Is Clarithromycin a controlled substance?

Clarithromycin is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

What are the side effects of Clarithromycin?

Reported side effects, adverse reactions, and contraindications for Clarithromycin: GI upset common. Hepatotoxicity reported. Drug interactions via CYP3A4 inhibition. Bitter taste may reduce compliance.

Clarithromycin

US brand names:Biaxin

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Clarithromycin is dosed at 12.5 mg/kg PO q8-12h x 14 days in ferrets, per Marini RP, Fox JG, Taylor NS, et al. Ranitidine bismuth citrate and clarithromycin, alone or in combination, for eradication of Helicobacter mustelae infection in ferrets. Am J Vet Res. 1999;60:1280-1286. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.932 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Ferrets). Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antibiotic

Routes

Indications

2-14 month courseBacterial infection (macrolide)Bacterial infection (otitis media, S. pneumoniae)Feline leprosy syndromeHelicobacter mustelae infectionMycobacterial infectionsMycobacteriosis caused by Mycobacterium genavense infectionmycobacteriosis resulting from M. genavense infectionSusceptible bacterial infections (extra-label)Upper respiratory tract disease (mycoplasmosis)

Mechanism of Action

Binds 50S ribosomal subunit inhibiting protein synthesis. Enhanced tissue penetration and intracellular activity compared to erythromycin.

Side effects & warnings

GI upset common. Hepatotoxicity reported. Drug interactions via CYP3A4 inhibition. Bitter taste may reduce compliance.

Species with Clarithromycin dosing data (9 dose rules)

African Grey Parrot African Pygmy Hedgehog Canary Cat (Domestic)Chinchilla Dog (Domestic)Ferret Sulcata Tortoise

Species references:All African Grey Parrot drugs All African Pygmy Hedgehog drugs All Canary drugs All Cat (Domestic) drugs All Chinchilla drugs All Dog (Domestic) drugs All Ferret drugs All Sulcata Tortoise drugs

Evidence levels across 9 dose rules

Weak×3Anecdotal×2Moderate×4

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Sample dosing (2 of 9 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 8 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Cat (Domestic)	PO	7.5 mg/kg	q12h	Moderate	Plumb's 10th ed printed p.278, Clarithromycin monograph spanning p.276-278.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
Dog (Domestic)	PO	5–10 mg/kg	q12h	Moderate	Plumb's 10th ed printed p.278, Clarithromycin monograph spanning p.276-278.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Report an error in this entry

Backed by 8 published sourcesShow

· 52. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: Quesenberry Q, Orcutt C, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.733 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Hedgehogs).
· Alper CM, Doyle WJ, Seroky JT, et al. Efficacy of clarithromycin treatment of acute otitis media caused by infection withttpenicillin-susceptible, -intermediate, and -resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in the chinchilla. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1996;40:1889-1892. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.771 doi:10.1128/aac.40.8.1889 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.1 (Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents Used in Rodents.a).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 5.1. NOTE: the served figure was matched against the table as a whole, not against this drug's own row, so confirm the number on the page before relying on it.

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