Amiodarone and Clarithromycin interaction
Amiodarone and Clarithromycin: both prescribing labels flag this combination with the strongest language, such as a contraindication, a boxed warning, or an instruction to avoid it.
Do not combine without a prescriber's guidance. The label language below is the strongest FDA uses.
What the FDA labels say
From the Amiodarone (Nexterone) label · effective 2024-04-16
Reserve the combination of amiodarone with other antiarrhythmic therapies that prolong the QTc to patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias who are incompletely responsive to a single agent.
Table 5: Amiodarone Drug Interactions Concomitant Drug Class/Name Examples Clinical Comment QT Prolonging Drugs class I and III antiarrhythmics, lithium, certain phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants, certain fluoroquinolone and macrolide antibiotics, azole antifungals, halogenated inhalation anesthetic agents Increased risk of Torsade de Pointes.
CYP450 Inhibitors Grapefruit juice, certain fluoroquinolone and macrolide antibiotics, azole antifungals, cimetidine Increased exposure of amiodarone.
From the Clarithromycin label · effective 2026-01-01
QT Prolongation : Avoid clarithromycin tablets in patients with known QT prolongation or receiving drugs known to prolong the QT interval, ventricular arrhythmia ( torsades de pointes ), hypokalemia/hypomagnesemia, significant bradycardia, or taking Class IA or III antiarrhythmics ( 5.2 )
…Interactions with Clarithromycin Tablets Drugs That Are Affected By Clarithromycin Tablets Drug(s) with Pharmacokinetics Affected by Clarithromycin Tablets Recommendation Comments Antiarrhythmics: Disopyramide Quinidine Dofetilide Amiodarone Sotalol Procainamide Not Recommended Disopyramide, Quinidine: There have been postmarketing reports of torsades de pointes…
…known to prolong the QT interval [see also Contraindications ( 4.2 )] • patients with ongoing proarrhythmic conditions such as uncorrected hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia,clinically significant bradycardia and in patients receiving Class IA (e.g., quinidine, procainamide,disopyramide) or Class III (e.g., dofetilide, amiodarone, sotalol) antiarrhythmic agents.
Clarithromycin and other macrolides are known to inhibit CYP3A and Pgp.
Clarithromycin and other macrolides are known to inhibit CYP3A.
Taking more than these two? Interactions stack. Check your whole list at once; it stays in your browser.
Open in the checkerNot medical advice. Interaction Checker quotes FDA label text and NIH fact sheets. Whether an interaction matters for you depends on doses, timing, kidney and liver function, and other conditions. Confirm with a pharmacist or prescriber.