Does Clarithromycin Interact With Phenytoin?

Name: Does Clarithromycin Interact With Phenytoin?
Creator: OmniRx Health

Other Drugs Metabolized by CYP450 Isoforms Other than CYP3A: Hexobarbital Phenytoin Valproate Use With Caution There have been postmarketing reports of interactions of clarithromycin with drugs not thought to be metabolized by CYP3A, including hexobarbital, phenytoin, and valproate.

Reviewed by the OmniRx Health clinical team•Last reviewed Jul 4, 2026

Severity: Moderate

Severity basis: drug interactions section (keywords: caution). Combining Clarithromycin (Macrolide antibiotic) and Phenytoin (Anticonvulsant) is classified as a moderate interaction.

What to Do

Use this combination with caution. Your prescriber may monitor you more closely or adjust doses.

How This Interaction Works

Interactions like this one can happen when two medicines have overlapping effects, or when one changes how the other is absorbed, broken down, or cleared from the body. Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic and Phenytoin is a anticonvulsant; together they are documented as a moderate interaction. How much this matters depends on your dose, your other medications, and your overall health.

If You Take Both Medications

If you have been prescribed both Clarithromycin and Phenytoin, do not start, stop, or change either medication on your own — some medicines are unsafe to stop suddenly. Tell your prescriber and pharmacist that you take both so they can decide whether the combination is right for you, adjust the dose, monitor you more closely, or suggest an alternative.

From the FDA Label

Other Drugs Metabolized by CYP450 Isoforms Other than CYP3A: Hexobarbital Phenytoin Valproate Use With Caution There have been postmarketing reports of interactions of clarithromycin with drugs not thought to be metabolized by CYP3A, including hexobarbital, phenytoin, and valproate.

Source: FDA structured product labeling (set_id 0be243c6-de02-45dd-8210-cab1bbc8dfa7).

Clarithromycin

Macrolide antibiotic

Brands: Biaxin

View Clarithromycin safety profile

Phenytoin

Anticonvulsant

Brands: Dilantin

View Phenytoin safety profile

Check these against your full medication list in our free Interaction Checker

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you take Clarithromycin and Phenytoin together?

Clarithromycin and Phenytoin have a documented moderate interaction. Use this combination with caution. Your prescriber may monitor you more closely or adjust doses.

How serious is the Clarithromycin and Phenytoin interaction?

It is classified as a moderate interaction, based on the FDA label's drug interactions section (keywords: caution). A moderate interaction can be clinically meaningful and usually calls for monitoring or a dose adjustment.

What should I do if I'm taking both Clarithromycin and Phenytoin?

This information is educational — not medical advice.

This page is provided for general educational purposes and summarizes publicly available data from sources such as the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. It is not a substitute for the judgment of a licensed clinician and should not be used to start, stop, or change any medication. It may be incomplete or out of date, and individual circumstances vary. Always talk with your prescriber or pharmacist about your specific medications and health conditions. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.

Questions About Your Medications?

A licensed OmniRx provider can review your full medication list and help you understand what's safe for you — no office visit required.

Other Clarithromycin Interactions

Other Phenytoin Interactions

Sources & References

Learn more about where our data comes from and how we write and review medical content.