Drug interactions
Calcitriol + Clarithromycin
Severity: Moderate
Calcitriol and Clarithromycin: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Clarithromycin inhibits CYP3A4 and may slow calcitriol breakdown, potentially raising its exposure. This could cause hypercalcemia, although clinical evidence is limited.
What this interaction means in plain words
Calcitriol and Clarithromycin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Calcitriol belongs to Musculoskeletal; Clarithromycin belongs to Anti Bacterial.
Why it happens
CYP3A4 inhibition reducing calcitriol metabolism.
What to do
Monitor serum calcium during and after clarithromycin therapy, and reduce the calcitriol dose if hypercalcemia develops.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Calcitriol and Clarithromycin, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Calcitriol
- Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan + Calcitriol Moderate
- Amlodipine-olmesartan-hydrochlorothiazide + Calcitriol Moderate
- Amobarbital + Calcitriol Moderate
- Apalutamide + Calcitriol Moderate
- Atazanavir + Calcitriol Moderate
- Atenolol-chlorthalidone + Calcitriol Moderate
Other interactions of Clarithromycin
- Astemizole + Clarithromycin Contraindicated
- Avanafil + Clarithromycin Contraindicated
- Cisapride + Clarithromycin Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Colchicine Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Conivaptan Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Dihydroergotamine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Calcitriol with Clarithromycin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Calcitriol and Clarithromycin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Clarithromycin inhibits CYP3A4 and may slow calcitriol breakdown, potentially raising its exposure. This could cause hypercalcemia, although clinical evidence is limited.
How serious is the interaction between Calcitriol and Clarithromycin?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor serum calcium during and after clarithromycin therapy, and reduce the calcitriol dose if hypercalcemia develops.
What other medicines interact with Calcitriol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Calcitriol with, for example, Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan, Amlodipine-olmesartan-hydrochlorothiazide, Amobarbital. The full list is on the Calcitriol page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
