We’re here to help.
Our friendly team is available to help Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm.
If you need urgent assistance, do not use this service. Call 111, or in an emergency call 999.
Our friendly team is available to help Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm.
If you need urgent assistance, do not use this service. Call 111, or in an emergency call 999.
0 items in your cart
Fast, discreet delivery
Free delivery over £40
100% UK-based pharmacy
All doctors & pharmacists UK-based
Free advice & support
Clinical support free · Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
Rated 4.9 out of 5
12,000+ verified patient reviews
Why Patients Choose Access Doctor
10+
Years serving UK patients
2,000+
Verified patient reviews
1,000+
Licensed treatments
24/7
Consultation available
Antibiotic treatment for infected insect bites — the recommended alternative for patients allergic to penicillin. Complete a quick online consultation and have your treatment dispensed by a UK-registered pharmacy and delivered to your door.
Order before 3pm — same-day dispatch (MON - FRI)
~5 min consultation
Secure & confidential · Reviewed by a UK prescriber
No subscription required · Free repeat prescriptions · Cancel anytime
Suitable age
18 years +
Max per order
1 course
Consultation
Yes — free online consultation required
Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic used to treat bacterial skin infections, including insect bites that have become infected. Most insect bites are harmless and settle on their own, but when bacteria such as Staphylococcus or Streptococcus enter the broken skin, the bite can develop into a localised infection known as cellulitis. Typical signs of an infected bite include spreading redness, warmth, swelling, increasing pain, pus or fluid, and sometimes fever. Clarithromycin works by stopping the bacteria from making the proteins they need to grow and multiply, which helps clear the infection. In UK guidance it is a recommended alternative for people who are allergic to penicillin and therefore cannot take flucloxacillin. A short course is usually taken twice a day, and our prescribers will confirm whether it is suitable for you during your free online consultation.
| Type of medicine | Macrolide antibiotic (prescription only) |
| Treats | Infected insect bites, cellulitis and other bacterial skin infections |
| Typical dose | 250mg–500mg twice a day, swallowed with water |
| Course length | Usually 5–7 days — complete the full course as directed |
| How to get it | Free online consultation — approved and dispensed by a UK pharmacy |
Not every insect bite needs antibiotics. You should consider treatment for an infected bite if you notice spreading redness, increasing swelling, warmth around the area, throbbing pain, pus, or a high temperature. Clarithromycin is typically taken as one tablet twice a day, with the doses spread evenly across the day; it can be taken with or without food. It is important to finish the entire course even if the bite starts to look better, as stopping early can allow the infection to return and contributes to antibiotic resistance. Tell our prescribers about any other medicines you take, as clarithromycin can interact with some drugs. Seek urgent medical help (call 111 or 999) if you develop a rapidly spreading red area, feel very unwell, are confused, or notice red streaks tracking away from the bite — these can be signs of a more serious infection that needs immediate care.
Yes. Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic, not a penicillin, so it is one of the recommended alternatives in UK guidance for people with a penicillin allergy who have an infected insect bite or other mild to moderate bacterial skin infection. It targets the Staphylococcus and Streptococcus bacteria most commonly responsible. Our prescribers will check your allergy history and current medicines during your free online consultation to confirm it is safe and suitable for you.
Both are antibiotics used for infected insect bites and cellulitis, but they belong to different families. Flucloxacillin is a penicillin-type antibiotic and is usually first choice, taken four times a day on an empty stomach. Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic and is the recommended alternative for people who are allergic to penicillin; it is taken twice a day and can be taken with or without food. Which one is right for you depends on your allergies, other medicines and medical history, which our prescribers assess during your free online consultation.
Most people start to notice an improvement within 2 to 3 days of starting Clarithromycin, with the redness, swelling and pain beginning to settle. It is important to keep taking it for the full course your prescriber recommends, usually 5 to 7 days, even if the bite looks better. If your symptoms are not improving after 2 to 3 days, or are getting worse, seek medical advice promptly as you may need a review.
The most common side effects affect the stomach, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, indigestion or a change in taste. Less commonly, some people experience headache or a skin rash. Rarely, clarithromycin can cause a serious allergic reaction or affect the heart rhythm, so you should stop taking it and seek urgent medical advice if you develop a widespread rash, swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, or a fast or irregular heartbeat. Clarithromycin can interact with several other medicines, so it is important to tell our prescribers about everything you take. Full safety information is provided with your medication and reviewed during your consultation.
No. Clarithromycin is a prescription-only medicine in the UK, so it cannot be bought over the counter. You can, however, access it online without seeing a GP in person by completing a free consultation with our prescribers. If treatment is appropriate, it is approved and dispensed by our registered UK pharmacy and delivered to you discreetly.
You do not need an existing prescription or a face-to-face appointment. Simply complete our short online consultation, which asks about your symptoms, allergies and medical history. One of our prescribers reviews your answers, and if Clarithromycin is safe and suitable for you, they will issue a prescription that is dispensed by our UK pharmacy. The whole process is free unless a treatment is recommended and you choose to order it.
No reviews yet. Be the first to write one.
Free consultation
Online review by a UK prescriber
Next-day delivery
Order before 3pm where offered
Discreet packaging
Plain outer packaging
