What  is erythromycin? 

Erythromycin is in 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 many different types of  infections caused by bacteria.  It is also used to prevent bacterial endocarditis and attacks of rheumatic fever. 

Erythromycin may also be used  for other purposes. 

Important information about erythromycin 

Do not use this  medication if you are allergic to erythromycin, or if you are also taking cisapride (Propulsid) or pimozide (Orap). Erythromycin may interact with these medicines and could cause dangerous or life-threatening heart rhythm disorders. 

If you have liver disease or myasthenia gravis, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take erythromycin 

Do not crush, chew, break, or open an enteric-coated or delayed-release pill. Swallow the pill whole. The enteric-coated pill has a special coating to protect your stomach. Breaking the pill could damage this coating. The delayed-release pill  is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Erythromycin can make  your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun. 

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery  or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to. 

Take this medication  for as many days as it has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Erythromycin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. 

Before taking erythromycin 

Do not take  this medication if you are allergic to erythromycin, or if you are taking any of the following medicines: 

• cisapride (Propulsid); or 
• pimozide (Orap). 

Erythromycin may interact with these medicines  and could cause dangerous or life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.
Before taking erythromycin, tell your doctor if you have liver disease or myasthenia gravis. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests  to safely take this medicine. 

FDA pregnancy category B: This medication  is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant  or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Erythromycin can pass into breast milk and  may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling  your doctor if  you are breast-feeding a baby. 

How should I take erythromycin? 

Take erythromycin exactly as it was prescribed for you.  Do not take it in larger doses  or for longer  than recommended by your doctor. Follow  the directions on your prescription label. 

Take  each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Erythromycin can be taken on an empty stomach or with food or milk. Do not crush, chew, break, or open an enteric-coated or delayed-release pill. Swallow the pill whole. The enteric-coated pill has a special coating  to protect your stomach. Breaking  the pill could damage this coating. The delayed-release pill is specially made  to release medicine slowly in  the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much  of the drug to be released at one time. 

The chewable tablet form of erythromycin must  be chewed before swallowing. 

Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. To  be sure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid  with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. Take this medication for as many days as it has been prescribed for you  even if you begin to  feel better. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Erythromycin will  not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. 

This medication can cause you  to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using erythromycin. 

Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat. 

What happens if I miss a dose? 

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time  for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. 

What happens if I overdose? 

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of  this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or hearing loss. 

What should I avoid while taking erythromycin? 

Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Erythromycin can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight  and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15)  and wear protective clothing if you must be out  in the sun. 

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea  that is watery or has blood  in it, call your doctor.  Do not use any medicine  to stop  the diarrhea unless  your doctor has told you to. 

Erythromycin side effects 

Get emergency medical help if you have any  of these signs of an allergic reaction to erythromycin: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects: 

• chest pain, uneven heartbeats, feeling light-headed or fainting; 
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, lost appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing  of the skin  or eyes); or 
• diarrhea that  is watery or bloody. 

Less serious erythromycin side effects may include: 

• mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain; 
• dizziness, headache, feeling tired; 
• vaginal itching or discharge; or 
• mild itching or skin rash. 

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 

What other drugs will affect erythromycin? 

Many drugs can interact with erythromycin. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using: 

• bromocriptine (Parlodel); 
• cilostazol (Pletal); 
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral); 
• digoxin (Lanoxin); 
• disopyramide (Norpace); 
• quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex); 
• sildenafil (Viagra); 
• tacrolimus (Prograf); 
• theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theobid, and others); 
• verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); 
• vinblastine (Velban); 
• alprazolam (Xanax) or triazolam (Halcion); 
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); 
• carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), or valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene); 
• a cholesterol-lowering medication such as lovastatin (Mevacor) or simvastatin (Zocor); 
• ergotamine (Ercaf, Cafergot, Ergostat, Ergomar) or dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal); or 
• any other antibiotics. 

This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that can interact with erythromycin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. 

Where can I get more information? 

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about erythromycin. 
• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. 
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.