Background: Clarithromycin is widely used for infections of helicobacter pylori. Clarithromycin belongs to polymorphic drug. Crystalline state changes of clarithromycin in sustained release tablets were found.

Objective: The aim of this study was to find the influential factor of the crystal transition of clarithromycin in preparation process of sustained-release tablets and to investigate the possible interactions between the clarithromycin and pharmaceutical excipients.

Methods and Results: The crystal transition of active pharmaceuticals ingredients from form II to form I in portion in clarithromycin sustained release tablets were confirmed by x-ray powder diffraction. The techniques including differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy, x-ray powder diffraction were used for assessing the compatibility between clarithromycin and several excipients as magnesium stearate, lactose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone K-30 and microcrystalline cellulose. All of these methods showed compatibilities between clarithromycin and the selected excipients. Alcohol prescription simulation was also done, which showed incompatibility between clarithromycin and concentration alcohol.

Conclusion: It was confirmed that the reason for the incompatibility of clarithromycin with high concentration of alcohol was crystal transition.