Erythromycin
Description
Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections of the lungs, skin, bones, stomach, and intestine. It can be also used with other antibiotics to treat certain infections caused by sexually transmitted organisms like Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, etc. The topical forms of erythromycin are used to treat acne or pimples. This medicine kills or stops the growth of bacteria causing the infection. It is not effective against infections caused by viruses.
Common side effects of Erythromycin are diarrhoea, stomach pain, headache, changes in sense of taste, weakness, nausea, and vomiting. Use it cautiously in individuals with liver problems. It should only be used to treat or prevent infections that are caused by bacteria.
Erythromycin is available on prescription as capsules, tablets, liquid, injection, gel, cream, ointment, and lotion. Once an antibiotic is started, it is always recommended to finish the entire course of treatment. You can take this antibiotic with or without food. For the ease of remembering, take Erythromycin around the same time every day.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Erythromycin
- Mouth ulcers
- Diarrhoea
- Skin rash
- Muscle or joint pain
- Chest tightness
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Dizziness
- Difficulty in breathing
- Swelling of the face, lips or throat
- Headache
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Dark coloured urine
Uses of Erythromycin
What is it prescribed for?
- Community-Acquired Pneumonia
- Acute otitis media
- Bronchitis
- Pertussis
- Prophylaxis for Rheumatic Fever
- Pharyngitis/Tonsilitis
- Stomach and intestinal infections
- Skin and Soft tissue infections
- Syphilis
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Acne vulgaris
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionYou will start to feel better in 3 to 5 days after taking erythromycin. But finish your entire course of treatment, even if the condition gets better.
- Duration of effectThe duration of action for erythromycin is not clinically determined.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendency has been reported for Erythromycin
- Usage in pregnancy?Erythromycin is generally safe in pregnancy to treat bacterial infections. It is not known to cause any harm to the fetus. However, in early pregnancy, it can increase the risk of major birth defects and therefore should only be used upon your doctor's recommendation.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Erythromycin is not known to be harmful in breastfeeding women. It passes into breast milk in very low levels. Hence it is acceptable for use in nursing mothers upon your doctor's recommendation.
Allergy
Avoid taking Erythromycin if you are previously allergic to it. Serious allergic reactions to this medicine are rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of allergic reactions such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulties, etc.
Liver damage
Do not use Erythromycin in patients with a history of cholestatic jaundice (a condition of reduced bile flow from the liver to the small intestine) or impaired liver function associated with prior use of this medicine.
Statins
The combined use of Erythromycin and statins (cholesterol medicines) such as atorvastatin, simvastatin, etc., cause serious side effects on muscles such as pain, tenderness, or weakness.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Erythromycin is generally safe in pregnancy to treat bacterial infections. It is not known to cause any harm to the fetus. However, in early pregnancy, it can increase the risk of major birth defects and therefore should only be used upon your doctor's recommendation.
Breast-feeding
Erythromycin is not known to be harmful in breastfeeding women. It passes into breast milk in very low levels. Hence it is acceptable for use in nursing mothers upon your doctor's recommendation.
General warnings
Antibiotic resistance
Finish your entire course of treatment with Erythromycin, even if the condition gets better to avoid antibiotic resistance (the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics). If you still feel unwell after completing your antibiotic course, make an appointment to consult your doctor.
Diarrhoea
Erythromycin can cause diarrhoea because it may also kill the helpful bacteria in your stomach or intestine. Get emergency medical help if you experience severe diarrhoea that is watery or bloody. Call your pharmacist/doctor before taking anti-diarrhoeal medication.
Allergy
Avoid taking Erythromycin if you have a known allergy to it or other macrolides. Seek immediate medical attention if the patient experiences any allergic symptoms like rashes, itching, nausea, vomiting, swelling of lips, hands, and feet.
Missed Dose
Try not to skip a dose of Erythromycin. And if a dose is skipped, do not add it up to the next dose.
Overdose
Seek medical emergency in case of an Erythromycin overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Clonazepam
Amiodarone
Pimozide
Ethinyl Estradiol
Alprazolam
Verapamil
Clobazam
Atorvastatin
Ceritinib
Ketoconazole
Disease interactions
Liver Disease
Patients with liver diseases need special consideration while taking Erythromycin due to the risk of liver damage. Dose adjustment should be done based on the clinical condition.
QT Prolongation
Erythromycin may cause heart rhythm problem called prolonged QT intervals (an electrical heartbeat disturbance) in some patients who are taking heart medications. It may result in fast, rapid, and irregular heartbeats.
Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia gravis is a skeletal muscle weakness condition characterized by severe weakness of any of the muscles under your voluntary control, including the arms and legs. Use Erythromycin with extreme caution in patients with myasthenia gravis since it may get worsen.
Food interactions
Take Erythromycin at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after meals because food may alter the desired effect of the medicine. Taking grapefruit juice during therapy with Erythromycin is not advised.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Oral forms: Take Erythromycin with or without food. Your doctor will determine an appropriate erythromycin dose for you. Never take more than the prescribed dose. Erythromycin dosage for child is decided based on the age and bodyweight. Take it at around the same time daily. Do not give your medicine to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.
Injection: Erythromycin should be administered by a qualified healthcare professional in a clinic or hospital.
Topical forms: Use as directed by the doctor.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Erythromycin works by stopping the bacterial protein synthesis that is essential for its growth. Thus it kills or stops the growth of bacteria.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Macrolides, Antibiotics
Schedule
Schedule H
Medlineplus.gov. 2020. Erythromycin: Medlineplus Drug Information. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 19 December 2020].
Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2020. Erythromycin. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 19 December 2020].
Medicines.org.uk. 2020. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 19 December 2020].
Hpra.ie. 2020. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 19 December 2020].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2020. ERYC® (Erythromycin Delayed-Release Capsules, USP). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 19 December 2020].
Go.drugbank.com. 2020. Erythromycin | Drugbank Online. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 19 December 2020].
Information on this page was last updated on 1 Feb 2021
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.