IV Injection
Maclar 500 mg IV Injection
Generic: Clarithromycin
Manufacturer: Techno Drugs Ltd., Satipara, Narshingdi
Therapeutic class: Macrolide Antibiotic
What is Maclar used for?
Maclar (IV Injection) contains Clarithromycin 500 mg and is made by Techno Drugs Ltd., Satipara, Narshingdi. Therapeutic class: Macrolide Antibiotic.
What is Maclar?
Maclar 500 mg IV Injection contains clarithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic from Techno Drugs Ltd. It is used in medical settings to treat susceptible bacterial infections, including some respiratory tract, skin, and soft tissue infections, when injection therapy is considered appropriate.
Maclar 500 mg iv injection is a macrolide antibiotic from Techno Drugs Ltd., Satipara, Narshingdi containing the generic Clarithromycin. Doctors in Bangladesh commonly prescribe it for chest infections, throat and sinus infections, certain skin infections and, as part of combination therapy, for stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori. It is a prescription-only antibiotic and should never be bought over the counter for a simple cough or cold.
Clarithromycin works by binding to the bacterial ribosome — the machinery bacteria use to make proteins. Without these proteins, bacteria cannot grow or multiply, allowing your immune system to clear the infection. Because it acts only on bacteria, Maclar has no effect on viral illnesses such as the common cold, influenza or dengue fever.
Indications
Maclar is prescribed for infections caused by clarithromycin-sensitive bacteria, including:
- Respiratory infections: pharyngitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, acute otitis media, bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia
- Skin and soft-tissue infections such as folliculitis and cellulitis
- Helicobacter pylori eradication in peptic ulcer disease, combined with amoxicillin and an acid-reducing medicine
- Certain atypical mycobacterial infections, under specialist care
Your doctor will decide whether Maclar is appropriate based on the site of infection, your medical history and local resistance patterns. Do not use it for viral sore throat, the common cold or uncomplicated diarrhoea, where antibiotics give no benefit.
Dosage & Administration
ChamberBD shows dosing only from the approved product label, with its source named, and no label is on file for Maclar 500 mg IV Injection. Use the dose your doctor prescribed and the instructions in the pack leaflet.
Side Effects
Most people tolerate Maclar well, but some experience:
- An unusual metallic or bitter taste in the mouth — very common and harmless; it disappears once the course ends
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, indigestion or diarrhoea
- Headache, dizziness or difficulty sleeping
- Oral or vaginal thrush after prolonged use
Rare but serious effects include severe watery or bloody diarrhoea, irregular or racing heartbeat, fainting, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, severe skin rash, or unusual confusion. Stop the medicine and seek medical help immediately if any of these occur, and report all side effects to your doctor.
Precautions & Warnings
Maclar is a prescription-only antibiotic. Bangladesh is facing a serious antibiotic-resistance crisis, driven largely by antibiotics bought without prescription and courses stopped halfway. Take Maclar only when a doctor prescribes it, and complete the full course even if you feel better after two or three days — stopping early lets the strongest bacteria survive and return as resistant infections.
- Tell your doctor if you have heart rhythm problems, a slow heartbeat or low potassium, as Clarithromycin can prolong the QT interval
- Use cautiously in liver disease, kidney disease and myasthenia gravis
- Report severe or persistent diarrhoea during or after treatment without delay
Drug Interactions
Clarithromycin blocks a liver enzyme (CYP3A4) and interacts with many medicines. Tell your doctor about everything you take, especially:
- Statins: simvastatin and lovastatin must not be taken with Maclar, and atorvastatin needs caution — there is a risk of severe muscle damage
- Domperidone and other QT-prolonging drugs — risk of dangerous heart rhythms
- Warfarin (bleeding risk), digoxin, theophylline, carbamazepine, colchicine and ergot medicines
- Verapamil, amlodipine and other blood-pressure medicines
- Some diabetes medicines, midazolam and certain psychiatric drugs
Do not start any new medicine, including herbal products, during the course without asking your doctor or pharmacist first.
Contraindications
Do not take Maclar if you:
- Are allergic to clarithromycin, erythromycin, azithromycin or any other macrolide antibiotic
- Have a history of QT prolongation, ventricular arrhythmia (including torsades de pointes) or uncorrected low potassium or magnesium
- Are currently taking simvastatin, lovastatin, ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, ticagrelor, ranolazine or oral midazolam
- Have severe liver failure together with kidney impairment
- Take colchicine and also have kidney or liver disease
Always show your doctor your full medicine list and allergy history before starting Maclar, and mention any previous reaction to an antibiotic, however mild it may have seemed.
Pregnancy & Lactation
Pregnancy: Clarithromycin is generally avoided in pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester, because animal studies have suggested possible harm to the foetus. It should be used only if the doctor judges that no safer alternative antibiotic is suitable. Always tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy before taking Maclar.
Breastfeeding: Clarithromycin passes into breast milk in small amounts. Short courses are usually considered compatible with breastfeeding, but the baby may develop loose stools, oral thrush or feeding changes. Consult your doctor before use while nursing and report any unusual symptoms in the baby promptly.
Storage Conditions
Store as printed on the pack and keep out of the reach of children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stop taking Maclar once I feel better?
No. Feeling better usually means the weakest bacteria have died, but the strongest ones are still alive. Stopping Maclar early allows these survivors to multiply and develop resistance, making future infections much harder to treat — a major and growing crisis in Bangladesh. Always complete the exact number of days your doctor prescribed, even if symptoms disappear after two or three days. If side effects are troubling you, contact your doctor instead of stopping on your own.