a variety of different infections in adults and children aged 12 years and older. These include infections of the skin and soft tissue or the respiratory system (nose, throat, chest, lungs).

Clarithromycin can also be used (along with other medicines) to treat the infection Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in patients with duodenal ulcers.

2. What you need to know before you take Clarithromycin

Do not take Clarithromycin if you

• are allergic to clarithromycin or any similar macrolide antibiotic such as erythromycin, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)

• are already taking any of the following medicines:

* ergotamine or dihydroergotamine (for migraine)

* lovastatin or simvastatin (statins, for high cholesterol)

* colchicine (for gout)

* ticagrelor (for preventing blood clots)

* ranolazine (for angina)

• are taking medicines called terfenadine or astemizole (for hay fever or allergies) or cisapride (for stomach disorders) or pimozide (for psychiatric conditions) as combining these medicines can sometimes cause serious disturbances in heart rhythm

• are taking other medicines which are known to cause serious disturbances in heart rhythm

• have a history of heart rhythm disorders (ventricular cardiac arrhythmia, including torsades de pointe) or abnormality of electrocardiogram (ECG, electrical recording of the heart) called 'long QT syndrome'

• have abnormally low levels of potassium in your blood (hypokalaemia)

• have severe liver failure in combination with kidney problems.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Clarithromycin if you:

• have kidney or liver problems

• have abnormally low levels of magnesium in your blood (hypomagnesaemia)

• have coronary heart disease, severe cardiac insufficiency or bradycardia (slow heart beat).

Other medicines and Clarithromycin

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription, especially any of the following:

• digoxin, quinidine, verapamil, amlodipine, diltiazem or disopyramide (heart drugs)

• warfarin or other drugs to thin the blood

• ergotamine or dihydroergotamine (for migraine)

• carbamazepine, phenobarbital, valproate or phenytoin (drugs for epilepsy)

• theophylline (helps breathing)

• terfenadine or astemizole (for hay fever or allergy)

• triazolam, alprazolam or midazolam (sedatives)

• statins (e.g. atorvastatin, rosuvastatin cerivastatin for high cholesterol)

• cisapride (for stomach disorders)

• ciclosporin, sirolimus or tacrolimus (immune suppressant)

• pimozide, quetiapine or other medicines for psychiatric conditions

• zidovudine, ritonavir, atazanavir, saquinavir, etravirine, nevirapine or efavirenz ((used to treat HIV infection)

• rifabutin, rifapentine or rifampicin (for treatment of some infections)

• fluconazole or itraconazole (antifungal)

• omeprazole (for heartburn and stomach ulcers)

• St John's wort (for depression)

• other antibiotics such as erythromycin

• colchicine (usually taken for gout)

• insulin or oral anti-diabetic drugs such as nateglinide or repaglinide (to reduce blood sugar levels)

• cilostazol (to improve blood circulation)

• methylprednisolone (anti-inflammatory)

• sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil (for erectile dysfunction)

• vinblastine (an anti-cancer drug)

• tolterodine (for urinary incontinence)

• aminoglycosides (antibiotics).

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Clarithromycin should not be given to pregnant or breast-feeding mothers unless the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the baby.

Do not breast-feed your baby, as small amounts of clarithromycin can pass into breast milk.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Do not drive or operate machinery if you feel dizzy, confused or disorientated while taking this medicine.

3. How to take Clarithromycin

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

• The tablets should be swallowed whole with some liquid.

• Tablets can be taken with or without food.

• 500 mg tablets should not be halved.

The recommended dose is:

To treat a respiratory, skin or soft tissue infection

Adults, Elderly and children aged 12 years and older

The recommended dose is 250 mg twice a day. For severe infections your doctor may increase the dose to 500 mg twice a day. Treatment normally lasts for 6 to 14 days.

Use in children (under 12 years old)

Do not give this medicine to children under 12 years old.

To treat H. pylori infection in adults with duodenal ulcers

Clarithromycin is usually combined with other medicines to treat H. pylori infection in adults with duodenal ulcers. The dose and how often you take it will depend on the other medicines your doctor gives you. It is important to take your medicine as advised by your doctor.

If you take more Clarithromycin than you should

Contact your doctor or nearest hospital emergency department immediately. Take the container and any remaining tablets with you. Signs of overdose include feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, indigestion or stomach pains.

If you forget to take Clarithromycin

Take the next dose as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you stop taking Clarithromycin

Keep taking your medicine until the course is finished. Do not stop taking your medicine just because you feel better. If you stop too soon the infection may come back again.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

If any of the following happen, stop taking Clarithromycin and tell your doctor immediately or go to your nearest hospital emergency department:

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Allergic reactions such as skin rashes including nettle rash or hives, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat which may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing

• Signs of infection, such as fever, shivering, sore throat, tiredness, swollen glands, which may be a sign of low white blood cell count

• Changes to the rhythm of your heart, such as a faster or irregular heartbeat

• Liver problems, which may cause dark urine, pale stools, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice), feeling sick, weight loss, which can lead to liver failure

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):

• Severe pain in the abdomen and back caused by inflammation of the pancreas

• Severe diarrhoea with blood in the stools

• Severe skin reactions, blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes and genitals

• Changes in how often or how much you urinate, maybe blood in the urine, possibly with lower back pain, rash, fever, feeling tired or weak, feeling or being sick (may be signs of problems with your kidneys)

• Fast heartbeat with chest pain and shortness of breath

• Red, swollen skin caused by bacterial infection

• Loss of hearing

These side effects are serious. You may need medical attention.

Other possible side effects

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, indigestion or stomach pains

• headache

• changes to your sense of taste, i.e. metallic or bitter taste

• difficulty sleeping

• rash

• increased perspiration

• altered liver function tests.

• oral thrush

• changes to the levels of some chemicals in the blood, which may be used to measure how your body is working and would be seen in a blood test.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• painful joints or muscles

• feeling dizzy, vertigo, feeling anxious, shaking, drowsiness

• painful, sore mouth or tongue

• loss of appetite or weight loss, constipation, dry mouth, flatulence, feeling bloated

or burping

• itching

• weakness, fatigue, chills, chest pain, generally feeling unwell

• vaginal thrush

• ringing in the ears.

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

• nightmares.

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):

• hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real), abnormal dreams, depression, convulsions, feeling disorientated, confused or disconnected from yourself or your actions

• changes to or loss of sense of smell

• bleeding or bruising more easily or more often than usual, may be signs of low platelet levels in the blood

• numbness, prickling or tingling sensation in arms and legs

• change in urine colour

• acne

• change in colour of tongue or teeth.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Clarithromycin

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use Clarithromycin after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Clarithromycin contains

The active substance is clarithromycin.

Each tablet contains 250 mg or 500 mg clarithromycin.

The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinised maize starch, croscarmellose sodium, povidone, colloidal anhydrous silica, stearic acid, magnesium stearate. The coating includes hypromellose (E464), hydroxypropyl cellulose (E463), titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol (E1520), vanillin, Quinoline yellow (E104)

What Clarithromycin looks like and contents of the pack

Your medicine comes as a yellow, oval shaped, film-coated tablet and is available in two strengths. The 250 mg tablets are marked 'C250' on one side and 'G' on the other and the 500 mg tablets are marked 'C500' on one side and 'G' on the other.

Clarithromycin is available in blisters and plastic bottles containing 4, 6, 7, 8, 10,

12, 14, 20, 21,24, 28, 30, 42, 50, 60, 100,

250 or 500 tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Mylan, Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 1TL,

United Kingdom.

Manufacturer

Generics [UK] Ltd, Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 1TL, United Kingdom

Gerard Laboratories, 35/36 Baldoyle Industrial Estate, Grange Road, Dublin 13, Ireland

Mylan Hungary Kft, H-2900 Komarom, Mylan utca 1, Hungary

This leaflet was last revised in 01/2016

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