What is this antibiotic for children that may be out of stock?

For several years, France has regularly experienced supply tensions, or even stock shortages, of certain medications. This time, it is an antibiotic intended for children: clarithromycin.

“The tensions in clarithromycin oral suspension at 25 mg/ml observed throughout the country for several weeks are intensifying”reports the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) in a press release.

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An antibiotic used against winter illnesses

This antibiotic from the macrolide family fights bronchial infections, tonsillitis, sinusitis, laryngitis and tracheitis. “These tensions are explained by an epidemic of whooping cough which leads to an increase in the consumption of this antibiotic”ANSM told AFP.

The agency asks health professionals to book “temporarily” this medication to children under 4 kg and to prescribe the 50 mg/ml solution for weights from 4 kg, this containing a graduated syringe for dosages.

Pharmacies invited to manufacture capsules

She asks the doctors “to anticipate the possible unavailability of oral clarithromycin” in pharmacies, mentioning on the same prescription, another antibiotic of the same therapeutic class, azithromycin, at 40 mg/ml in an oral version.

In this context of supply tensions, the ANSM has also authorized compounding pharmacies to manufacture clarithromycin-based capsules of 250 mg and 500 mg.