Erythromycin Description

Generic Name : ERYTHROMYCIN

Pronunciation : (er ith roe mye' sin)

Trade Name(s) : Althrocin, Citamycin, E.E.S-400, Elucin, Eltocin, E-mycin, Eroate, Eromed 333, Eromed SUS, Erotech250, Erotech500, Eryc-S, Eryc-S, Eryspans, Eryster, Erythrocin, Erythrocin-FT, Etomin, Inderyth, Restomycin, Rekcin, Thromycin

Why it is prescribed: Erythromycin, an antibiotic, eliminates bacteria that cause carious kinds of infections, including venereal diseases, and infections of the respiratory tract, skin, and ears.

When it is to be taken:
1. Erythromycin is usually taken three or four times a day for seven to 14 days.
2. Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully.
3. The doses should be taken at intervals as far apart as possible throughout the day. For example, if your doctor tells you to take this drug four times a day, take a dose every six hours. However, if you cannot take the drug around the clock, take it at evenly spaced intervals between the time you wake up in the morning and the time you go to bed (e.g., at 7.a.m., noon, 5 p.m., and 10 p.m.)

How it should be taken:
1. Erythromycin comes in the form of capsules to be swallowed, tablets that are to be swallowed or chewed, oral liquid form, and oral pediatric drops.
2. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose.
3. Erythromycin usually works best when it is taken on an empty stomach. Therefore, take it one hour before meals or at least two hours after meals unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
4. Liquid erythromycin should be shaken well before each use to mix the medication evenly. You may obtain a specially marked measuring spoon to be sure of an accurate dose.
5. Chewable erythromycin tablets should not be swallowed whole but should be crushed or chewed completely before they are swallowed.
6. The pediatric drops come with a special dropper for measuring the dose. The drops are to be given by mouth.
7. If you have used all of the medication prescribed and still have symptoms, contact your doctor.

Special Instruction :
1. Take all of the medication prescribed, even after the infection appears to have gone away. Failure to do so could allow the infection to return.
2.Special dietary instructions should be followed. Foods and beverages that contain acids may decrease the effects of erythromycin. Do not take this medication with fruit juices or carbonated drinks.
3. If you forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. If it is almost time for your next dose, you may take a double dose. Take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals.

Side Effects : Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. Take your medication with crackers or a light snake. If these symptoms are severe or last for more than two days, contact your doctor.

Other Precautions :
1. If you have liver disease or jaundice, tell your doctor before you take erythromycin.
2. Erythromycin passes from a mother to her baby in the breast milk, so tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
3. Erythromycin may cause problems with other drug treatments. Tell your doctor about any medications you are taking, especially carbamazepine, cyclosporine, therphylline, triazolam, and warfarin.
4. Throw away any unused part of your prescription after your doctor tells you to stop taking it. Erthromycin may lose its effectiveness over time and should not be saved to treat other infections.

Storage Conditions :
1. Keep this medication in the container it came in an out of the reach of children.
2. Store liquid erythromycin in the refrigerator but not in the freezer.
3. Store capsules, tablets, and pediatric drops at room temperature.
4. The container of liquid erythromycin will have an expiry date on it. Do not take it after that date.