Drug interactions
Clarithromycin + Cortisone
Severity: Moderate
Clarithromycin and Cortisone: 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 can raise systemic corticosteroid exposure by slowing its breakdown. This may intensify steroid effects such as fluid retention, hyperglycemia, mood changes and adrenal suppression. The effect is clearer for methylprednisolone and less well documented for cortisone, which is a prodrug of cortisol.
What this interaction means in plain words
Clarithromycin and Cortisone 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.
Why it happens
Clarithromycin inhibits CYP3A4, which contributes to corticosteroid clearance, so steroid exposure may rise.
What to do
Monitor for corticosteroid excess such as hyperglycemia, edema and hypertension during co-therapy, and reduce the steroid dose if needed. For prolonged courses consider an alternative macrolide such as azithromycin.
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 Clarithromycin and Cortisone, 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 7 days on the web. No card needed.
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 Clarithromycin with Cortisone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Clarithromycin and Cortisone 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 can raise systemic corticosteroid exposure by slowing its breakdown. This may intensify steroid effects such as fluid retention, hyperglycemia, mood changes and adrenal suppression. The effect is clearer for methylprednisolone and less well documented for cortisone, which is a prodrug of cortisol.
How serious is the interaction between Clarithromycin and Cortisone?
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 for corticosteroid excess such as hyperglycemia, edema and hypertension during co-therapy, and reduce the steroid dose if needed. For prolonged courses consider an alternative macrolide such as azithromycin.
What other medicines interact with Clarithromycin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Clarithromycin with, for example, Astemizole, Avanafil, Cisapride. The full list is on the Clarithromycin 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.
