Erythrocin (Oral)

Erythromycin is used to prevent and treat infections in various parts of the body, including respiratory tract infections, skin infections, diphtheria, intestinal amebiasis, acute pelvic inflammatory disease, Legionnaire's disease, pertussis, and syphilis. This medicine is also used to prevent repeated attacks of rheumatic fever in patients who have had an allergic reaction to penicillin or sulfa drugs.

Erythromycin is part of a group of medicines called macrolide antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or stopping their growth.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

It is very important for your doctor to check you or your child's progress at regular visits to ensure this medicine is working properly and to monitor for unwanted effects. If your or your child's symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they get worse, contact your doctor.

Do not use this medicine if you or your child are also taking astemizole (Hismanal®), cisapride (Propulsid®), ergotamine (Cafergot®, Ergomar®), dihydroergotamine (Migranal®), pimozide (Orap®), terfenadine (Seldane®), or any statin medicine (for example, lovastatin, simvastatin, Mevacor®, Zocor®). Taking these medicines together may increase the risk of more serious side effects.

Contact your doctor right away if you or your child experience pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be signs of a serious liver issue.

This medicine can cause changes in heart rhythms, including a condition called QT prolongation. It may affect how your heart beats and could lead to fainting or serious side effects in some patients. Reach out to your doctor immediately if you or your child have worsening symptoms of heart rhythm issues, such as a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or may become pregnant before using this medicine.

Erythromycin may cause diarrhea, which can be severe in some cases. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop taking this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first consulting your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may worsen the diarrhea or prolong it. If you have any concerns about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Before having any medical tests, inform the medical doctor overseeing your care that you or your child are using this medicine. The results of some tests may be influenced by this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless you have discussed them with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a drug, the chances of taking the drug must be weighed against the beneficial it will do. This is a decision you and your physician will make. For this medication, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other drugs. Additionally inform your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific issues that would limit the usefulness of erythromycin in children.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific issues that would limit the usefulness of erythromycin in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have erythromycin-induced hearing loss, heart rhythm problems, and bleeding issues.

Breast Feeding

Studies in women suggest that this medicine poses minimal chance to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medications

Although certain drugs should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medications may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medication, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are using any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Astemizole
• Bepridil
• Cisapride
• Colchicine
• Dihydroergotamine
• Dronedarone
• Eliglustat
• Ergotamine
• Flibanserin
• Fluconazole
• Grepafloxacin
• Levoketoconazole
• Levomethadyl
• Lomitapide
• Lovastatin
• Mesoridazine
• Pimozide
• Piperaquine
• Posaconazole
• Saquinavir
• Simvastatin
• Sparfloxacin
• Terfenadine
• Thioridazine
• Ziprasidone

Using this medication with any of the following drugs is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medications are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medications.

• Abametapir
• Acalabrutinib
• Acecainide
• Adagrasib
• Afatinib
• Ajmaline
• Alfentanil
• Alprazolam
• Amiodarone
• Amisulpride
• Amitriptyline
• Amlodipine
• Amoxapine
• Anagrelide
• Apixaban
• Apomorphine
• Aprepitant
• Aprindine
• Aripiprazole
• Aripiprazole Lauroxil
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Ascorbic Acid
• Asenapine
• Atazanavir
• Atorvastatin
• Avapritinib
• Azimilide
• Azithromycin
• Bedaquiline
• Benzhydrocodone
• Berotralstat
• Betrixaban
• Bosutinib
• Bretylium
• Brexpiprazole
• Brigatinib
• Buprenorphine
• Buserelin
• Carbamazepine
• Ceritinib
• Cerivastatin
• Chloral Hydrate
• Chloroquine
• Chlorpromazine
• Cholera Vaccine, Live
• Cilostazol
• Ciprofloxacin
• Citalopram
• Clarithromycin
• Clindamycin
• Clofazimine
• Clomipramine
• Clothiapine
• Clozapine
• Cobicistat
• Cobimetinib
• Codeine
• Conivaptan
• Crizotinib
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Dabigatran Etexilate
• Dabrafenib
• Daridorexant
• Darunavir
• Dasatinib
• Deflazacort
• Degarelix
• Delamanid
• Desipramine
• Deslorelin
• Deutetrabenazine
• Dexmedetomidine
• Dibenzepin
• Digoxin
• Dihydrocodeine
• Diltiazem
• Disopyramide
• Dofetilide
• Dolasetron
• Domperidone
• Donepezil
• Doxepin
• Doxorubicin
• Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome
• Droperidol
• Edoxaban
• Efavirenz
• Elacestrant
• Elexacaftor
• Encainide
• Encorafenib
• Enflurane
• Entrectinib
• Eplerenone
• Escitalopram
• Etrasimod
• Everolimus
• Fedratinib
• Felodipine
• Fentanyl
• Fexinidazole
• Finerenone
• Fingolimod
• Flecainide
• Fluoxetine
• Formoterol
• Fosaprepitant
• Foscarnet
• Fosnetupitant
• Fostemsavir
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Gepirone
• Glasdegib
• Gonadorelin
• Goserelin
• Granisetron
• Halofantrine
• Haloperidol
• Halothane
• Histrelin
• Hydrocodone
• Hydroquinidine
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Hydroxyzine
• Ibrutinib
• Ibutilide
• Ifosfamide
• Iloperidone
• Imipramine
• Infigratinib
• Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
• Isoflurane
• Isradipine
• Itraconazole
• Ivabradine
• Ivacaftor
• Ivosidenib
• Ketoconazole
• Lapatinib
• Larotrectinib
• Lefamulin
• Lemborexant
• Leniolisib
• Lenvatinib
• Leuprolide
• Levofloxacin
• Lidoflazine
• Lofexidine
• Lopinavir
• Lorcainide
• Lumacaftor
• Lumateperone
• Lumefantrine
• Lurasidone
• Lurbinectedin
• Macimorelin
• Mavacamten
• Mefloquine
• Meperidine
• Methadone
• Methotrexate
• Metronidazole
• Mifepristone
• Mirtazapine
• Mitapivat
• Mobocertinib
• Morphine
• Morphine Sulfate Liposome
• Moxifloxacin
• Nafarelin
• Naloxegol
• Neratinib
• Netupitant
• Nifedipine
• Nilotinib
• Nirmatrelvir
• Norfloxacin
• Nortriptyline
• Octreotide
• Ofloxacin
• Olanzapine
• Olaparib
• Omaveloxolone
• Ondansetron
• Osilodrostat
• Osimertinib
• Oxaliplatin
• Oxycodone
• Ozanimod
• Pacritinib
• Paliperidone
• Palovarotene
• Panobinostat
• Paroxetine
• Pasireotide
• Pazopanib
• Pemigatinib
• Pentamidine
• Pentazocine
• Pexidartinib
• Pimavanserin
• Pirmenol
• Pitavastatin
• Pitolisant
• Pixantrone
• Ponesimod
• Prajmaline
• Pralsetinib
• Probucol
• Procainamide
• Prochlorperazine
• Promethazine
• Propafenone
• Protriptyline
• Quetiapine
• Quinidine
• Quinine
• Quizartinib
• Ranolazine
• Relugolix
• Ribociclib
• Rimegepant
• Risperidone
• Ritonavir
• Rivaroxaban
• Selpercatinib
• Selumetinib
• Sematilide
• Sertindole
• Sertraline
• Sevoflurane
• Simeprevir
• Siponimod
• Sirolimus Protein-Bound
• Sodium Phosphate
• Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
• Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
• Solifenacin
• Sonidegib
• Sorafenib
• Sotalol
• Sparsentan
• Spiramycin
• Sufentanil
• Sulfamethoxazole
• Sulpiride
• Sultopride
• Sunitinib
• Tacrolimus
• Tadalafil
• Tazemetostat
• Tedisamil
• Telaprevir
• Telavancin
• Telithromycin
• Tenofovir Alafenamide
• Tetrabenazine
• Tezacaftor
• Theophylline
• Tolvaptan
• Toremifene
• Tramadol
• Trazodone
• Triclabendazole
• Trifluoperazine
• Trimethoprim
• Trimipramine
• Triptorelin
• Troleandomycin
• Ubrogepant
• Vandetanib
• Vardenafil
• Vemurafenib
• Venetoclax
• Venlafaxine
• Verapamil
• Vilanterol
• Vinblastine
• Vincristine
• Vincristine Sulfate Liposome
• Vinflunine
• Voclosporin
• Voriconazole
• Warfarin
• Zanubrutinib
• Zolmitriptan
• Zolpidem
• Zotepine
• Zuclopenthixol

Using this medicine with any of the following medications may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how frequently you use one or both of the drugs.

• Anisindione
• Avanafil
• Bexarotene
• Budesonide
• Buspirone
• Cyclosporine
• Diazepam
• Dicumarol
• Methylprednisolone
• Midazolam
• Phenprocoumon
• Roflumilast
• Sildenafil
• Sirolimus
• Suvorexant
• Tolterodine
• Triazolam
• Trimetrexate
• Valproic Acid
• Zafirlukast

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medications may additionally cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this drug. Make sure you inform your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) or
• Heart rhythm problems (eg, QT prolongation) or
• Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood), uncorrected or
• Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood), uncorrected—Use is not recommended in patients with these conditions.

• Congestive heart failure—The granules and tablet dosage forms of this medicine contains sodium, which can make this condition worse.

• Liver disease (such as cholestatic hepatitis) or
• Myasthenia gravis (severe muscle weakness)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

Along with its necessary effects, this medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may occur, but if they do, they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor right away if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

• Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• chills
• cough
• diarrhea
• difficulty with swallowing
• dizziness
• fast heartbeat
• hives or welts, skin rash
• joint or muscle pain
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• red, irritated eyes
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• redness of the skin
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
• tightness in the chest
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

• Bloating
• bloody or cloudy urine
• chest pain or discomfort
• dark urine
• diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
• fainting
• fever
• general tiredness and weakness
• greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
• hearing loss
• increased thirst
• irregular heartbeat recurrent
• irregular or slow heart rate
• light-colored stools
• nausea
• pain
• stomach cramp or tenderness
• swelling of the feet or lower legs
• unusual weight loss
• upper right abdominal or stomach pain
• vomiting
• yellow eyes and skin

Some side effects 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 how 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

• Diarrhea (mild)
• loss of appetite
• weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• E.E.S. 200
• E.E.S. 400
• E.E.S. Granules
• Eryc
• Eryped
• Eryped 200
• Eryped 400
• Ery-Tab
• Erythrocin
• Erythrocin Stearate
• Ilosone
• PCE
• PCE Dispertab

Available Dosage Forms:

• Capsule, Delayed Release
• Tablet
• Tablet, Enteric Coated
• Tablet, Delayed Release
• Powder for Suspension

Therapeutic Class: Antibiotic

Chemical Class: Macrolide

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

Take this medicine with or without food. PCE® tablets may be taken without meals or at least 30 minutes to 2 hours before meals.

Measure the mixed oral liquid with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup.

Keep using the medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you or your child begin to feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not go away if you stop using the medicine too soon.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage forms (granules for suspension, suspension, and tablets):For treatment of bacterial infections: Adults—400 milligrams (mg) every 6 hours or 800 mg every 12 hours. Depending on the severity of your infection, your doctor may increase your dose as needed up to 4000 mg per day. Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 30 to 50 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day, divided in equal doses and taken every 6 hours. Depending on the severity of your infection, your doctor may increase your dose as needed.
• For oral dosage form (PCE® tablets): For prevention of recurring attacks of rheumatic fever: Adults—250 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. For treatment of bacterial infections: Adults—333 milligrams (mg) every 8 hours or 500 mg every 12 hours. Depending on the severity of your infection, your doctor may increase your dose as needed up to 4000 mg per day. Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 30 to 50 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day, divided in equal doses. Depending on the severity of your infection, your doctor may increase your dose as needed.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep the mixed E.E.S.® oral liquid in the refrigerator. Throw away any unused medicine within 10 days.

Store the mixed Ery-Ped® oral liquid at room temperature. Throw away any unused medicine within 35 days.

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