Clarithromycin and Rifabutin interaction

Cytochrome P450 Inducers: Rifabutin Use With Caution Rifabutin: Concomitant administration of rifabutin and clarithromycin resulted in an increase in rifabutin, and decrease in clarithromycin serum levels together with an increased risk of uveitis (see Rifabutin under “Drugs That Affect Clarithromycin Tablets” in the table below).

Miscellaneous Cytochrome P450 Inducers: Efavirenz Nevirapine Rifampicin Rifabutin Rifapentine Use With Caution Inducers of CYP3A enzymes, such as efavirenz, nevirapine, rifampicin, rifabutin, and rifapentine will increase the metabolism of clarithromycin, thus decreasing plasma concentrations of clarithromycin, while increasing those of 14-OH-clarithromycin.

Alternative antibacterial treatment should be considered when treating patients receiving inducers of CYP3A.

There have been spontaneous or published reports of CYP3A based interactions of clarithromycin with rifabutin (see Rifabutin under “Drugs That Are Affected By Clarithromycin Tablets” in the table above).

Since the microbiological activities of clarithromycin and 14-OH-clarithromycin are different for different bacteria, the intended therapeutic effect could be impaired during concomitant administration of clarithromycin and enzyme inducers.

MAC Treatment with Clarithromycin When rifabutin is used concomitantly with clarithromycin for MAC treatment, a decreased dose of rifabutin is recommended due to the increase in plasma concentrations of rifabutin (see PRECAUTIONS-Drug Interactions, Table 2 ).

Uveitis Due to the possible occurrence of uveitis, patients should also be carefully monitored when rifabutin is given in combination with clarithromycin (or other macrolides) and/or fluconazole and related compounds (see PRECAUTIONS-Drug Interactions, Table 2 ).

This effect may reduce the efficacy of standard doses of such drugs, which include itraconazole, clarithromycin, and saquinavir.

…HIV-infected patients (12) ↔ ↓ AUC by 15–20% ANTI-MAC (Mycobacterium avium intracellulare complex) Azithromycin 500 mg once a day for 1 day, then 250 mg once a day for 9 days 300 mg once a day Healthy subjects (6) ↔ ↔ Clarithromycin 500 mg twice a day 300 mg once a day HIV-infected patients (12) ↑ AUC by 75% ↓ AUC by 50% Monitor for rifabutin associated adverse events.

Alternative treatment for clarithromycin should be considered when treating patients receiving rifabutin ANTI-TB (Tuberculosis) Ethambutol 1200 mg 300 mg once a day for 7 days Healthy subjects (10)