Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects .
Chemical Name: ERYTHROMYCIN (eh-rith-roe-MYE-sin)
This medicine is a macrolide antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. It may also be used to prevent bacterial infections in patients with rheumatic heart disease.
Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE if you are also taking cisapride, eletriptan, or certain medicines for cholesterol called HMG-COA inhibitors such as lovastatin. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking colchicine, anticoagulants (such as warfarin), buspirone, cyclosporine, cilostazol, felodipine, carbamazepine, corticosteroids including methylprednisolone, dalfopristin and quinupristin, digoxin, disopyramide, ergotamine-containing medicines, sildenafil, digoxin, disopyramide, ergotamine-containing medicines, sildenafil, tacrolimus, benzodiazepines (such as midazolam), rifampin, theophyllines, "triptan" medicines for migraine headaches, verapamil, vincristine, or vinblastine. Inform your doctor about any other medicines you take besides erythromycin that may affect the heart rhythm (QTc prolongation in the EKG) including dofetilide, pimozide, quinidine, sotalol, procainamide, and sparfloxacin among others. QTc prolongation can infrequently result in serious, rarely fatal, irregular heartbeats. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details. Ask for instructions about whether you need to stop any other QTc-prolonging medicines you may be using in order to minimize the risk of this effect. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions or allergies. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about taking this medicine.
Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. SHAKE WELL before taking a dose. Use a measuring device marked for medicine dosing. Ask your pharmacist for help if you are unsure of how to measure this dose. IF THIS MEDICINE UPSETS YOUR STOMACH, take it with food. SOME BRANDS OF THIS MEDICINE should be stored in the refrigerator between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C). Some brands may be stored at room temperature below 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR BRAND, ask your doctor or pharmacist. TO CLEAR UP YOUR INFECTION COMPLETELY, continue taking this medicine for the full course of treatment even if you feel better in a few days. Do not miss any doses. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE if you have had an allergic reaction to it or are allergic to any ingredient in this product. Laboratory tests and/or medical exams, including liver function, kidney function, and complete blood counts may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LABORATORY APPOINTMENTS while you are taking this medicine. If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor. IF SEVERE DIARRHEA OR STOMACH PAIN OR CRAMPING DEVELOP during treatment or within several months after treatment with this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist right away. Do not treat it with non-prescription (over-the-counter) medicines. DO NOT TAKE SELDANE (terfenadine) OR HISMANAL (astemizole) while taking this medicine. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN USING THIS MEDICINE IN INFANTS because they may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine. Though very unlikely to happen, a stomach problem called IHPS (infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis) has been noted. Contact your child's doctor immediately if the child has persistent vomiting or increased irritability. FOR WOMEN: IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. THIS MEDICINE IS EXCRETED IN BREAST MILK. IF YOU ARE OR WILL BE BREAST-FEEDING while you are using this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking this medicine include abdominal cramping or discomfort, nausea, or diarrhea. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience muscle weakness, vomiting, severe stomach cramping, or severe diarrhea. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience bloody stools; dark urine; decreased hearing or hearing loss; irregular heartbeat; red, swollen, or blistered skin; fever; or yellowing of the skin or eyes. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS MEDICINE out of the reach of children.
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