People, as a rule, are wary of taking antibiotics because of their powerful effect on the body, since these drugs cause disturbances in the natural processes of defense and side effects. Clarithromycin tablets are an innovative and fairly safe macrolide antibiotic. It has a strong effect and causes a minimum of side effects.
This is an antimicrobial drug of semisynthetic origin, which belongs to the macrolide group. The medication is available in tablet form, in blisters of ten pieces per pack. The preparation contains 250 or 500 milligrams of the active ingredient - clarithromycin. Also, the drug is available in the form of capsules for oral use. Tablets "Clarithromycin" from what is prescribed?
What are the properties of the drug
Under the influence of the drug on the body, protein compounds are inhibited in the pathogenic cell, after which the reproduction process is inhibited.
"Clarithromycin" is active against streptococci, staphylococci, as well as listeria and corynebacteria. In addition, the drug exhibits increased activity in relation to gram-negative microorganisms:
- Helicobacter pylori;
- gonococci;
- meningococcus
In addition, tablets "Clarithromycin" from what is prescribed? The medicine effectively affects the following pathogens:
- peptococci;
- clostridia;
- legionella;
- chlamydia
- ureaplasma;
- mycoplasma.
In addition, the medication effectively fights against toxoplasma and mycobacteria, except for mycobacterium tuberculosis.
When is the use of the drug justified
According to the instructions for use with Clarithromycin (500 mg), tablets for adult patients and adolescents are prescribed to eliminate the following pathological processes:
- Impetigo (a skin disease that is very contagious and easily transmitted by contact with a sick person).
- Tonsillitis (a disease of the upper respiratory tract characterized by a prolonged inflammatory process of the tonsils).
- Pharyngitis (acute or chronic inflammatory process localized in the pharynx, affecting its mucous membrane and deeper layers, as well as soft palate tissues, lymph nodes).
- Otitis media (an infectious inflammatory process characterized by rapid development and localized in the middle ear cavity).
- Acute sinusitis (otorhinolaryngological disease, in which the inflammatory process occurs in the paranasal sinuses).
- Acute bronchitis (a disease of the respiratory system in which the bronchi are involved in the inflammatory process).
- Pneumonia (acute infection of the lungs of an infectious-inflammatory nature, which involves all the structural elements of the lung tissue, mainly alveoli and interstitial lung tissue).
- Pyoderma (purulent skin lesion resulting from the introduction of pyogenic cocci into it).
- Boils (acute purulent-necrotic inflammation of the hair follicle, sebaceous gland and surrounding connective tissue).
- Carbunculi (acute purulent-necrotic inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue around a group of hair sacs and sebaceous glands, which tends to spread rapidly).
- Gastric ulcer.
- Urethritis (inflammation of the urethra (urethra) caused by damage to the canal wall by various bacteria and viruses).
- Cystitis (an inflammatory process in the membrane of the bladder with the development of a bacterial infection).
- Cervicitis (an inflammatory process in the vaginal segment of the cervix. The course is characterized by turbid (mucous or purulent) secretions, pulling or dull pains in the lower abdomen).
- Endocervicitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the cervical canal caused by opportunistic microflora or STI pathogens).
- Pyelonephritis (an infectious inflammatory kidney disease that occurs when pathogenic bacteria spread from the lower urinary system).
- Ureaplasmosis (an infectious inflammatory disease of the genitourinary organs caused by the pathological activity of ureaplasmas).
- Chlamydia (a dangerous infection of the genitourinary tract, leading to complex consequences).
- Erysipelas (an acute infectious disease caused by streptococcus bacteria).
- Gonorrhea (a sexually transmitted infection that causes damage to the mucous membranes of organs lined with cylindrical epithelium: urethra, uterus, rectum, pharynx, conjunctiva of the eyes).
What limitations does the drug have
According to the instructions for use with Clarithromycin tablets for adults (500 mg), before starting treatment, you need to study the annotation for the medication in detail. Tablets are not recommended for use in the following cases:
- Hypersensitivity.
- Liver disease.
- Age to twelve years.
- The first three months of pregnancy.
- Lactation.
- Allergy.
Method of admission
According to the instructions for use with Clarithromycin 500 mg tablets, it is known that the medication is taken orally regardless of the meal, washed down with water. The daily concentration of the drug and the duration of treatment are determined by the doctor, which depends on the characteristics of the patient’s health, weight, diagnosis, complications and other factors.
The medicine must be used strictly according to the doctor’s prescription, it is best at the same time every day, due to which the pharmacological effect of the drug will be maximum.
Patients over twelve years old should take one tablet with a dosage of 250 milligrams in the morning and evening hours. In rare situations, an increase in daily concentration is possible up to 1 gram per day. According to the instructions for Clarithromycin, tablets for adult patients are prescribed one at a time 500 mg each morning and evening, or one 250 mg tablet four times a day. The duration of treatment should not exceed two weeks.
If during this period no improvement is observed in a person or his condition, on the contrary, worsens, it is necessary to consult a medical specialist as soon as possible.
In rare situations, the drug is combined with other antimicrobial agents under the supervision of a doctor. Tablets "Clarithromycin" from what is prescribed? For diseases of the stomach and intestines caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, it is recommended to take the drug as part of combination therapy with Omez, Omeprazole, Pantoprozole. The duration of complex treatment should be at least two weeks.
Is the drug used during pregnancy?
In the first three months of the "interesting position", the medication is contraindicated in women, since therapy can lead to congenital pathologies in the fetus.
In subsequent trimesters of pregnancy, treatment with Clarithromycin is possible only in a situation where the expected benefit to the mother will exceed the likely complications for the unborn child.
Since there is no information regarding the possibility of the active substance into the breast milk, tablets are not recommended for use by women during lactation in order to avoid negative effects in the newborn.
Side effects
As a rule, Clarithromycin is well tolerated by patients when used correctly. In rare situations, the patient has certain negative phenomena.
From the digestive system:
- Pain in the stomach.
- Nausea.
- Dry mouth.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea (rapid, multiple loose stools).
- Increased gas formation.
- Loss of appetite.
- Stomatitis (an oral disease, which is an inflammatory process that is localized on the tongue, gums, inner surface of the cheeks).
- Increased liver and hepatic transaminase activity.
From the side of the central nervous system, the following negative signs can be observed:
- Paresthesia (one of the types of sensitivity disorder, characterized by spontaneously arising sensations of burning, tingling, crawling ants).
- Dizziness.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Anxiety.
- Increased irritability.
According to the instructions, Clarithromycin 500 mg tablets or a different dosage can cause adverse reactions from the cardiovascular system, such as:
- Tachycardia (increased heart rate (HR) from 90 beats per minute).
- Changing the electrocardiogram.
- Lowering blood pressure.
- The development of acute vascular insufficiency.
Other side effects:
- Skin rashes.
- Itching
- Redness.
- Burning skin.
- Urticaria (an allergic disease that is manifested by the formation of blisters on the surface of the skin).
- Anaphylactic shock.
- Myalgia (a pathological condition characterized by the appearance of muscle pain).
- Myopathy (chronic progressive neuromuscular disease characterized by primary muscle damage).
- Asthma (a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract involving a variety of cellular elements).
- Candidiasis (a fungal disease that mainly affects the skin and mucous membranes, less often internal organs).
- Phlebitis (inflammation of the vein wall, which is caused by infection or the introduction of irritating substances into the vein, including inflammation of the veins associated with a change in the permeability of the wall).
- Gastroenteritis (a disease characterized by an inflammatory process in the stomach and small intestine, which may be caused by a bacterial (including Helicobacter pylori), viral or protozoal lesion).
- Asthenia (asthenic state, asthenic syndrome, asthenic reaction, neuropsychic weakness, chronic fatigue syndrome - a painful condition manifested by increased fatigue).
- Drowsiness.
- Tremor (fast, rhythmic movements of the limbs or trunk, caused by muscle contractions and associated with a temporary delay in corrective afferent signals).
- Fatigue.
- Jade (inflammation, which often leads to the fact that the tissues of paired organs change).
- Hemorrhage (pathological hemorrhage of varying severity in certain parts of the body that occurs with external influences or with internal pathologies of the body).
- Insomnia (sleep disturbance, expressed by superficial, intermittent sleep, a delay in its onset or premature awakening).
According to the instructions for use with Clarithromycin tablets, in adults with increased sensitivity to the drug, anaphylactic shock or angioedema may occur.
With proper use of the drug, situations of development of such symptoms are rare. If you accidentally use a large number of tablets orally or significantly exceed the recommended daily dose, a person has signs of an overdose. They are expressed in enhancing the above negative effects and the appearance of severe violations in the liver.
In this situation, the patient is taken to the doctor, where he is washed his stomach, give enterosorbents and carry out complex therapy if necessary.
Drug interaction
With the simultaneous use of "Clarithromycin" with "Theophylline", "Carbamazepine", "Cyclosporine", the content of the latest drugs in the blood increases.
The medication in combination with "Cisapride" or "Pimozide" can provoke the appearance of cardiac arrhythmia. The pharmacological effect of Clarithromycin may be reduced while taking it with Rifampicin.
When combining a medication with anticoagulants for oral use, it is necessary to regularly monitor the prothrombin time and blood coagulation.
Features
The use of the drug to eliminate bacterial infections increases the likelihood of superinfection due to inhibition of normal intestinal microflora. Diarrhea that occurs with antimicrobials can lead to pseudomembranous colitis.
If the patient is already taking any medications, it is imperative to inform the medical specialist before starting treatment with Clarithromycin.
Substitutes
Analogues of the drug are:
- Ecositrin.
- Aziklar.
- Fromilide.
- "Clerimed."
- Clubax.
- "Cleron."
- "Azitroks".
- "Zitrolide".
- "Claricide."
- Fromilide.
Before replacing the original medicine "Clarithromycin" with a generic, you should consult a doctor. Next, the most effective substitutes will be considered.
"Azitroks"
A broad-spectrum antibacterial drug, available in two dosage forms:
- tablets;
- powder for the manufacture of a suspension.
Azitrox is taken orally one hour before or after two hours. Since the simultaneous use of a medicine with food lowers and slows down the absorption of azithromycin (the active substance) in the gastrointestinal tract. When skipping the next medication, the missed dose should be taken as early as possible, and the next dose should be observed with a gap of twenty-four hours.
"Zitrolide"
The drug is available in the form of capsules for oral use. The active component of Zitrolide is azithromycin. The drug inhibits the growth of bacterial cells. With a high content of an antibacterial agent in the source of the infectious process, it exerts a bactericidal effect and leads to the death of bacterial cells. The antimicrobial effect of the drug is realized due to inhibition of protein compounds on the subunits of ribosomes. "Zitrolide" refers to broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs.
"Fromilide"
The composition of tablets "Fromilid" includes lactose, so the medication is not suitable for people with congenital intolerance to this substance. Patients with diabetes need to be especially careful when treating with "Fromilid". This is due to the fact that clarithromycin (the active substance) can enhance the pharmacological effect of hypoglycemic drugs, which subsequently increases the likelihood of a sharp decrease in blood sugar.
Patients with kidney and liver diseases must always consult a doctor before taking the medicine. During therapy, such patients should be under the supervision of doctors and, if any signs of worsening appear, immediately discontinue treatment.
How to store the drug
The drug is dispensed in pharmacies according to the prescription of a medical specialist. Tablets should be kept in a dark place, away from children. Shelf life is forty-eight months; at the end of this time, the drug must be disposed of.
The cost of "Clarithromycin" varies from 100 to 700 rubles.
Opinions
Consumers of the drug leave various reviews on the Clarithromycin online. As a rule, they write that thanks to the antibacterial agent, after a few days it was possible to get rid of the signs of an infectious disease. From what tablets "Clarithromycin" just do not prescribe! This is a broad-spectrum drug.
But there are many responses about the fact that the medicine causes a large number of adverse reactions, in particular, migraines, problems with the digestive system, and imbalance in the intestinal microflora. In most situations, it is noted that the drug should be taken as directed by a medical specialist in order to avoid side effects.