What is Erythromycin?
Erythromycin belongs to the group of drugs called Macrodile antibiotics. The antibiotic helps slow down the growth or kills sensitive bacteria by reducing the production of important proteins that help the bacteria survive.
The medication is used for treating various types of infections that are caused by bacteria.
Erythromycin uses
Erythromycin is used for treating certain bacterial infections caused by various bacteria, such as infections of the respiratory tract, which include bronchitis, pneumonia, lung infections, serious bacterial infections caused by severe coughing, urinary tract infections, and skin infections.
The medication is also used to prevent recurrent rheumatic fever. Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that works by stopping the spread and growth of bacteria. However, erythromycin will not work for some viral infections, such as the common cold and flu. Using antibiotics when not needed can lead to some severe infections.
Erythromycin Side Effects
The most common side effects of Erythromycin are:
- Diarrhea
- Stomach Upset
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
Some of the serious side effects of Erythromycin are:
- Rashes
- Itching
- Hives
- Difficulty in breathing
- Wheezing
- Yellowing of the skin
- Dark urine
- Pale stools
- Unusual tiredness
- Seizures
- Irregular heartbeat
If you have any of these serious symptoms, immediately contact your doctor for further assistance. In any case, if you get any kind of reaction in your body due to erythromycin, try avoiding it.
A doctor advised you to take the medicines after seeing your problems and the benefits of this medicine, which are greater than the side effects. The majority of the people who use this medicine don’t show any side effects. Get medical help immediately if you get any serious Erythromycin side effects.
Precautions
Before taking Erythromycin, talk to the doctor if you are allergic to it or any other medication. The product can contain some inactive ingredients that can cause allergic reactions or some other problems.
Before taking the medication, talk to the doctor if you have any of the medical histories, including:
- Muscle disease
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
Erythromycin can cause a condition that directly affects the heart rhythm, i.e., QT prolongation. QT prolongation rarely causes serious or irregular heartbeats and other symptoms that need medical attention right away.
The risks of QT prolongation can increase if you have certain medical conditions or are taking certain medications that can cause QT prolongation. Before taking Erythromycin, talk with the doctor about all the medications that you are using.
How to take Erythromycin?
- Erythromycin is available in various forms:
- Capsule
- Tablet
- Delayed-release capsules
- Delayed-release tablet
- Oral suspension
- The medication can be taken with or without food.
- Dosage is typically every 6 hours, four times a day.
- Follow the prescription carefully or consult your doctor before taking Erythromycin.
- Shake the oral suspension well before use to ensure proper mixing.
- Use a measurable spoon, dropper, or cup provided with the oral suspension; avoid using a regular spoon.
- Swallow capsules or tablets with a full glass of water without chewing or crushing them.
- Complete the full course of Erythromycin even if you start feeling better.
Dosage
The normal dosage for adults is 250 mg every 6 hours, 333 mg every 8 hours and 500 mg every 12 hours. After seeing the severity of the infection the dosage can increase up to 4 g/ day
For children, the dosage is 30 to 50 mg/kg/day. The dosage will be decided according to the child’s age, weight, and severity of the infection.
Missed Dose
Missing one or two doses of Erythromycin won’t have any effect on your body. The skipped dose causes no problem. However, with some medications, it won’t work if you don’t take the dosage on time. If you miss a dose, some sudden chemical change may affect your body. In some cases, your doctor would advise you to take the prescribed medicine as soon as possible if you have missed the dose.
Overdose
Overdose of a drug can be accidental. If you have taken more than the prescribed Erythromycin tablets, there is a chance of getting a harmful effect on your body’s functions. Overdose of a medicine can lead to some medical emergency.
Interactions
The use of erythromycin in patients receiving high doses of theophylline may be associated with increased serum theophylline levels and possible theophylline toxicity. In the event of theophylline toxicity and/or elevated serum theophylline levels, the theophylline dose should be reduced while the patient is receiving concomitant therapy with erythromycin.
Concomitant administration of erythromycin and digoxin has been reported to produce elevated serum digoxin levels. Cases of increased anticoagulant effects have been reported when erythromycin and oral anticoagulants were used concomitantly.
Storage
Direct contact with heat, air, and light may damage your medicines. Exposure to medicine may cause some harmful effects. The medicine must be kept in a safe place and out of children’s reach.
Mainly the drug should be kept at room temperature between 68ºF and 77ºF (20ºC and 25ºC).
Before taking Erythromycin, consult your Doctor. If you face any problems or get any side effects after taking Erythromycin, rush immediately to your nearest hospital or consult your doctor for better treatment. Carry your medications in your bag while travelling to avoid any immediate emergencies. Follow your prescription and follow your Doctor’s advice whenever you take Erythromycin.
| Erythromycin | Azithromycin |
|---|---|
| Erythromycin belongs to the group of drugs called Macrolide antibiotics. The antibiotic helps slow down the growth or kills the sensitive bacteria by reducing the production of important proteins, which helps the bacteria survive. | Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria. It is used to treat different infections caused by bacteria, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and infections of the skin, throat, sinuses, lungs, ears, and reproductive organs. |
| Erythromycin is used for treating certain bacterial infections caused by various bacteria, such as infections of the respiratory tract, which include bronchitis, pneumonia, lung infections, serious bacterial infections caused by severe coughing, urinary tract infections, and skin infections. | These are used to treat various infections that are created by bacteria. However, azithromycin cannot be used to treat viral infections like colds and fevers. It can be used with other antibiotics to treat certain infections like mycobacterium avium complex and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) |
Some of the serious side effects of Erythromycin are:
|
Some of the serious side effects that Azithromycin causes are:LiverProblems:
QTprolongation, it can cause irregular heartbeat:
|
