Biaxin
Biaxin And Colchicine
Biaxin isn’t a cure for gout, but it can have serious effects for gout sufferers
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It is the most common brand name of a drug called clarithromycin.
Other brand names include Clacina, Karicin, and Klaricid.
Clarithromycin is an antibiotic, commonly prescribed for infections of the ears, nose, mouth, throat and lungs. It also treats bacterial infections of soft tissues or skin. In combination with other drugs, clarithromycin can also treat Helicobacter pylori (H pylori).
Clarithromycin has no direct effect on gout, but it can cause severe problems if you take it at the same time as colchicine. A number of studies show that clarithromycin causes serious problems with colchicine. These results led to the FDA changing Biaxin safety labelling in July 2006. Other countries have followed this, including the UK’s NHS in September-October 2006.
So now is the time to check your meds. Look carefully – Biaxin is easy to spot, but clarithromycin may be combined with other drugs and may have a different brand name. See your doctor for alternatives to either of the drugs. Don’t take both.
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This Biaxin page was first published in 2006, and is republished here as part of ongoing website maintenance. Though I try to report whenever I learn of a medicine that is bad for gout, or conflicts with another gout medicine, a comprehensive bad drug report is beyond the scope of this website. I recommend that you check with your pharmacist if you are concerned about the side-effects or contraindications of any medicine.