Erythromycin

Your doctor has prescribed erythromycin for you.​

​​​Erythromycin is used to treat infections.

It is also used for the treatment of acne by suppressing the growth of the acne bacteria and decreasing the inflammation caused by the bacteria.

​​Erythromycin is available in the form of tablets.

​Erythromycin can be taken on an empty stomach (or half an hour before meals) for better absorption. However, if it upsets your stomach, you should take it with some food.

For effective treatment, you should complete the full course of medication prescribed even though there are signs of improvement.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose.

​Do not double the next dose to make up for the missed dose.

In the treatment of acne, erythromycin can be taken for 6 to 12 months without any serious side effects.

Certain side effects of this medicine are not unusual and may even disappear during treatment. If any of the following effects persist or are severe, consult your doctor.

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain (take erythromycin with food or milk if you experience any of these side effects)
• Dizziness, fatigue, or headache
• Vaginal yeast infection

The following side effects may rarely occur. Consult your doctor if any of the side effects occur.

• Skin rash, redness, or itching
• Stomach pain (severe)
• Dark urine
• Clay-colored stools
• Yellowing of eyes or skin

• Inform your doctor if you have liver disease or any allergies.
• For women: Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.
• Inform your doctor if you are taking over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.
• Erythromycin may have drug interactions with some other medications. Inform your doctor if you are taking other medication, especially of: all other antibiotics, atorvastatin, carbamazepine, ciclosporin, cimetidine, clozapine, colchicine, felodipine, lovastatin, simvastatin, and warfarin. ​​Taking erythromycin with drugs like procainamide, amiodarone, and sotalol may cause irregular heartbeats
• Do not allow anyone else to take this medication.

• Keep this medicine away from heat and direct sunlight in a cool, dry places, out of reach of children.
• ​Do not keep this medicine with other medications in the same container. Keep each medicine separately in labeled containers.