Erythromycin
Also sold as: Erythrocin
Usual adult dose
Usual adult dose: 250 to 500 mg every 6 hours, usually for 7 to 14 days. Finish the full course. Children: dose by weight — ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Your doctor may give you a different dose. Children's doses depend on weight.
Side effects
Common
- nausea
- vomiting
- stomach cramps
- diarrhoea
Serious — get help
Stop taking it and see a doctor straight away if you notice:
- severe allergic reaction
- fast or irregular heartbeat or fainting
- yellow eyes or skin
- severe or bloody diarrhoea
Do not take it, or take care, if
- Allergy to macrolide antibiotics
- Heart rhythm problems (long QT)
- Severe liver disease
- Taking simvastatin
Interactions
Medicines that can react with this one.
Serious5 medicinesDo not take these together unless your doctor says so.
- Colchicine
Erythromycin raises colchicine levels and the risk of serious toxicity.
- Domperidone
Raises domperidone levels and prolongs the QT interval; do not combine.
- Methylergometrine
Erythromycin raises methylergometrine levels and can cause dangerous narrowing of blood vessels.
- Midazolam
Erythromycin greatly raises midazolam levels and prolongs sedation.
- Simvastatin
Greatly raises simvastatin levels and the risk of severe muscle damage; do not combine.
Moderate4 medicinesTake together only with care. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- Aminophylline
Erythromycin raises theophylline levels; the dose may need to be reduced.
- Carbamazepine
Raises carbamazepine levels and can cause toxicity.
- Theophylline
Raises theophylline levels; watch for nausea, fast heartbeat or seizures.
- Warfarin
Can raise the effect of warfarin; INR should be checked.
Minor1 medicineUsually not a problem, but tell your doctor.
- Fexofenadine
Erythromycin can raise fexofenadine levels slightly.