DESCRIPTION

Clarithromycin is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic. Chemically, it is 6-0-methylerythromycin. The molecular formula isC₃₈H₆₉NO₁₃, and the molecular weight is 747.96.

Clarithromycin is a white to off-white crystalline powder. It is soluble in acetone, slightly soluble in methanol, ethanol, and acetonitrile, and practically insoluble in water.

Biaxin is available as tablets and granules for oral suspension.

Each yellow oval film-coated Biaxin tablet contains 250 mg or 500 mg of clarithromycin and the following inactive ingredients: cellulosic polymers, croscarmellose sodium, D&C yellow no.10, FD&C blue no. 1, magnesium stearate, povidone, propylene glycol, silicon dioxide, sorbic acid, sorbitan monooleate, stearic acid, talc, titanium dioxide, and vanillin. The 250 mg tablet also contains pregelatinized starch.

After constitution, each 5 ml of Biaxin suspension contains 125 mg or 250 mg of clarithromycin. Each bottle of Biaxin granules contains 1250 mg (50 ml size), 2500 mg (50 and 100 ml sizes) or 5000 mg (100 ml size) of clarithromycin and the following inactive ingredients: carbomer, castor oil, citric acid, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, maltodextrin, potassium sorbate, povidone, silicon dioxide, sucrose, xanthan gum, titanium dioxide and fruit punch flavor.