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USES:
Erythromycin is an antibiotic used to treat a wide variety of
bacterial infections. This antibiotic only treats bacterial
infections. It will not work for viral infections (e.g., common
cold, flu). Unnecessary use or overuse of any antibiotic can lead
to its decreased effectiveness.
HOW TO USE:
This medication may be taken with food or milk if stomach upset
occurs. Shake liquid well before using. Antibiotics work best when
the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level.
Do this by taking the medication at evenly spaced intervals
throughout the day and night. Continue to take this medication
until the full prescribed amount is finished even if symptoms
disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may
allow bacteria to continue to grow resulting in a relapse of the
infection.
SIDE EFFECTS:
May cause stomach upset, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea,
vomiting, or stomach cramps the first few days as your body
adjusts to the medication. If these symptoms persist or become
severe, inform your doctor. Notify your doctor if you develop
symptoms of jaundice as such: dark urine, clay-colored stools,
yellowing of eyes or skin. In the unlikely event you have an
allergic reaction to this drug, seek medical attention
immediately. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash,
itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing. Use of this
medication for prolonged or repeated periods may result in a
secondary infection (e.g., oral, bladder or vaginal yeast
infection) If you notice other effects not listed above, contact
your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS:
Tell your doctor your medical history, especially: liver
disease/jaundice, any allergies. Caution is advised when this drug
is used in infants. Though very unlikely to happen, a stomach
problem called IHPS (infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis) has
been noted. Contact your child's doctor immediately if the child
has persistent vomiting or increased irritability. This drug
should be used only if clearly needed during pregnancy. Small
amounts of drug do appear in breast milk, so consult your doctor
before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Tell your doctor of all the drugs you may use, (prescription and
nonprescription) especially of the following: carbamazepine,
cyclosporine, theophylline, certain benzodiazepines (e.g.,
midazolam, triazolam), warfarin, felodipine (a calcium channel
blocker), cisapride, birth control pills, corticosteroids (e.g.,
prednisone), digoxin, ergotamine-containing medications,
sildenafil, certain live vaccines, disopyramide, phenytoin, other
antibiotics, certain "statin" drugs used to treat high cholesterol
(e.g., atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin). Other drugs besides
erythromycin which may affect the heart rhythm (QTc prolongation
in the EKG) include dofetilide, pimozide, quinidine, sotalol,
procainamide, and sparfloxacin among others. QTc prolongation can
infrequently result in serious, rarely fatal, irregular
heartbeats. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details. Ask for
instructions about whether you need to stop any other QTc-prolonging
drugs you may be using in order to minimize the risk of this
effect. This drug may interfere with the effectiveness of birth
control pills. Discuss using other methods of birth control with
your doctor. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or
pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE:
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center
or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US
national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents
should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms
of overdose may include stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and
diarrhea.
MISSED DOSE:
If you should miss a dose, take it as soon as remembered unless it
is almost time for the next dose. If it is nearly time for the
next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing
schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose.
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