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Erythromycin belongs to a group of drugs called macrolide antibiotics. Macrolide antibiotics slow the growth of, or sometimes kill, sensitive bacteria by reducing the production of important proteins needed by the bacteria to survive.
Erythromycin is used to treat or prevent many different types of infections caused by bacteria.
Erythromycin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with erythromycin. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use cisapride, pimozide, ergotamine, or dihydroergotamine.
Before you take erythromycin, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, myasthenia gravis, a heart rhythm disorder, a history of Long QT syndrome, or low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood.
Take this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics. Erythromycin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, stop taking erythromycin and call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
You should not use erythromycin if you are allergic to it.
Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with erythromycin. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use:
lovastatin, simvastatin;
cisapride;
pimozide;
ergotamine, or dihydroergotamine.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
liver or kidney disease;
myasthenia gravis;
a heart rhythm disorder (especially if you take medicine to treat it);
long QT syndrome (in you or a family member); or
an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood).
It is not known whether erythromycin will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
It may not be safe to breast-feed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.
Take erythromycin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Erythromycin injection is given as an infusion into a vein, for a severe infection. A healthcare provider will give your first dose and may teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself.
Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Do not use erythromycin if you don't understand all instructions for proper use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.
Prepare your injection only when you are ready to give it. Do not use if the medicine looks cloudy, has changed colors, or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.
Shake the oral suspension (liquid) before you measure a dose. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).
You must chew the chewable tablet before you swallow it.
Do not crush, chew, or break a delayed-release capsule or tablet. Swallow it whole.
Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses can increase your risk of infection that is resistant to medication. Erythromycin will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.
This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using erythromycin.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Use the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor before using anti-diarrhea medicine.
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to erythromycin (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).
Call your doctor at once if you have:
severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
headache with chest pain and severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats;
hearing problems (rare); or
liver problems - loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, easy bruising or bleeding, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults, including hearing loss, or a life-threatening fast heart rate.
Common erythromycin side effects may include:
mild diarrhea; or
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
Many drugs can interact with erythromycin, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.
Further informationRemember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use erythromycin only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/27/2021.
Source: Drugs.com Erythromycin (www.drugs.com/erythromycin.html).
Applies to erythromycin: oral capsule delayed release, oral powder for suspension, oral tablet, oral tablet delayed release, oral tablet enteric coated
Other dosage forms:
Oral route (Suspension)
Erythromycin estolate is contraindicated in patients with preexisting liver disease. Hepatic dysfunction with or without jaundice has occurred, mainly in adults. It may be accompanied by malaise, nausea, vomiting, abdominal colic, fever, and in some instances, severe abdominal pain may lead to an abdominal surgical emergency. Discontinue erythromycin promptly if the above findings occur.
Along with its needed effects, erythromycin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking erythromycin:
Rare
Incidence not known
Some side effects of erythromycin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to erythromycin: compounding powder, injectable powder for injection, oral capsule, oral delayed release capsule, oral delayed release tablet, oral granule for reconstitution, oral suspension, oral tablet, oral tablet chewable, oral tablet coated particles
GeneralThe most common side effects associated with oral erythromycin were gastrointestinal and were dose-related.
GastrointestinalOnset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms has been reported during or after antibacterial therapy.
Rare (less than 0.1%): Pancreatitis, pancreatitis without biliary obstruction
Frequency not reported: Nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, pseudomembranous colitis, Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (ranging from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis)
CardiovascularLife-threatening episodes of ventricular tachycardia associated with prolonged QT interval (torsades de pointes) have been reported following IV administration of erythromycin lactobionate.
QT prolongation has been reported both in otherwise healthy patients and in patients with a history of heart disease or who were on other potentially arrhythmogenic drugs. Most affected patients were receiving erythromycin intravenously. In a recent retrospective study of 278 consecutive patients who had received IV erythromycin lactobionate, 39% of 49 evaluable patients developed moderate to severe delay in ventricular repolarization (QTc interval greater than or equal to 500 msec) during treatment. Of the 278 patients, torsade de pointes was observed in one patient (less than 0.4%).
Arrhythmias and hypotension have been reported following IV administration.
One case of erythromycin-related polymorphous ventricular tachycardia reported in a patient treated for pneumonia was characterized by a normal QT interval.
Frequency not reported: QT prolongation, ventricular arrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia, torsades de pointes, arrhythmias, hypotension, polymorphous ventricular tachycardia
Postmarketing reports: Torsades de pointes
HepaticRare (less than 0.1%): Hepatotoxicity, fulminant hepatic necrosis, false isolated elevations of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) enzymes
Frequency not reported: Hepatic dysfunction (including increased liver enzymes), hepatocellular and/or cholestatic hepatitis (with or without jaundice), transient elevations of liver function tests, hepatitis, abnormal liver function test results, intrahepatic cholestasis
Hepatic dysfunction (including increased liver enzymes) and hepatocellular and/or cholestatic hepatitis (with or without jaundice) have been reported with oral erythromycin.
HypersensitivityFrequency not reported: Allergic reactions (ranging from urticaria to anaphylaxis), hypersensitivity reactions (presented as rash, eosinophilia, fever), hypersensitivity with noninfectious hepatitis
DermatologicRare (less than 0.1%): Skin rash, maculopapular rashes (generalized, pruritic)
Frequency not reported: Skin reactions (ranging from mild eruptions to erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis)
Nervous systemRare (less than 0.1%): Convulsions, reversible hearing loss, reversible ototoxicity
Frequency not reported: Exacerbation of myasthenia gravis symptoms, new onset of myasthenic syndrome
Reversible hearing loss was reported primarily in patients with renal dysfunction and in patients receiving high doses of erythromycin.
Several published reviews have indicated that ototoxicity was associated with erythromycin dosages greater than 4 grams per day, preexisting liver or kidney disease, and advanced age. Recovery generally occurred within two weeks.
HematologicA case of hemolytic anemia has been reported in a patient with severe underlying diseases and erythromycin-associated hepatitis.
Rare (less than 0.1%): Reversible agranulocytosis
Frequency not reported: Hemolytic anemia
RenalFrequency not reported: Interstitial nephritis
PsychiatricRare (less than 0.1%): Recurrent nightmares
LocalSlow infusion of diluted erythromycin (continuously or intermittently over no less than 20 to 60 minutes) almost invariably alleviated venous irritation.
Rare (less than 0.1%): Venous irritation with IV administration
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/27/2021.
Source: Drugs.com Erythromycin (www.drugs.com/erythromycin.html).
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