Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: E.E.S. Granules, E.E.S.-200, E.E.S.-400, E.E.S.-400 Filmtab, EryPed, EryPed 200, EryPed 400, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin Stearate Filmtab, PCE Dispertab

Generic Name: erythromycin (Pronunciation: er ITH roe MYE sin)

• What is erythromycin (E.E.S. Granules, E.E.S.-200, E.E.S.-400, E.E.S.-400 Filmtab, EryPed, EryPed 200, EryPed 400, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin Stearate Filmtab, PCE Dispertab)?
• What are the possible side effects of erythromycin?
• What is the most important information I should know about erythromycin?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking erythromycin?
• How should I take erythromycin?
• What happens if I miss a dose?
• What happens if I overdose?
• What should I avoid while taking erythromycin?
• What other drugs will affect erythromycin?
• Where can I get more information?

What is erythromycin (E.E.S. Granules, E.E.S.-200, E.E.S.-400, E.E.S.-400 Filmtab, EryPed, EryPed 200, EryPed 400, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin Stearate Filmtab, PCE Dispertab)?

Erythromycin is in a group of drugs called macrolide antibiotics. Erythromycin fights bacteria in the body.

Erythromycin is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria.

Erythromycin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

EES-400

oblong, pink, imprinted with a EE

E-Mycin 250 mg

round, orange, imprinted with E-MYCIN 250mg

E-Mycin 333 mg

round, white, imprinted with E-MYCIN 333mg

Ery-Tab 250 mg

oblong, white, imprinted with EC, a

Ery-Tab 333 mg

oblong, white, imprinted with a EH, a

Ery-Tab 500 mg

oblong, pink, imprinted with a ED

Erythrocin 500 mg

oval, pink, imprinted with a, ET

Erythromycin Base 250 mg

oval, pink, imprinted with a EB

Erythromycin Base 500 mg

oval, pink, imprinted with a, EA

Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate 400 mg-ABB

oblong, pink, imprinted with 74 ZE

Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate 400 mg-MYL

oblong, peach, imprinted with M400

PCE 500 mg

oval, white, imprinted with a EK

What are the possible side effects of erythromycin?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• chest pain, uneven heartbeats, feeling light-headed or fainting;
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, lost appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• diarrhea that is watery or bloody.

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain;
• dizziness, headache, feeling tired;
• vaginal itching or discharge; or
• mild itching or skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about erythromycin?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to erythromycin, or if you are also taking cisapride (Propulsid) or pimozide (Orap). 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 not be able to take erythromycin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

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.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Erythromycin can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

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.