Cleanomisin

Quick links to important sections

Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 10/01/2026

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Cleanomisin

Property Description
Active ingredient Clarithromycin
Form Tablet (Film-Coated, Modified-Release), Oral Suspension
Pharmacological class Macrolide Antibiotic
General purpose Management of systemic bacterial infections
Origin Semi-synthetic compound (Erythromycin derivative)

What Type of Drug is Cleanomisin (Clarithromycin)?

Cleanomisin is a defined, prescription-only systemic antibiotic medicine whose active ingredient is Clarithromycin. This substance is structurally known as a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic, having been chemically derived from the natural product Erythromycin to optimize its effectiveness and stability in the body. This single-ingredient preparation is a focused therapeutic tool used to manage illnesses that are confirmed to be bacterial in origin, serving diverse patient needs from adults to pediatric patients.

How Does Cleanomisin Work to Help the Body?

The core purpose of Cleanomisin is to manage and resolve certain types of infectious diseases by reliably limiting the bacterial population. This drug achieves its antimicrobial action by targeting the essential internal processes of the bacteria responsible for growth. This mechanism involves inhibiting protein synthesis, which results in a bacteriostatic activity that effectively halts the growth and spread of susceptible pathogens. This action is clinically recognized for clearing bacterial threats by assisting the body’s own immune response to overcome the reduced pathogen load.

What Forms of Cleanomisin are Available?

Cleanomisin is supplied in various pharmaceutical forms designed for oral administration, demonstrating its positioning to serve diverse patient needs. The available preparations include standard film-coated tablets and distinct modified-release tablets, the latter being formulated to deliver Clarithromycin over an extended period. Furthermore, the product is offered as granules for oral suspension, a form specifically designed for accurate and simplified dosing for individuals who cannot easily take solid oral preparations.

Regulatory References

  1. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

What side effects are possible with Cleanomisin?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information: Cleanomisin

Cleanomisin, when administered systemically (by mouth or injection), carries a Boxed Warning from regulatory authorities regarding the risk of serious, potentially permanent, and disabling adverse reactions.

Serious and Potentially Permanent Adverse Reactions

These effects can involve multiple body systems and may occur together, manifesting within hours to weeks of starting treatment. Patients taking systemic Cleanomisin should be aware of the risk of:

  • Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Effects: Tendinitis and tendon rupture (most commonly the Achilles tendon), muscle pain or weakness, and joint pain or swelling. The risk is heightened in older patients, those who have received an organ transplant, and those taking corticosteroids.
  • Peripheral Nervous System Effects: Peripheral neuropathy, characterized by symptoms such as pain, burning sensation, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness.
  • Central Nervous System (CNS) Effects: Psychiatric adverse reactions including anxiety, depression, confusion, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts, as well as insomnia, memory impairment, and disturbances in attention.

Other Clinically Significant Safety Concerns

Additional serious risks identified in regulatory labels include:

  • Cardiac Effects: Prolongation of the QT interval, which can lead to abnormally rapid or irregular heart rhythm.
  • Blood Glucose Disturbances: Significant hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which may potentially result in coma, particularly in older individuals and those with diabetes.
  • Hypersensitivity: Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and photosensitivity (phototoxicity).
  • Myasthenia Gravis: Exacerbation or worsening of myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disease.
  • Clostridium difficile-associated Diarrhea: A severe form of diarrhea caused by a bacterial overgrowth.

Safety Restrictions and Limitations

Due to the risks of these serious adverse effects, regulatory bodies advise that the systemic use of Cleanomisin for certain uncomplicated infections—specifically acute bacterial sinusitis, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections—should be reserved for patients who have no alternative treatment options. If signs or symptoms of any serious adverse reaction, such as tendon pain or changes in mood, occur, the drug should be immediately discontinued, and alternative non-fluoroquinolone treatment should be considered.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help: Official Regulatory Information for Cleanomisin

This section outlines the officially documented manifestations of Cleanomisin (Clarithromycin) overdose and the required emergency actions, based strictly on government regulatory prescribing information.

Documented Manifestations and Severe Outcomes

Regulatory reports confirm that the ingestion of large quantities of Cleanomisin is primarily expected to produce pronounced gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Specific reports of massive overdose have also documented serious findings such as altered mental status and paranoid behaviour, alongside laboratory abnormalities like hypokaliaemia and hypoxaemia.

Furthermore, the official labeling warns of potential severe outcomes. These include the risk of hepatotoxicity (liver damage) and the development of serious, potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (such as Torsades de Pointes) due to the drug’s potential to prolong the QT interval.

Required Emergency Actions

Any suspected Cleanomisin overdose requires immediate medical attention. Treatment must be initiated by the prompt elimination of unabsorbed drug and the application of supportive measures to manage symptoms as they arise.

It is officially documented that there is no specific antidote for Clarithromycin overdose. Additionally, procedures like haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are noted as ineffective for removing the drug from the system. Caution is also noted for patients with renal impairment, as overdose risk may be heightened.

Therapeutic Uses of Cleanomisin

Cleanomisin is generally applied in addressing conditions involving inflammatory or irritative processes. As an agent in the antimicrobial category, it plays a role in managing symptoms linked to organ-specific functional stress.

Quick Fact: Assists with symptoms related to physical discomfort.

Antibiotics are commonly used to help with conditions where symptoms may intensify temporarily, and conditions involving episodic or fluctuating manifestations. The product is relevant for easing symptom clusters that create noticeable physiological strain, such as those related to respiratory tract discomfort, urinary tract irritation, and certain skin-related inflammatory states.

When symptoms create noticeable physiological strain, Cleanomisin may be part of symptomatic management across domains where short-term assistance is needed. The core patient benefit is applied in addressing overall distress; the goal is that it “contributes to improved comfort during periods of heightened symptoms.” This therapeutic approach may assist with maintaining functional stability when symptoms interfere with routine activities.

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Eligibility Map: Who can and cannot use Cleanomisin — Official Regulatory Information

Eligibility Scope

Classification Populations Covered
Populations for whom use is allowed Adults and adolescents 12 years and older; children 6 months to 12 years of age (using the oral suspension); patients with a known penicillin allergy.
Populations for whom use is not recommended Pregnant women (unless no alternative therapy is appropriate); breastfeeding women (requires careful risk-benefit weighing); children younger than 12 years (for the tablet formulation).
Populations for whom use is contraindicated Patients with a known hypersensitivity to any macrolide antibiotic; those with a history of QT prolongation or ventricular arrhythmia; patients with severe hepatic failure in combination with renal impairment; individuals with uncorrected hypokalaemia or hypomagnesaemia; and those with a history of cholestatic jaundice associated with prior macrolide use.

Age-related eligibility rules

  • Pediatric use is not established in children younger than 6 months of age for treating bacterial infections.
  • Tablets are generally not recommended for children under 12 years, who should use the oral suspension.
  • Geriatric populations with severe renal impairment may require caution.

Condition-specific eligibility rules

  • Severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min) requires caution and may limit use.
  • Use requires specific caution in patients with coronary artery disease, severe cardiac insufficiency, or conduction disturbances.

Connection to the overall eligibility profile

Official regulatory documents define who can and cannot use the medicine by classifying specific patient groups under strict criteria such as Contraindicated, Not Recommended, or subject to Caution/Restricted Use. These classifications are explicitly tied to physiological states (e.g., severe organ impairment), cardiac risk profiles, specific allergies, and the established safety data for different age groups and formulations. The eligibility profile establishes clear boundaries for use based on these non-negotiable health criteria.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Cleanomisin has documented interactions with several classes of medicinal products, necessitating careful monitoring or avoidance.

Documented Interacting Medicinal Products

The most clinically significant interactions involve agents that affect muscle function or blood clotting.

Product Category Specific Example(s) Interaction Effect and Regulatory Constraint
Neuromuscular Blocking Agents Vecuronium, Rocuronium, Tubocurarine Potentiation of muscle relaxation. Cleanomisin possesses intrinsic neuromuscular blocking properties that can enhance the action of these agents, potentially leading to prolonged muscle paralysis. Use requires caution and close monitoring.
Vitamin K Antagonists Warfarin Enhanced Anticoagulant Effect. Reports of increased Prothrombin Time/International Normalized Ratio (PT/INR) and/or bleeding have been documented. This is believed to be due to an effect on gut flora, which synthesize vitamin K. The official constraint is to frequently monitor coagulation tests (e.g., INR) in co-administered patients.

Other Relevant Interaction Information

The interaction with Opioids is noted due to the potential for increased risk of respiratory depression, advising against co-administration or requiring strict prudence. In the context of certain antibiotics, such as Erythromycin, in vitro antagonism has been reported, and co-administration should be avoided. Other products may affect the absorption of Cleanomisin; for example, co-administration with products containing Kaolin-Pectin may decrease the absorption of Cleanomisin.

The structure of the official interaction profile centers on two main risks: the synergistic potentiation of neuromuscular blockade and the increased bleeding risk with anticoagulants like warfarin. Regulatory bodies mandate vigilance, particularly with neuromuscular agents and the requirement for frequent laboratory monitoring when co-prescribed with Vitamin K antagonists.

Mechanism of Action

Blocking the Bacterial Protein Assembly Line

The drug’s primary mechanism is the targeted inhibition of essential bacterial protein synthesis. Cleanomisin achieves this by binding specifically to the 50S ribosomal subunit of susceptible bacteria, physically obstructing the mathbf23S ribosomal RNA and preventing the translocation of the growing peptide chain. This molecular blockade results in bacteriostasis—the immediate arrest of pathogen growth and replication—which results in the reduction of the pathogen population.


Modulating Host Inflammatory Signals

Cleanomisin also engages a secondary, non-antimicrobial mechanism by acting as a modulator of specific host immune pathways. The drug alters the signaling and production of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines and affects the activity of immune cells like neutrophils. This action modulates the activity of inflammatory processes, which alters the physiological response in affected tissues.


️ Limitations: Overcoming Target-Specific Resistance

The drug’s mechanism is physiologically constrained when bacteria develop defense strategies that prevent ribosomal binding. The bacteriostatic effect is functionally lost if the pathogen expresses methylase enzymes that modify the 23S rRNA binding site or utilizes efflux pump proteins that actively expel the drug, preventing sufficient intracellular concentration at the molecular target.

Dosage and Administration Information

The administration of Cleanomisin (Clarithromycin) follows standardized instructions for its various formulations, which include Immediate-Release (IR) tablets, Extended-Release (ER) tablets, Granules for Oral Suspension, and an Intravenous (IV) preparation.

Official Administration Guidelines

Usage Rule Instruction
Route of Administration Oral (tablets, suspension) or Intravenous (IV) infusion.
Standard Dosing Schedule IR tablets: 250 mg or 500 mg twice daily. ER tablets: 1000 mg (as two 500 mg tablets) once daily.
Timing in Relation to Meals IR tablets/suspension may be taken with or without food. ER tablets must be taken with food.
Population-Specific Rules Patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl < 30 mL/min) require a mandated 50% dose reduction. Pediatric use is typically weight-based.
Special Procedural Conditions Extended-Release tablets must be swallowed whole and cannot be crushed, broken, or chewed.

Official Step Sequence

The treatment course typically spans between 6 and 14 days. For administration:

  • Confirm the correct formulation (IR, ER, or Suspension) according to the prescribed regimen.
  • If administering the oral suspension, the granules require reconstitution with water as specified by the manufacturer's label.
  • Adhere to the mandatory dosing frequency (once or twice daily) and the specific requirement to take the ER tablet with food.

This protocol ensures that the medicine is used in accordance with official dosing and consumption guidelines.

Recent Clinical Evidence

The clinical evaluation of Cleanomisin (Clarithromycin) is based on trials designed for study in specific bacterial conditions. Research detailing the use of Cleanomisin is extensive, primarily drawing from large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews.

Studies have focused on the medicine’s evaluation as an addition to standard treatment in hospitalized adults diagnosed with moderate-to-severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP). Researchers examined outcomes such as time to clinical stability and early clinical response, which were defined by measuring changes in symptom severity scores and specific inflammatory markers. Some trials reported that a higher percentage of patients receiving Cleanomisin met specific early endpoints compared to a control group, though findings on overall 30-day and 90-day survival outcomes were observed to show variability across different studies. The application of the medicine across all severity levels of CAP is a subject of ongoing discussion in current guidelines.

Cleanomisin was also thoroughly evaluated as a component within multi-drug regimens designed to eradicate the pathogen Helicobacter pylori. The main study outcome monitored was the H. pylori eradication rate, assessed four weeks post-treatment. Findings indicate that the reported eradication rate is highly contingent on the susceptibility profile of the bacterial strain; rates drop significantly when the bacteria exhibit resistance to macrolide antibiotics. This variability means evidence is limited regarding results for populations where resistance status is unknown.

Furthermore, research has explored the medicine as an adjunctive therapy in critically ill adults with sepsis or septic shock. Pooled meta-analyses reported that the administration of Cleanomisin was not associated with a consistent difference in 28-day or 90-day all-cause mortality outcomes. The consistent role of the medicine in critical care contexts is not fully established, highlighting an area of ongoing research. Limited information is available for long-term outcomes extending past three months.

Key Studies & References

  1. Efficacy of Clarithromycin in Patients with Sepsis Due to Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

How should Cleanomisin be stored and disposed of?

Storage and Disposal Requirements for Cleanomisin

The storage and disposal of Cleanomisin (Clarithromycin) must follow official guidelines to maintain product quality and ensure safety.


Storage Conditions

  • Temperature and Protection: Tablets and unmixed granules must be kept at controlled room temperature, typically between 15 C to 30 C (59 F to 86 F). The product must be stored away from excess heat, moisture, and light.
  • Oral Suspension Handling: The mixed liquid suspension must not be refrigerated or frozen. Any unused portion of the mixed suspension must be discarded after 14 days.
  • Child Safety: All forms of the medicine must be stored out of the sight and reach of children.

Disposal Instructions

Unused or expired Cleanomisin should be discarded safely. Disposal must be performed in accordance with local regulations and official government guidelines for pharmaceutical waste.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

Available in countries:

Equivalent of Cleanomisin found in:

A-Z Index: