Klacid 500 mg film-coated tablets – clarithromycin for respiratory, skin and Helicobacter pylori infections

Klacid film-coated tablets contain clarithromycin (500 mg), an antibiotic from the macrolide group. Antibiotics stop the growth of bacteria that cause infections.

Klacid 500 mg film-coated tablets are intended for adults and children aged 12 years and over. A separate form (granules for oral suspension) exists for children under 12, and Klacid MR (modified-release tablets) is a separate medicine with its own page – this page describes only the 500 mg film-coated tablets.

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

Key facts about the medicine

What is Klacid used for?

• chest infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia;
• throat and sinus infections;
• mild to moderate skin and soft tissue infections such as folliculitis, cellulitis and erysipelas;
• Helicobacter pylori infections associated with duodenal ulcer (in combination with other medicines).

How is Klacid taken and dosed?

• Respiratory, skin and soft tissue infections (adults and children over 12 years): according to the leaflet, the usual dose of clarithromycin is 250 mg twice daily for 6 to 14 days; in more severe infections the doctor may increase the dose to 500 mg twice daily. The doctor decides the strength and number of tablets.
• Helicobacter pylori and duodenal ulcer (adults): one 500 mg tablet twice daily, combined with amoxicillin (1000 mg twice daily) or metronidazole (400 mg twice daily) and lansoprazole or omeprazole, usually for 6 to 14 days. The doctor chooses the specific combination.
• Swallow the tablet with at least half a glass of water. Clarithromycin can be taken regardless of meals.
• Elderly patients: as for adults.

Special patient groups

• Children under 12 years: Klacid 500 mg film-coated tablets are not given; the doctor will prescribe a form suitable for the child (granules for oral suspension).
• Impaired kidney function (creatinine clearance below 30 mL/min): the total dose is halved and treatment should not last longer than 14 days.
• Liver, kidney or heart disease, tendency to fungal infections, pregnancy and breast-feeding: consult your doctor before use.

Contraindications – when the medicine must not be used

• allergy to clarithromycin, other macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin) or any of the excipients;
• concomitant use of ergot alkaloids (ergotamine, dihydroergotamine), terfenadine, astemizole, cisapride, pimozide or other medicines causing serious heart rhythm disorders;
• concomitant use of lovastatin or simvastatin, oral midazolam, ticagrelor, ranolazine or colchicine;
• low blood potassium (hypokalaemia); severe liver disease combined with kidney disease;
• family history of QT prolongation or ventricular arrhythmias (including torsades de pointes).

Warnings and precautions

• Heart problems (heart disease, heart failure, slow heartbeat or low magnesium).
• Liver or kidney problems.
• Tendency to fungal infections (e.g. thrush) – clarithromycin may cause oral or vaginal thrush.
• In myasthenia gravis, clarithromycin may worsen symptoms.
• If you develop diarrhoea or vomiting while taking oral contraceptives, extra contraceptive measures (e.g. condoms) may be needed.

Interactions with other medicines, food and drink

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

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning a pregnancy, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine, because the safety of clarithromycin in pregnancy and breast-feeding is not known.

Driving and using machines

Klacid may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If this happens, do not drive, use machines or do anything that requires increased attention.

Possible side effects

• Common (up to 1 in 10): insomnia, taste changes, headache, widening of blood vessels, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhoea, increased sweating.
• Uncommon (up to 1 in 100): fever, skin swelling and itching, oral or vaginal thrush, gastroenteritis, blood count changes, loss of appetite, nervousness, drowsiness, dizziness, ringing in the ears or hearing loss, palpitations and irregular heartbeat, nosebleeds, bloating, constipation, dry mouth, cholestasis, muscle pain, abnormal liver and kidney tests.
• Not known: colitis, confusion, hallucinations, depression, convulsions, loss of taste or smell, torsades de pointes and ventricular tachycardia, pancreatitis, tongue or tooth discolouration, acne, kidney inflammation.

Overdose, missed dose and stopping treatment

• Overdose: if you have taken more than prescribed or a child has swallowed tablets, seek medical help immediately; overdose is most likely to cause vomiting and abdominal pain.
• Missed dose: take it as soon as you remember; do not take more tablets per day than your doctor prescribed.
• Stopping treatment: do not stop when you feel better – symptoms may return; treatment lasts as long as the doctor decided.

Related information

For additional care and support with maintaining gut flora during antibiotic treatment, see also the category Products with probiotics – products in this category do not replace the medicine you have been prescribed.

Composition, pack and manufacturer

• Active substance: clarithromycin – 500 mg per film-coated tablet.
• Excipients – core: croscarmellose sodium; microcrystalline cellulose; silicon dioxide; povidone; stearic acid; magnesium stearate; talc; film: hypromellose; sorbitan monooleate; propylene glycol; titanium dioxide; vanillin; quinoline yellow (E104); hydroxypropylcellulose; sorbic acid.
• Appearance: oval, pale yellow film-coated tablets, flat on both sides.
• Pack: 14 film-coated tablets (2 blisters of 7).
• Manufacturer: AbbVie S.r.l., Aprilia (LT), Italy. Holder according to the leaflet: BGP Products Switzerland GmbH representative office Belgrade; the licence was transferred to Viatris Healthcare d.o.o. Belgrade in 2021.
• Licence number: 515-01-00520-19-001 (renewal of 03.10.2019; first licence 04.03.2009); after transfer 515-01-00222-21-001.

Storage

• Store in the original package to protect from light.
• 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

Is Klacid taken before or after meals?

Clarithromycin can be taken regardless of meals, as food does not affect its bioavailability. Swallow the tablet with at least half a glass of water.

Can I stop Klacid when I feel better?

No. It is important to take the medicine for as long as your doctor prescribed (usually 6 to 14 days), because symptoms may return.

Can Klacid be taken with statins?

Clarithromycin must not be taken with lovastatin or simvastatin. With atorvastatin or rosuvastatin caution and monitoring for muscle pain and weakness (risk of rhabdomyolysis) are needed – the doctor decides on treatment.

Is Klacid 500 mg suitable for children?

Klacid 500 mg film-coated tablets are intended for adults and children aged 12 years and over. For younger children the doctor prescribes a different, age-appropriate form.

Sources

• ALIMS – Klacid 500 mg film-coated tablets patient leaflet (PIL)
• ALIMS – Klacid 500 mg summary of product characteristics (SmPC)

Date sources were checked: 25.10.2026.