What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking erythromycin?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to erythromycin, or if you are taking
any of the following medicines:
-
astemizole (Hismanal);
-
cisapride (Propulsid);
-
pimozide (Orap); or
-
terfenadine (Seldane).
Erythromycin may interact with these medicines and could cause
dangerous or life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.
Before taking erythromycin, tell your doctor if you have liver disease or myasthenia
gravis. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take erythromycin.
FDA pregnancy category B: This medication is not expected to be harmful to an
unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are
pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Erythromycin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use
this medication without telling your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take erythromycin?
Take erythromycin exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger doses or
for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of
water.
Erythromycin can be taken on an empty stomach or with food or milk.
Do not crush, chew, break, or open an
enteric-coated or delayed-release pill. Swallow the pill whole. The enteric-coated pill has a special
coating to protect your stomach. Breaking the pill could damage this coating. The delayed-release
pill is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too
much of the drug to be released at one time.
The chewable tablet form of erythromycin must be chewed before swallowing.
Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. To be sure
you get the correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not
with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for
one.
Take this medication for as many days as it has been prescribed for you even if you
begin to feel better. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated.
Erythromycin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any
doctor who treats you that you are using erythromycin.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Print
Email
Save
Media Gallery
Drug Info Tools
Medicare's drug plans are subsidized by the US federal government and offered through insurers.
