Drug interactions
Clarithromycin + Glipizide-metformin
Severity: Moderate
Clarithromycin and Glipizide-metformin: 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 has been associated with increased hypoglycemia in patients taking sulfonylureas such as glipizide, sometimes severe. Risk is higher in older patients and those with renal impairment.
What this interaction means in plain words
Clarithromycin and Glipizide-metformin 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 belongs to Anti Bacterial; Glipizide-metformin belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Clarithromycin may raise sulfonylurea exposure and enhance insulin secretion; CYP2C9 inhibition is weak so the mechanism is not fully defined.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose during the antibiotic course and consider reducing the glipizide dose. Counsel the patient on hypoglycemia symptoms, or use an alternative antibiotic 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?
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Other interactions of Glipizide-metformin
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 Glipizide-metformin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Clarithromycin and Glipizide-metformin 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 has been associated with increased hypoglycemia in patients taking sulfonylureas such as glipizide, sometimes severe. Risk is higher in older patients and those with renal impairment.
How serious is the interaction between Clarithromycin and Glipizide-metformin?
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 blood glucose during the antibiotic course and consider reducing the glipizide dose. Counsel the patient on hypoglycemia symptoms, or use an alternative antibiotic such as azithromycin.
What other medicines interact with Glipizide-metformin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Glipizide-metformin with, for example, Contrast media, Diatrizoate meglumine / diatrizoate, Diatrizoate. The full list is on the Glipizide-metformin page.
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