Drug interactions
Clarithromycin + Nicardipine
Severity: Moderate
Clarithromycin and Nicardipine: 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 increase nicardipine concentrations and cause excessive vasodilation, resulting in hypotension, edema or bradycardia. Hypotension has been linked to acute kidney injury with macrolides and calcium channel blockers.
What this interaction means in plain words
Clarithromycin and Nicardipine 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; Nicardipine belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Clarithromycin inhibits CYP3A4-mediated metabolism of nicardipine.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure and heart rate, especially in the first days of therapy. Reduce the nicardipine dose if hypotension occurs, or use azithromycin instead.
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 Clarithromycin
- Astemizole + Clarithromycin Contraindicated
- Avanafil + Clarithromycin Contraindicated
- Cisapride + Clarithromycin Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Colchicine Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Conivaptan Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Dihydroergotamine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Nicardipine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Clarithromycin with Nicardipine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Clarithromycin and Nicardipine 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 increase nicardipine concentrations and cause excessive vasodilation, resulting in hypotension, edema or bradycardia. Hypotension has been linked to acute kidney injury with macrolides and calcium channel blockers.
How serious is the interaction between Clarithromycin and Nicardipine?
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 pressure and heart rate, especially in the first days of therapy. Reduce the nicardipine dose if hypotension occurs, or use azithromycin instead.
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.
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