Does Clarithromycin Interact with Digoxin?
CDI records a major classification for Clarithromycin and Digoxin. The stored summary is: Elevated digoxin serum concentrations reported with concomitant clarithromycin use, including cases of digoxin toxicity with potentially fatal arrhythmias. The mechanism involves clarithromycin inhibits p-glycoprotein, increasing digoxin exposure. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This record was extracted from drug labeling through openFDA. NIH/NLM RxNorm is used for drug identities. The summary and severity classification are CDI's processed information, not a verbatim source quotation. Product, route, and patient circumstances matter.
- Severity
- Major
- Clarithromycin Class
- Macrolide Antimicrobial
- Digoxin Class
- Cardiac Glycoside
- Management
- Close medical supervision required
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
Clarithromycin inhibits P-glycoprotein, increasing digoxin exposure
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Clarithromycin and your doctor is considering prescribing Digoxin (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
- Ask whether any dosage adjustments are needed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider