Clarithromycin prescribed but patient on Sertraline. Is this ok. Any Gp's or pharmacists to advise here?

[Knackeredhamster]

Family member very poorly with throat virus possibly bacterial.
It's been horrendous.
Still very poorly.

We did a strep test via Amazon which is negative but have Clarithromycin here from GP as back up.

There seems alot of advice on antibiotics being a no no whilst on Sertraline because of serotonin syndrome.

Family member tried phenylalanine Thursday but bad reaction eg immediate vomitting.

I'm sure the GP thinks it's ok to take but it's Saturday and can't phone as closed.

So any thoughts on this would be very welcome.
Family member is an adult.

Thankyou

Sorry
Phenoxymethyl penicillin was first antibiotic tried.

Ring 111 and check if you’re unsure. Or a pharmacist.

I wouldn’t trust advice from anyone here claiming to be medical.

Clarithromycin is not listed in the BNF as having any interaction with sertraline: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/interactions/sertraline/
But you could call 111for advice or as pp said ask a pharmacist.

I’m getting over Pneumonia and this was one of the antibiotics I was given to aid in my recovery. The dosage I was given was ridiculously strong. With strong side effects.
I was sporadically taking escitilopram and the pharmacist advised me not to take it, which wasn’t a big deal because I don’t take it much anyway ( whole other thread) .

My advice is to speak to a medical professional such as a pharmacist this morning, if you can’t get through to the GP. Don’t leave it too late- lots close at lunchtime on Saturdays.

Hope your relative feels better soon.

Thankyou.

As I posted this I realised that of course I could drive to Boots and ask the pharmacist.
Very remote location here with usual chemists closed.

I won't bother 111. Had to do that Wednesday and whole a&e in the night thing for another medical incident.

I asked as sometimes a poster will come on to threads and say hi I'm a gp or pharmacist.

I'm due a coffee so will drive to town.

Thankyou

That's a very helpful link thankyou.

I wonder why so much info saying it's a no no.

Where did you here you can't take antibiotics with sertraline? Sertraline is one of the most common prescribed medications in the UK and that would be a huge problem if you couldn't have antibiotics with it.

Anecdotally I am on sertraline and have had antibiotics a few times.

It is not listed in the bnf which is the medical bible for drug interactions. I have never heard this as an issue before

I am an anaesthetic nurse.

Completely agree.

I'll Google

I'm being vigilant I guess as also don't want to give antibiotics unnecessarily, and just googling was producing information about interactions.

Appreciate your answer.

Sorry. I meant to say I appreciate all drugs have side effects of course.
Lack of sleep here and trying to do the right thing whilst navigating 2 different illnesses in family member.

the interaction between macrolides and an SSRI is not to do with serotonin syndrome but because of possible ECG changes. If a GP's prescribed clari knowing that a patient is on an SSRI they've almost certainly risk assessed for that and decided that the risk of an untreated bacterial infection outweighs those of any potential drug interaction.

Thankyou so much for the explanation.

I got an info overload.

From looking up so many things I mean.