Fromilid 500 mg film-coated tablets – clarithromycin antibiotic for respiratory infections

Fromilid film-coated tablets contain clarithromycin, an antibiotic from the macrolide group. Clarithromycin stops the growth of bacteria that cause infections of the airways, throat and sinuses, skin and soft tissues, and it is also used in combination treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection.

In Serbia it is authorised as Fromilid® 500 mg film-coated tablets, in a pack of 14 tablets (2 blisters of 7). It is intended for adults and children over 12 years of age.

What is Fromilid 500 mg used for and how should it be taken correctly?

Key facts about the medicine

What is Fromilid used for?

According to the package leaflet, Fromilid tablets are used to treat:

• lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia;
• throat and sinus infections;
• mild to moderate skin and soft tissue infections;
• Helicobacter pylori infection associated with duodenal ulcer (in combination with other medicines).

The medicine is intended for adults and children over 12 years of age.

How is it taken and dosed?

The tablets can be taken with or without food; swallow the whole film-coated tablet with at least half a glass of water. Dosing according to the leaflet:

• The tablet strength is 500 mg – your doctor decides how many tablets you take and for how long.
• The H. pylori combination may differ partly from the examples above; follow your doctor’s instructions exactly.
• Do not stop treatment just because you feel better – the symptoms may come back.

Special patient groups

• Children: the tablets are not intended for children under 12; the doctor will prescribe a suitable form.
• Liver or kidney impairment: caution is needed; severe liver disease combined with kidney disease is a contraindication.
• Heart disease: slow heart rate, coronary disease, heart failure and low magnesium require a discussion with the doctor before treatment.

Contraindications – when the medicine must not be used

Do not take Fromilid:

• if you are allergic to clarithromycin, other macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin) or any ingredient of the medicine;
• if you take ergotamine or dihydroergotamine (including inhaled migraine products);
• if you take terfenadine, astemizole, cisapride, domperidone or pimozide – risk of serious heart rhythm disorders;
• if you take lovastatin or simvastatin;
• if you have low blood potassium (hypokalaemia);
• if you have severe liver disease combined with kidney disease;
• if you take colchicine;
• if you take ticagrelor or ranolazine;
• if you have ventricular arrhythmias (including torsades de pointes) or a prolonged QT interval;
• if you take oral midazolam.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor before taking the medicine:

• if you have liver or kidney problems;
• if you have or are prone to fungal infections (e.g. thrush);
• if you have heart problems (slow heart rate, coronary disease, heart failure, low blood magnesium);
• if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Interactions with other medicines, food and drink

Your doctor may change the dose or request additional tests if you take:

• digoxin, quinidine or disopyramide; warfarin;
• carbamazepine, valproate, phenobarbital or phenytoin;
• atorvastatin or rosuvastatin (risk of rhabdomyolysis – watch for muscle pain and weakness);
• medicines for diabetes (nateglinide, pioglitazone, repaglinide, rosiglitazone, insulin, gliclazide, glimepiride);
• theophylline; triazolam, alprazolam or intravenous/oromucosal midazolam; cilostazol; methylprednisolone;
• vinblastine or ibrutinib; ciclosporin, sirolimus, tacrolimus;
• HIV medicines (etravirine, efavirenz, nevirapine, ritonavir, zidovudine, atazanavir, saquinavir);
• rifabutin, rifampicin, rifapentine, fluconazole, itraconazole;
• tolterodine; verapamil, amlodipine, diltiazem; sildenafil, vardenafil, tadalafil;
• St John’s wort (herbal product for depression); quetiapine and other antipsychotics;
• other macrolides, lincomycin and clindamycin.

Fromilid does not interact with oral contraceptives. Food does not affect how the medicine is taken.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant, breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning a pregnancy, do not take Fromilid without first talking to your doctor, because it is not known whether it is safe during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

Driving and using machines

Fromilid has not been shown to affect the ability to drive, but it may cause dizziness and drowsiness. If you notice these effects, do not drive or use machines.

Possible side effects

Stop taking the medicine and contact your doctor immediately in case of:

• severe or prolonged diarrhoea with blood or mucus (it may occur up to two months after treatment);
• rash, difficulty breathing, fainting or swelling of the face, tongue, lips, eyes and throat;
• yellowing of the skin, pale stools, dark urine, abdominal tenderness or loss of appetite (signs of liver problems);
• severe skin reactions – blisters on the skin, mouth, lips, eyes and genitals, red scaly rash with blisters, DRESS (rash, fever, inflammation of internal organs);
• muscle pain or weakness (rhabdomyolysis).

• common (up to 1 in 10): headache, sleep problems, taste changes, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhoea, liver function changes, widening of blood vessels, increased sweating;
• uncommon (up to 1 in 100): fever, swelling, redness or itching of the skin, oral or vaginal thrush, inflammation of the stomach and gut, blood count changes, loss of appetite, nervousness, drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness, ringing in the ears or hearing loss, palpitations or irregular heartbeat, asthma, nosebleed, pulmonary embolism, bloating, constipation, wind, dry mouth, cholestasis, muscle pain and cramps, abnormal liver and kidney tests;
• frequency not known: colitis, skin infection, confusion, hallucinations, depression, nightmares, mania, convulsions, tingling, loss of taste or smell, torsades de pointes and ventricular tachycardia, bleeding, pancreatitis, discoloration of tongue or teeth, acne, kidney inflammation or impaired kidney function.

Overdose, missed dose and stopping treatment

• Overdose: if you have taken more tablets than prescribed, or a child has swallowed some, seek medical help immediately; vomiting and abdominal pain are likely.
• Missed dose: take it as soon as you remember; do not take a double dose and do not exceed the daily number of tablets set by your doctor.
• Stopping treatment: take the medicine for as long as your doctor prescribed, even when you feel better.

Related information

For support of the gut flora during and after antibiotic treatment, see also the category Products with probiotics – products in this category do not replace the medicine prescribed for you.

Composition, pack and manufacturer

• Active substance: clarithromycin 500 mg per film-coated tablet.
• Tablet core: maize starch; microcrystalline cellulose; colloidal anhydrous silica; pregelatinised starch; polacrilin potassium; talc; magnesium stearate.
• Film coating: hypromellose; talc; titanium dioxide (E171); yellow iron oxide (E172); propylene glycol.
• Pack: carton with 2 PVC/PVDC/Al blisters of 7 film-coated tablets (14 tablets).
• Marketing authorisation holder: Krka-Farma d.o.o., Jurija Gagarina 26/V/II, Belgrade. Manufacturer: Krka d.d. Novo mesto, Slovenia.

Storage

• Store below 25 °C in the original package.
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not use after the expiry date; return unused medicine to a pharmacy that collects unused medicines.

Frequently asked questions

How long is Fromilid taken for?

The usual duration of treatment is 6 to 14 days, and the exact duration is decided by the doctor. Do not stop earlier even if you feel better, because the infection may come back.

Should Fromilid be taken with food?

Fromilid 500 mg film-coated tablets can be taken with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole with at least half a glass of water.

May I take a cholesterol medicine with Fromilid?

Simvastatin and lovastatin must not be taken with clarithromycin. With atorvastatin or rosuvastatin caution and monitoring are needed because of the risk of muscle damage – your doctor will decide on treatment.

Does Fromilid affect the contraceptive pill?

According to the leaflet, Fromilid does not interact with oral contraceptives.

Sources

• ALIMS – Summary of Product Characteristics, Fromilid® 500 mg film-coated tablets (SmPC, Serbian)
• ALIMS – Package leaflet, Fromilid® 500 mg film-coated tablets (PIL, Serbian)

Sources checked on: 25 October 2026.