Adult Dosing
Bacterial infections
- Erythromycin base, stearate: 250 mg PO qid or 333 mg PO tid or 500 mg PO bid
- Erythromycin ethylsuccinate: 400 mg PO qid or 800 mg PO bid
Streptococcal infections
- Erythromycin base, stearate: 250 mg PO qid or 333 mg PO tid or 500 mg PO bid x 10 days
- Prophylaxis of streptococcal infections: 250 mg PO bid
- Erythromycin ethylsuccinate: 400 mg PO qid or 800 mg PO bid x 10 days
- Prophylaxis of streptococcal infections: 400 mg bid
Primary syphilis
- Erythromycin base, stearate: 30-40 g PO in divided doses over 10-15 days
- Erythromycin ethylsuccinate: 48 to 64 g PO in divided doses over 10-15 days
Intestinal amebiasis
- Erythromycin base, stearate: 250 mg PO qid x 10-14 days
- Erythromycin ethylsuccinate: 400 mg PO qid x 10-14 days
Legionnaires’ disease
- Erythromycin base, stearate: 1-4 g/day PO in divided doses
- Erythromycin ethylsuccinate: 1.6-4 g/day PO in divided doses
Urogenital infections during pregnancy and other infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis
- Erythromycin base, stearate: 500 mg PO qid x 7 days, if not tolerated 250 mg PO qid or 500 mg PO bid x 14 days
Pertussis
- Erythromycin base, stearate, ethylsuccinate : 40-50 mg/kg/day in divided doses x 5-14 days
Nongonococcal urethritis due to Ureaplasma urealyticum
- Erythromycin base, stearate: 500 mg PO qid x 7 days
- Erythromycin ethylsuccinate: 800 mg PO tid x 7 days
Acute pelvic inflammatory disease due to N gonorrhoeae
- Erythromycin base, stearate: 250 mg PO qid x 7 days, after erythromycin lactobionate 500 mg IV q6 hrs x 3 days
Note: 250 mg of erythromycin base, stearate = 400 mg of erythromycin ethylsuccinate
Chancroid [Non-FDA Approved]
Pediatric Dosing
Bacterial infections
- Erythromycin base, stearate, ethylsuccinate: 30-50 mg/kg/day PO divided tid-qid x 10 days. [Max: 2 g/day as base; 3.2 g/day as ethylsuccinate]
- Severe infection: 60-100 mg/kg/day PO divided tid-qid
Intestinal amebiasis
- Erythromycin base, stearate, ethylsuccinate: 30-50 mg/kg/day PO in divided doses x 10-14 days
Conjunctivitis of the Newborn Caused by Chlamydia trachomatis
- Erythromycin base: 50 mg/kg/day PO divided qid x 2 wks
Pneumonia of Infancy Caused by Chlamydia trach
- Erythromycin base: 50 mg/kg/day PO divided qid x 3 wks
Pertussis
- Erythromycin base, stearate, ethylsuccinate : 40-50 mg/kg/day PO in divided doses x 5-14 days
Note: 250 mg of erythromycin base, stearate = 400 mg of erythromycin ethylsuccinate
Conjunctivitis in the newborn caused by C. trachomatis [Non-FDA Approved]
- Erythromycin base: 40 mg/kg/day PO divided qid x 2 wks
Pneumonia in infants caused by C. trachomatis [Non-FDA Approved]
- Erythromycin base: 40 mg/kg/day PO divided qid x 3 wks
Note: Infants taking erythromycin should be monitored for signs of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
Chancroid [Non-FDA Approved]
- 50mg/kg/day PO divided qid x 7 days (Max 1500 mg/day)
Pediatrics Pneumonia [Non-FDA Approved]
- Erythromycin base, stearate, ethylsuccinate: 30–50 mg/kg/day PO divided tid–qid x 10 days; [Max: 2 g/day as base; 3.2 g/day as ethylsuccinate]
[Outline]
Renal Dose Adjustment (Based on CrCl)
- Renal impairment: Dose adjustments not defined
Hepatic Dose Adjustment
- Hepatic impairment: Use with caution; dose adjustments not defined
- Prolonged QT syndrome has been reported in geriatric patients receiving oral erythromycin, use cautiously in geriatric patients
- Hepatic dysfunction, with or without jaundice has occurred in patients receiving oral erythromycin, use cautiously in patients with impaired hepatic function
- Erythromycin does not prevent congenital syphilis as it does not reach the fetus in adequate concentration. Infants who are born to women treated during pregnancy with oral erythromycin for early syphilis, should be treated with an appropriate penicillin regimen.
- Rhabdomyolysis has been reported in patients receiving erythromycin concomitantly with lovastatin (with or without renal impairment), Carefully monitor creatinine kinase (CK) and serum transaminase levels in patients receiving concomitant lovastatin and erythromycin
- Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) ranging from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis can occurs with erythromycin therapy as antibacterial agents alter the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C. difficile
- C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to CDAD. Hypertoxin producing strains cause increased morbidity and mortality since these infections can be refractory to antibiotic therapy and may require colectomy. Careful medical examination is necessary since CDAD may occur > 2 months after administration of drug
- If CDAD is suspected/confirmed, discontinue treatment and provide fluid, electrolyte, and protein supplementation along with antibiotics for C. difficile, and consider surgical evaluation as clinically needed
- Prescribing antibiotics in the absence of proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection increases the risk of development of drug-resistant bacteria
- New onset or exacerbation of symptoms of myasthenia gravis has been reported in patients receiving erythromycin therapy
- Prolonged or repeated use of erythromycin can cause overgrowth of nonsusceptible bacteria or fungi, discontinue the drug and start appropriate therapy if superinfection occurs
- Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) has been reported with erythromycin therapy. While using erythromycin in infants, benefit of erythromycin therapy needs to be weighed against the potential risk of developing IHPS, and parents should be informed to contact their physician if vomiting or irritability with feeding occurs during the therapy
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Renal impairment
- Hepatic impairment
- Myasthenia gravis
- QT prolongation
- Risk of QT syndrome
- QT prolonging agent use
Pregnancy Category:B
Breastfeeding: Erythromycin is excreted in breastmilk in small quantities and safely administered directly to infants, hence not expected to cause adverse events in the breastfed infant. Monitor the infant for irritability, diarrhea and candidiasis. As per one case report and unconfirmed epidemiologic evidence the risk of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in infants might increase by maternal use of erythromycin during breastfeeding. This information is based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT). This drug is compatible and considered safe with breastfeeding based upon data from AAP Policy Guidelines (available at http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;108/3/776 last accessed 17 February 2011. However manufacturer advises caution.
US Trade Name(s)
- E.E.S.
- Eryc
- Ery-Tab
- Eryped
- Erythrocin
- PCE
- Pediamycin
US Availability
erythromycin base (generic)
- TABS: 250, 500 mg
- ECAPS: 250 mg
erythromycin ethylsuccinate (generic)
E.E.S. (erythromycin ethylsuccinate)
- TABS: 400 mg
- SUSP: 200 mg/5 mL
- SUSP: 400 mg/5 mL
- GRAN: 200 mg/5 mL
Ery-Tab (erythromycin base)
Eryc (erythromycin base)
Eryped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate)
- SUSP: 200 mg/5 mL
- SUSP: 400 mg/ 5 mL
Erythrocin (erythromycin stearate)
PCE (erythromycin base)
Pediamycin (erythromycin ethylsuccinate)
- SUSP: 200 mg/5 mL
- SUSP: 400 mg/5 mL
Canadian Trade Name(s)
- Apo-Erythro
- Apo-Erythro Base
- EES
- Erybid
- Eryc
- Erythro ES
- Erythro-S
- Novo-Rythro Estolate
- Novo-Rythro Ethylsuccinate
- PCE
Canadian Availability
Erythromycin stearate (generic)
Apo-Erythro (erythromycin base)
Apo-Erythro Base (erythromycin base)
EES (erythromycin ethylsuccinate)
- TABS: 600 mg
- PWDR for SUSP: 200 mg/5 mL
- PWDR for SUSP: 400 mg/5 mL
Erybid (erythromycin)
Eryc (erythromycin)
Erythro ES (erythromycin ethylsuccinate)
Erythro-S (erythromycin stearate)
Novo-Rythro Estolate (erythromycin estolate)
- SUSP: 125 mg/5 mL
- SUSP: 250 mg/5 mL
Novo-Rythro Ethylsuccinate (erythromycin ethylsuccinate)
- PWDR for SUSP: 400 mg/5 mL
- PWDR for SUSP: 200 mg/5 mL
PCE
UK Trade Name(s)
- Erymax
- Erythrocin
- Erythroped A
UK Availability
erythromycin base (generic)
erythromycin ethyl succinate (generic)
- SUSP: 125 mg/5 mL
- SUSP: 250 mg/5 mL
- SUSP: 500 mg/5 mL
Erymax (erythromycin base)
Erythrocin (erythromycin stearate)
Erythroped A(erythromycin ethylsuccinate)
Australian Trade Name(s)
Australian Availability
Erythromycin base (generic)
Eryc (erythromycin base)
EES (erythromycin ethylsuccinate)
- TABS: 400 mg
- GRAN: 200 mg/5 mL
- GRAN: 400 mg/5 mL
E-Mycin (erythromycin ethylsuccinate)
- TABS: 400 mg
- SYRUP: 200 mg/5 mL
- SYRUP: 400 mg/5 mL
[Outline]
Pricing data from www.DrugStore.com in U.S.A.
- Ery-Tab 500 MG TBEC [Bottle] (ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS)
20 mg = $35.99
40 mg = $59.98 - PCE 500 MG TBEC [Bottle] (ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS)
20 mg = $69.29
60 mg = $199.49 - Erythromycin Base 500 MG TABS [Bottle] (ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS)
30 mg = $69.99
60 mg = $129.98 - Erythrocin Stearate 250 MG TABS [Bottle] (ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS)
30 mg = $46.99
60 mg = $83.97 - Ery-Tab 250 MG TBEC [Bottle] (ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS)
40 mg = $57.99
80 mg = $105.97 - Ery-Tab 333 MG TBEC [Bottle] (ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS)
30 mg = $49.99
90 mg = $134.96 - PCE 333 MG TBEC [Bottle] (ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS)
30 mg = $72.99
90 mg = $209.96
Warning: This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.
