Biaxin (Clarithromycin)

Biaxin (clarithromycin) is a macrolide antibiotic used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections. It does not work for viral infections such as the common cold or flu. This medication may also be used together with anti-ulcer medications to treat certain stomach ulcers.

What Is Clarithromycin?

Clarithromycin, sold under the brand name Biaxin, is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic that works against aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This makes it a versatile treatment option in clinical practice. Clarithromycin works by blocking bacterial protein synthesis, which stops bacteria from growing and multiplying.

The drug is available in several forms: immediate-release tablets, extended-release tablets, and oral suspension. It is used to treat infections such as pneumonia, strep throat, and skin infections. Clarithromycin is known for penetrating tissues well, which helps it work against localized infections.

Indications for Adult Patients

For adults, Biaxin is commonly used in the following cases:

• pharyngitis/tonsillitis due to Streptococcus pyogenes;
• acute maxillary sinusitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae;
• acute bacterial flare-up of chronic bronchitis due to Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae;
• community-acquired pneumonia due to Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR);
• acute bacterial flare-up of chronic bronchitis due to Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae;
• uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections due to Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes (abscesses usually require surgical drainage);
• disseminated mycobacterial infections due to Mycobacterium avium or Mycobacterium intracellulare.

Indications for Children

For children, Biaxin is commonly used in the following cases:

• pharyngitis/tonsillitis due to Streptococcus pyogenes;
• community-acquired pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR);
• acute maxillary sinusitis due to Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae;
• acute otitis media due to Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae;
• uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections due to Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes (abscesses usually require surgical drainage);
• disseminated mycobacterial infections due to Mycobacterium avium or Mycobacterium intracellulare.

Clinical Pharmacology

Clarithromycin is an antibiotic that is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract after it is taken by mouth. Its absolute bioavailability, especially for a 250 mg tablet, is about 50%.

When taken with food, absorption of a single 500 mg dose is slightly delayed, and peak plasma concentration occurs at about 2.5 hours instead of 2 hours. Food increases the peak plasma concentration of the medicine by about 24% but does not change overall bioavailability. While food does not affect the formation of its active metabolite, 14-OH clarithromycin, it does reduce its formation slightly, as shown by an 11% decrease in the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC). Because of this, the drug can be taken with or without food.

In healthy adults, peak plasma concentrations of the active ingredient are reached within 2 to 3 hours after dosing. Steady-state concentrations are reached in about three days: about 1 to 2 µg/mL for a 250 mg dose taken every 12 hours and about 3 to 4 µg/mL for a 500 mg dose taken every 8 to 12 hours. The elimination half-life of Biaxin is about 3 to 4 hours for the lower dose and 5 to 7 hours for the higher dose. The pharmacokinetics of clarithromycin show slight nonlinearity at these doses.

For the metabolite 14-OH clarithromycin, steady-state peak concentrations are about 0.6 µg/mL with a 250 mg dose. They can reach up to 1 µg/mL with a higher dose. The elimination half-life for this metabolite is about 5 to 6 hours for the lower dose and about 7 to 9 hours for the higher dose. Steady-state concentrations are usually reached within three to four days.

About 20% of a 250 mg dose is eliminated in urine as unchanged clarithromycin. By comparison, this rises to about 30% for a 500 mg dose. For the liquid suspension form (250 mg), urinary excretion may be even higher, at around 40%. The main metabolite found in urine is still the active form, accounting for an additional 10% to 15% of the total dose.

In patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who received similar doses, steady-state concentrations of clarithromycin were similar to those seen in healthy individuals. For those taking higher doses (500 or 1000 mg), peak concentrations ranged from about 2 to 10 µg/mL. While steady-state levels of clarithromycin remain consistent in patients with liver impairment, metabolite levels are lower because less is formed; however, this is offset by increased renal clearance.

Extended-release formulations of clarithromycin allow for prolonged absorption and provide lower peak plasma concentrations than immediate-release forms, while maintaining equivalent AUCs over a full day. For example, taking two extended-release tablets (500 mg each) once daily leads to peak plasma concentrations about five to eight hours after dosing. These extended-release tablets must be taken with food, since fasting can significantly reduce AUC.

In children who need antibiotic treatment, doses of clarithromycin suspension generally lead to steady-state concentrations between 3 and 7 µg/mL for the parent drug and between 1 and 2 µg/mL for its metabolite when given at a dosage of 7.5 mg/kg every 12 hours. In children with HIV receiving higher doses (15 mg/kg), peak concentrations can range from about 6 to 15 µg/mL.

Clarithromycin also penetrates well into middle ear fluid in children with otitis media. Studies have shown that food can affect plasma levels; for example, in adults taking clarithromycin suspension, food slightly lowers peak plasma concentration while increasing the duration of absorption.

Lastly, when combined with omeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor), clarithromycin plasma levels increase significantly for both the drug itself and its metabolite, suggesting that this combination may improve drug concentration in tissues where infection may occur.

Ingredients

Clarithromycin tablets contain active and inactive ingredients that support their effectiveness and stability. Each tablet typically contains clarithromycin (250 mg or 500 mg) as the active ingredient, along with inactive ingredients such as croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and others used in tablet formulation and absorption.

What Are the Dosages of Clarithromycin?

Clarithromycin is a white to off-white crystalline powder. It is soluble in acetone, slightly soluble in methanol, ethanol, and acetonitrile, and practically insoluble in water.

Forms of Biaxin

Biaxin is available as an immediate-release tablet, extended-release tablet, and granules for oral suspension. The medication comes in several strengths.

Each yellow, oval, film-coated immediate-release Biaxin tablet contains 250 mg or 500 mg of clarithromycin.

Each yellow, oval, film-coated Biaxin XL tablet (clarithromycin extended-release tablets) contains 500 mg of the active ingredient.

After reconstitution, each 5 mL of Biaxin suspension (clarithromycin for oral suspension) contains 125 mg or 250 mg of the active ingredient. Each bottle of Biaxin granules contains 1250 mg (50 mL size), 2500 mg (50 and 100 mL sizes), or 5000 mg (100 mL size) of the active ingredient.

Dosages of Clarithromycin

The usual adult dose for most infections is 250 mg every 12 hours or 500 mg every 8 to 12 hours, depending on how severe the infection is.

The recommended daily dose for children is 15 mg/kg/day divided every 12 hours for 10 days (up to the adult dose).

Clarithromycin may be prescribed with other medications for specific conditions such as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication.

Biaxin tablets and Biaxin Granules (clarithromycin for oral suspension) may be taken with or without food. Biaxin XL (clarithromycin extended-release tablets) should be taken with food. Biaxin XL tablets should be swallowed whole and not chewed, broken, or crushed.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medication to make up for the missed dose.

Important Safety Information

Healthcare providers need to consider several safety factors before treatment.

Prescribing Biaxin without a proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection, or for a preventive use, is unlikely to benefit the patient and increases the risk of drug-resistant bacteria developing.

This medication may harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Clarithromycin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Caution is advised in patients with liver impairment, as clarithromycin is metabolized by the liver. Patients should be monitored for signs of liver problems or severe allergic reactions during treatment.

Dose adjustments may be needed for patients with kidney impairment.

This medication is not approved for children younger than 6 months old.

If you have ever had heart problems, clarithromycin may cause a heart attack or stroke after you have taken this medication. Tell your doctor if you have heart disease.

Keep taking clarithromycin for the full recommended course, even if your symptoms improve. Missing doses may also make future antibiotic-resistant infections more likely.

In patients who do not respond to treatment, susceptibility testing should be done. If resistance to clarithromycin is confirmed, treatment that does not include clarithromycin is recommended.

A study in geriatric patients looked at how the body processes clarithromycin in healthy older adults aged 65 to 81. When these individuals took 500 mg every 12 hours, blood levels of clarithromycin and its active form were higher than those seen in younger adults. This increase is likely related to the natural decline in kidney function that comes with age. However, older patients did not have more side effects during clinical trials than younger patients. It is important to consider dose adjustment in older patients with severe kidney problems.

Prescription

In Canada, clarithromycin requires a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. It should be prescribed based on clinical judgment about the type of infection being treated and the patient's medical history. Healthcare providers should also consider possible drug interactions when prescribing clarithromycin.

Contraindications to Biaxin

There are several contraindications associated with clarithromycin use. Patients with known allergies to clarithromycin or any ingredient in the formulation should not take this medication. Taking this drug at the same time as certain medications (for example, some statins or anticoagulants) can lead to serious side effects because drug levels may increase. Patients with a history of liver disease should avoid clarithromycin because of possible hepatotoxicity. Also, tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:

• coronary artery disease (clogged arteries);
• heart problems;
• myasthenia gravis;
• long QT interval (QT) syndrome (in you or a family member);
• liver disease;
• diabetes;
• kidney disease;
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood).

Side Effects

Most side effects seen in clinical trials were mild and temporary.

Common side effects associated with clarithromycin include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and headaches.

Severe side effects can include liver problems, allergic reactions (such as rash and itching), QT prolongation (which may lead to arrhythmias), fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (as if you might pass out).

Patients may develop liver problems (loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, tiredness, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, jaundice) or kidney problems (little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath). Patients should report any unusual symptoms or severe reactions to their healthcare provider right away.

Antibiotic medications can cause diarrhea. It may be a sign of a new infection. If you have watery or bloody diarrhea, call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medication unless your doctor tells you to.

Interactions of Biaxin With Other Medicines

Clarithromycin has important interactions with various medications because it inhibits cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzymes. The main interactions include:

• pimozide;
• cisapride;
• lovastatin or simvastatin;
• lomitapide;
• ergotamine or dihydroergotamine.

Giving single doses of clarithromycin and carbamazepine together has increased plasma concentrations of carbamazepine. Monitoring carbamazepine blood levels may be considered.

Giving Biaxin tablets and didanosine at the same time to 12 adults with HIV resulted in no statistically significant change in didanosine pharmacokinetics.

Spontaneous post-marketing reports suggest that taking clarithromycin together with oral anticoagulants may increase the effects of the oral anticoagulants.

Healthcare providers should review all medications a patient is taking before treatment. Tell your doctor about all the medications you currently take.

Overdose of Biaxin

In cases of overdose, symptoms may include gastrointestinal upset such as nausea and vomiting. Severe overdose could lead to more serious health problems such as liver damage or cardiac arrhythmias. Immediate medical attention is required if an overdose is suspected.
Prompt removal of unabsorbed drug and supportive measures should be used to treat reactions that accompany overdosage. As with other macrolides, clarithromycin serum concentrations are not expected to be greatly affected by hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.

Storage

Clarithromycin should be stored at room temperature, 20°C to 25°C (68°F-77°F), away from moisture and heat. The oral suspension form must be refrigerated after reconstitution and discarded after the period stated on the label.

Benefits of Using Biaxin