Erythromycin is used for:

Treating infections caused by certain bacteria. It is also used to prevent bacterial endocarditis and attacks of rheumatic fever. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. Macrolide antibiotics slow the growth of, or sometimes kill, sensitive bacteria by reducing the production of important proteins needed by the bacteria to survive.

Do NOT use Erythromycin if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Erythromycin
• you are taking astemizole, cisapride, cyclosporine, diltiazem, dofetilide, ergot alkaloids (eg, ergotamine), HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), imidazoles (eg, ketoconazole), pimozide, QT prolonging agents (eg, quinidine, sotalol), quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin), streptogramins (eg, quinupristin/dalfopristin), sumatriptan, terfenadine, or verapamil

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Erythromycin :

Some medical conditions may interact with Erythromycin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have diarrhea or a stomach or intestinal infection
• if you have a history of kidney or liver disease, heart problems, fast or irregular heartbeat, myasthenia gravis, or the blood disorder porphyria

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Erythromycin. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Efavirenz or rifampin because they may decrease Erythromycin 's effectiveness
• Arsenic, cimetidine,diltiazem,dofetilide,HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), imidazoles (eg, ketoconazole), pimozide,QT-prolonging agents (eg, quinidine, sotalol), quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin), streptogramins (eg, quinupristin/dalfopristin ), or verapamil because side effects, such as heart toxicity or irregular heartbeat, may occur
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), aldosterone blockers (eg, spironolactone), alfentanil, arsenic, astemizole, benzodiazepines (eg, alprazolam), bromocriptine, buspirone, carbamazepine, cilostazol, cisapride, clozapine, corticosteroids (eg, hydrocortisone), cyclosporine, digitoxin, digoxin, disopyramide, ergot alkaloids (eg, ergotamine), felodipine, H₁ antagonists (eg, diphenhydramine), HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (eg, lovastatin), imatinib, macrolide immunosuppressants (eg, tacrolimus), meglitinide antidiabetics (eg, repaglinide), midazolam, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (eg, sildenafil), pimozide, QT-prolonging agents (eg, quinidine, sotalol), quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin), rifampin, serotonin reuptake inhibitors (eg, fluoxetine), sumatriptan, theophyllines, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline), valproic acid, or vinca alkaloids (eg, vincristine) because the risk of their side effects may increased by Erythromycin

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Erythromycin may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Erythromycin :

Use Erythromycin as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Erythromycin by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
• Swallow Erythromycin whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.
• Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you use Erythromycin.
• Erythromycin works best if taken at the same times each day.
• To clear up your infection completely, take Erythromycin for the full course of treatment. Keep taking it even if you feel better in a few days.
• If you miss a dose of Erythromycin , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Erythromycin.

Important safety information:

• Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.
• Erythromycin only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).
• Be sure to use Erythromycin for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
• Long-term or repeated use of Erythromycin may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.
• Lab tests, including liver function, kidney function, and complete blood cell counts, may be performed while you use Erythromycin. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Erythromycin while you are pregnant. Erythromycin is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Erythromycin , check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Erythromycin :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea; loss of appetite; nausea; stomach pain; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody stools; hearing changes; irregular heartbeat; red, swollen, or blistered skin; severe diarrhea; severe stomach pain or cramps; yellowing of skin or eyes.

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