Clarithromycin For Bacterial Tonsillitis

Clarithromycin Tablets for Bacterial Tonsillitis

What is Clarithromycin used for?

Clarithromycin is a prescription antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. It’s a common choice for bacterial tonsillitis and other throat infections, where it works to clear the bacteria behind the infection. Bacterial tonsillitis can cause swollen tonsils and pain when swallowing.

The same antibiotic is also prescribed for other bacterial infections, including:

• Sinus infections
• Chest infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia
• Skin infections
• Helicobacter pylori linked to duodenal ulcers

Bacterial tonsillitis can cause swollen tonsils and pain when swallowing.

Antibiotics work by stopping the growth of bacteria that cause infections, so clarithromycin only helps with bacterial infections, not viral infections such as colds and flu. Clarithromycin isn’t available over the counter, and in line with NHS guidance, antibiotics are prescribed only when needed.

How does Clarithromycin work?

Clarithromycin works by preventing bacteria from making the proteins they need to survive, which stops the infection from spreading. As the bacteria can no longer multiply, your immune system can clear what’s left, allowing you to start to recover.

Because it acts directly on bacteria, it’s a common treatment for bacterial throat infections such as tonsillitis.

Who can take Clarithromycin?

Clarithromycin is suitable for most adults and children aged 12 and over.

Antibiotics like amoxicillin are often tried first for tonsillitis. If you’re allergic to penicillin, your doctor may prescribe clarithromycin as an alternative.

You should never take clarithromycin for bacterial tonsillitis if you:

• Are allergic to clarithromycin, or to other macrolide antibiotics like erythromycin or azithromycin
• Take ergotamine or dihydroergotamine for migraine
• Take certain medicines that can affect your heart rhythm, including terfenadine, astemizole, cisapride, domperidone or pimozide
• Take the cholesterol medicines lovastatin or simvastatin
• Take ivabradine, ticagrelor or ranolazine for heart problems
• Take oral midazolam, colchicine or a medicine containing lomitapide
• Have very low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood
• Have severe liver disease together with kidney problems
• Have a personal or family history of heart rhythm problems or long QT syndrome

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking clarithromycin if you have heart, liver or kidney problems, or if you’re prone to fungal infections like thrush. Let them know if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, as the safety of clarithromycin at these times isn’t known.

How to Take Clarithromycin Tablets

Always take clarithromycin tablets exactly as your doctor or pharmacist tells you. For bacterial throat infections like tonsillitis, clarithromycin 500mg tablets are usually taken twice a day:

1. Take one tablet in the morning and one in the early evening.
2. Swallow each tablet whole with at least half a glass of water.
3. Keep taking the tablets until the course is finished.

A typical course of clarithromycin lasts 6 to 14 days. Take your doses around the same time each day, and complete the full course even if you feel better within the first few days.

You can take paracetamol to help with pain or a high temperature while the antibiotic works.

Side Effects of Clarithromycin

Like all medicines, clarithromycin can cause side effects, though not everyone gets them. Most are mild and usually resolve once your course is over.

Common Side Effects

These may affect up to 1 in 10 people:

• Headache
• Difficulty sleeping
• Changes in your sense of taste
• Feeling or being sick, stomach pain, indigestion or diarrhoea
• Increased sweating

Uncommon Side Effects

These may affect up to 1 in 100 people:

• A high temperature, chills or stiffness
• Swelling, redness or itchy skin
• Oral or vaginal thrush
• Feeling anxious, nervous, drowsy, tired, dizzy or shaky
• Ringing in the ears, hearing loss or vertigo
• Chest pain or changes in heart rhythm, such as palpitations
• Bloating, constipation, wind, burping or a dry mouth
• Nosebleeds
• Muscle spasms or muscle pain

Side Effects With Unknown Frequency

The frequency of these can’t be estimated from the available data:

• Acne
• Inflammation of the pancreas or colon
• Confusion, hallucinations, depression, abnormal dreams or nightmares
• Convulsions (fits)
• Pins and needles
• Discolouration of the tongue or teeth
• Loss of taste or smell
• Kidney problems, which you might notice as tiredness, puffiness or problems passing urine

Serious Side Effects

Stop taking clarithromycin and contact your doctor straight away if you notice any of these:

• Severe or long-lasting diarrhoea, which may contain blood or mucus and can start up to two months after treatment
• A rash, difficulty breathing, fainting or swelling of the face, tongue, lips, eyes or throat, which can be signs of an allergic reaction
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes, pale stools, dark urine, a tender abdomen or loss of appetite, which can be signs of a liver problem
• Severe blistering of the skin, mouth, lips, eyes or genitals
• A red, scaly rash with bumps and blisters
• Muscle pain or weakness

Call 999 or go to your nearest A&E if you have trouble breathing or your throat begins to swell, as these need emergency treatment.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report them directly through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.

Clarithromycin Ingredients

Active ingredient: clarithromycin (500mg per tablet)

Other ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, povidone (PVP K-30), low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate, hypromellose (E464), propylene glycol (E1520), titanium dioxide (E171), hydroxypropyl cellulose (E463), sorbitan monooleate, quinoline yellow aluminium lake (E104), sorbic acid (E200) and vanillin

Warnings and Precautions

• Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any other medicines you take, as many medicines interact with clarithromycin, including blood thinners like warfarin, some statins, diabetes medicines, epilepsy medicines and heart medicines such as digoxin.
• Let any healthcare professionals treating you know that you’re taking clarithromycin, and ask your pharmacy for advice if you’re unsure about anything.
• Speak to your doctor or pharmacist first if you have heart, liver or kidney problems, or if you’re prone to fungal infections like thrush.
• If you take the contraceptive pill and get diarrhoea or vomiting while on clarithromycin, use extra contraception such as a condom.
• Ask your doctor for medical advice before taking clarithromycin if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy, as its safety at these times isn’t known.
• Clarithromycin can cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people, so don’t drive or use machinery if you’re affected this way.