Generic Name: erythromycin (Oral route, Parenteral route)
e-rith-roe-MYE-sin
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- E.E.S. 200
- E.E.S. 400
- E.E.S. Granules
- Eryped
- Eryped 200
- Eryped 400
- Erythrocin
- Erythrocin Stearate
- Ilosone
In Canada
- E.E.S. 100
- Ees 200
- Novo-Rythro Estolate Suspension
- Novo-Rythro Ethyl Succinate Suspension
- Novo-Rythro Stearate
Available Dosage Forms:
- Suspension
- Powder for Suspension
- Tablet
- Tablet, Chewable
- Capsule
Uses For Erythrocin Stearate
Erythromycins are used to treat many kinds of infections. Erythromycins are also used to prevent "strep" infections in patients with a history of rheumatic heart disease who may be allergic to penicillin.
These medicines may also be used to treat Legionnaires' disease and for other problems as determined by your doctor. They will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.
Erythromycins are available only with your doctor's prescription.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, erythromycins are used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
- Acne
- Actinomycosis
- Anthrax
- Chancroid
- Gastroparesis
- Lyme disease
- Lymphogranuloma venereum
- Relapsing fever
Before Using Erythrocin Stearate
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
This medicine has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.
Geriatric
This medicine has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults. However, older adults may be at increased risk of hearing loss, especially if they are taking high doses of erythromycin and/or have kidney or liver disease.
Pregnancy
Erythromycin estolate has caused side effects involving the liver in some pregnant women. However, none of the erythromycins has been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in human babies.
Breast Feeding
Erythromycins pass into the breast milk. However, erythromycins have not been shown to cause problems in nursing babies.
Interactions with Medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of medicines in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Heart disease—High doses of erythromycin may increase the chance of side effects in patients with a history of an irregular heartbeat.
- Liver disease—Erythromycins, especially erythromycin estolate, may increase the chance of side effects involving the liver.
- Loss of hearing—High doses of erythromycins may, on rare occasion, cause hearing loss, especially if you have kidney or liver disease.
Proper Use of erythromycin
This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain erythromycin. It may not be specific to Erythrocin Stearate. Please read with care.
Generally, erythromycins are best taken with a full glass (8 ounces) of water on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals). If stomach upset occurs, these medicines may be taken with food. If you have questions about the erythromycin medicine you are taking, check with your health care professional.
For patients taking the oral liquid form of this medicine:
- This medicine is to be taken by mouth even if it comes in a dropper bottle. If this medicine does not come in a dropper bottle, use a specially marked measuring spoon or other device to measure each dose accurately. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid
- Do not use after the expiration date on the label. The medicine may not work properly after that date. Check with your pharmacist if you have any questions about this.
For patients taking the chewable tablet form of this medicine:
- Tablets must be chewed or crushed before they are swallowed.
For patients taking the delayed-release capsule form (with enteric-coated pellets) or the delayed-release tablet form of this medicine:
- Swallow capsules or tablets whole. Do not break or crush. If you are not sure about which type of capsule or tablet you are taking, check with your pharmacist.
To help clear up your infection completely, keep taking this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. If you have a "strep" infection, you should keep taking this medicine for at least 10 days. This is especially important in "strep" infections. Serious heart problems could develop later if your infection is not cleared up completely. Also, if you stop taking this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return.
This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is best to take the doses at evenly spaced times day and night. For example, if you are to take 4 doses a day, the doses should be spaced about 6 hours apart. If this interferes with your sleep or other daily activities, or if you need help in planning the best times to take your medicine, check with your health care professional.
Dosing
The dose medicines in this class will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For erythromycin base
- For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets):
- For treatment of infections:
- Adults and teenagers—250 to 500 milligrams (mg) two to four times a day.
- Children—Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 7.5 to 12.5 mg per kilogram (kg) (3.4 to 5.6 mg per pound) of body weight four times a day, or 15 to 25 mg per kg (6.8 to 11.4 mg per pound) of body weight two times a day.
- For prevention of heart infections:
- Adults and teenagers—Take 1 gram two hours before your dental appointment or surgery, then 500 mg six hours after taking the first dose.
- Children—Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 20 mg per kg (9.1 mg per pound) of body weight two hours before the dental appointment or surgery, then 10 mg per kg (4.5 mg per pound) of body weight six hours after taking the first dose.
- For treatment of infections:
- For erythromycin estolate
- For oral dosage forms (capsules, oral suspension, tablets):
- For treatment of infections:
- Adults and teenagers—250 to 500 milligrams (mg) two to four times a day.
- Children—Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 7.5 to 12.5 mg per kilogram (kg) (3.4 to 5.6 mg per pound) of body weight four times a day, or 15 to 25 mg per kg (6.8 to 11.4 mg per pound) of body weight two times a day.
- For prevention of heart infections:
- Adults and teenagers—Take 1 gram two hours before your dental appointment or surgery, then 500 mg six hours after taking the first dose.
- Children—Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 20 mg per kg (9.1 mg per pound) of body weight two hours before the dental appointment or surgery, then 10 mg per kg (4.5 mg per pound) of body weight six hours after taking the first dose.
- For treatment of infections:
- For erythromycin ethylsuccinate
- For oral dosage forms (oral suspension, tablets):
- For treatment of infections:
- Adults and teenagers—400 to 800 milligrams (mg) two to four times a day.
- Children—Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 7.5 to 12.5 mg per kilogram (kg) (3.4 to 5.6 mg per pound) of body weight four times a day, or 15 to 25 mg per kg (6.8 to 11.4 mg per pound) of body weight two times a day.
- For prevention of heart infections:
- Adults and teenagers—Take 1.6 grams two hours before your dental appointment or surgery, then 800 mg six hours after taking the first dose.
- Children—Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 20 mg per kg (9.1 mg per pound) of body weight two hours before the dental appointment or surgery, then 10 mg per kg (4.5 mg per pound) of body weight six hours after taking the first dose.
- For treatment of infections:
- For erythromycin gluceptate
- For injection dosage forms:
- For treatment of infections:
- Adults and teenagers—250 to 500 milligrams (mg) injected into a vein every six hours; or 3.75 to 5 mg per kilogram (kg) (1.7 to 2.3 mg per pound) of body weight injected into a vein every six hours.
- Children—Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 3.75 to 5 mg per kg (1.7 to 2.3 mg per pound) of body weight injected into a vein every six hours.
- For treatment of infections:
- For erythromycin lactobionate
- For injection dosage forms:
- For treatment of infections:
- Adults and teenagers—250 to 500 milligrams (mg) injected into a vein every six hours; or 3.75 to 5 mg per kilogram (kg) (1.7 to 2.3 mg per pound) of body weight injected into a vein every six hours.
- Children—Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 3.75 to 5 mg per kg (1.7 to 2.3 mg per pound) of body weight injected into a vein every six hours.
- For treatment of infections:
- For erythromycin stearate
- For oral dosage forms (oral suspension, tablets):
- For treatment of infections:
- Adults and teenagers—250 to 500 milligrams (mg) two to four times a day.
- Children—Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 7.5 to 12.5 mg per kilogram (kg) (3.4 to 5.6 mg per pound) of body weight four times a day; or 15 to 25 mg per kg (6.8 to 11.4 mg per pound) of body weight two times a day.
- For prevention of heart infections:
- Adults and teenagers—Take 1 gram two hours before your dental appointment or surgery, then 500 mg six hours after taking the first dose.
- Children—Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 20 mg per kg (9.1 mg per pound) of body weight two hours before the dental appointment or surgery, then 10 mg per kg (4.5 mg per pound) of body weight six hours after taking the first dose.
- For treatment of infections:
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Precautions While Using Erythrocin Stearate
If your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
Erythrocin Stearate Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
- Fever
- nausea
- skin rash, redness, or itching
- stomach pain (severe)
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting
- yellow eyes or skin–with erythromycin estolate (rare with other erythromycins)
- Pain, swelling, or redness at place of injection
- Fainting (repeated)
- irregular or slow heartbeat
- loss of hearing (temporary)
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Abdominal or stomach cramping and discomfort
- diarrhea
- nausea or vomiting
- Sore mouth or tongue
- vaginal itching and discharge
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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More Erythrocin Stearate resources
- Erythrocin Stearate Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Erythrocin Stearate Drug Interactions
- Erythrocin Stearate Support Group
- 13 Reviews for Erythrocin Stearate - Add your own review/rating
Compare Erythrocin Stearate with other medications
- Bacterial Endocarditis Prevention
- Bartonellosis
- Bowel Preparation
- Bronchitis
- Bullous Pemphigoid
- Campylobacter Gastroenteritis
- Chancroid
- Chlamydia Infection
- Dental Abscess
- Legionella Pneumonia
- Lyme Disease
- Lymphogranuloma Venereum
- Mycoplasma Pneumonia
- Nongonococcal Urethritis
- Ocular Rosacea
- Otitis Media
- Pemphigoid
- Pertussis
- Pharyngitis
- Pneumonia
- Rheumatic Fever Prophylaxis
- Skin Infection
- Strep Throat
- Syphilis, Early
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
