ATC code: A02BD06, J01FA09
Claritromycin is associated with QT-prolongation on ECG and thus a risk of potentially fatal arrhythmias of the type Torsade de pointes ventricular tacycardia. No difference in risk between men and women has been shown for clarithromycin but a known risk factor for Torsade de pointes is female sex.
A systematic review found the resistance of Helicobacter pylori to claritromycin to be higher in women.
In our opinion, the described differences do not motivate differentiated dosing or treatment in men and women.
No studies with a clinically relevant sex analysis regarding pharmacokinetics or dosing of clarithromycin have been found.
In a retrospective observational cohort study, patients (44 men, 59 women) with severe asthma or bronchiectasis were treated with clarithromycin or azithromycin in addition to their standard treatment. Men with bronchiectasis were more likely to respond (symptom score) to treatment with macrolides than women, 53% vs. 27% [1].
Clarithromycin has been associated with prolonged QT-interval and a risk of Torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia [2, 3]. Among the known risk factors of drug-induced ventricular arrhythmias are female sex, hypokalemia, bradycardia, and base line QT-prolongation [4].
Regarding teratogenic aspects, please consult the Drugs and Birth Defects Database (in Swedish, Janusmed fosterpåverkan).
Several studies report differences in Helicobacter pyloriantibiotic resistance between men and women. A systematic review of 31 studies, published worldwide 2006-2009, found that overall, primary clarithromycin resistance was more common among women than men (20.5% vs. 15.5%). Also, clarithromycin resistance rate varied widely between different populations. High resistance was reported from Spain and Japan while low resistance was found in Sweden, the Netherlands and Malaysia [5].
Updated: 2019-02-26
Date of litterature search: 2015-01-27
Reviewed by: Mia von Euler
Approved by: Karin Schenck-Gustafsson