Erythromycin tabs

Erythromycin belongs to the group of drugs called macrolide antibiotics. It fights bacteria in the body.
Erythromycin is used to treat different types of infections caused by bacteria.

Therapeutic actions:
Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. Macrolide antibiotics slow the growth of, or sometimes kill, sensitive bacteria by reducing the production of important proteins needed by the bacteria to survive.

What is it used for?:
Erythromycin can be used for treatment of pneumonias. It is the drug selective for Legionella pneumonia and is a good alternative to tetracyclines for chlamydial infections and mycoplasmas. Pneumococcal pneumonias normally shows the good response to erythromycin; Haemophilus influenzae, on the other hand, is often resistant. Erythromycin can be considered as an alternative to penicillin for streptococcal pharyngitis; however, even streptococci are partially resistant nowadays. Erythromycin serves in the prophylaxis and treatment of diphtheria carriers.
Erythromycin is also suitable for the treatment of skin infections (eryspela, impetigo); it is the drug of choice for erythrasma. Erythromycin has a similar effect as tetracyclines against acne; it can be used systemically and topically.
Erythromycin has good efficacy against chlamydial infections in the genito-urinary tract as well as in the eyes (conjunctivitis).

Contraindications and cautions:
• allergy to any ingredient in Erythromycin;
• taking astemizole, cisapride, cyclosporine, diltiazem, dofetilide, ergot alkaloids (eg, ergotamine), HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), imidazoles (eg, ketoconazole), pimozide, QT prolonging agents (eg, quinidine, sotalol), quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin), streptogramins (eg, quinupristin/dalfopristin), sumatriptan, terfenadine, or verapamil.

Side effects: diarrhea; loss of appetite; nausea; stomach pain; vomiting.

Interactions:
• Erythromycin 's effectiveness may be decreased by efavirenz or rifampin;
• Arsenic, cimetidine,diltiazem,dofetilide,HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), imidazoles (eg, ketoconazole), pimozide,QT-prolonging agents (eg, quinidine, sotalol), quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin), streptogramins (eg, quinupristin/dalfopristin ), or verapamil may provoke side effects, such as heart toxicity or irregular heartbeat;
• Erythromycin may increase the risk of side effects of anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), aldosterone blockers (eg, spironolactone), alfentanil, arsenic, astemizole, benzodiazepines (eg, alprazolam), bromocriptine, buspirone, carbamazepine, cilostazol, cisapride, clozapine, corticosteroids (eg, hydrocortisone), cyclosporine, digitoxin, digoxin, disopyramide, ergot alkaloids (eg, ergotamine), felodipine, H1 antagonists (eg, diphenhydramine), HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (eg, lovastatin), imatinib, macrolide immunosuppressants (eg, tacrolimus), meglitinide antidiabetics (eg, repaglinide), midazolam, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (eg, sildenafil), pimozide, QT-prolonging agents (eg, quinidine, sotalol), quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin), rifampin, serotonin reuptake inhibitors (eg, fluoxetine), sumatriptan, theophyllines, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline), valproic acid, or vinca alkaloids (eg, vincristine).