Erythromycin (Ery-Tab, E-Mycin, Eryc)

Category:

  • Antibiotic

Description:

  • Macrolide

Indications:

  • Upper respiratory tract infections (S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, H. inlfuenzae)

  • Lower respiratory tract infections (S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae)

  • Respiratory tract infections (Mycoplasma pneumoniae)

  • Skin infections (S. aureus, S. pyogenes)

  • Pertussis (Bordetella pertussis)

  • Diphtheria (Corynebacterium diphtheriae)

  • Erythasma (C. minutissimum)

  • Intestinal amebiasis (Entamoeba histolytica)

  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (N. gonorrhoeae)

  • Conjunctivitis (Chlamydia trachomatis)

  • Uncomplicated urethral, endocervical or rectal infections (Chlamydia trachomatis)

  • Nongonococcal urethritis (Ureaplasma urealyticum)

  • Primary syphilis (Treponema pallidum)

  • Legionnaire’s disease (Legionella pneumonphila)

  • Rheumatic fever

  • Bacterial endocarditis

  • Listeria monocytogenes infections

  • Unlabled uses: Treponema pallidum, Campylobacter jejuni, Lymphogranuloma vernereum, Calymmatobacterium granulomatis, Haemophilus ducreyi (chanchroid)

Contraindications:

  • None

Precautions:

  • Pregnancy category B

  • Counsel patient to finish all medication to prevent development of resistance

  • Do not use with cisapride (ventricular arrythmias w/macrolides)

  • Optimal serum levels are achieved if taken in fasting state or immediately before meals (base and stearate formulations).  Ehtylsuccinate,estolate and enteric-coated erythromycin formulations may be administered without regard for meals.

  • Urine alkalinization (pH 8.5) increases gram-negative antibacterial activity.  If needed, administer with sodium bicarbonate or other alkalinizing agent

  • Dosages are expressed in the form of erythromycin base:

  • Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate 400mg = 250mg of erythromycin base

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

  • Hypersensitivity

  • Gastrointestinal: abdominal pain (7.5%), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (7.3%)

  • Headache (8.2%)

  • Decreased platelet count (4.8%)

  • Vaginitis

Dosage:

  • Administered orally (tablets)

  • Adult:

    • 250mg four times a day, 500mg twice a day or 333mg three times a day for 10-14 days

  • Legionnaire’s disease: 

    • 1-4 grams per day in four equal does for 10-14 days

  • Child:

    • 30-50mg/kg/day divided into four equal doses

 

 

Home  ·  Military Medicine  ·  Sick Call  ·  Basic Exams  ·  Medical Procedures  ·  Lab and X-ray  ·  The Pharmacy  ·  The Library  ·  Equipment  ·  Patient Transport  ·  Medical Force Protection  ·  Operational Safety  ·  Operational Settings  ·  Special Operations  ·  Humanitarian Missions  ·  Instructions/Orders  ·  Other Agencies  ·  Video Gallery  ·  Forms  ·  Web Links  ·  Acknowledgements  ·  Help  ·  Feedback

Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited.

The information contained here is an abbreviated summary. For more detailed and complete information, consult the manufacturer's product information sheets or standard textbooks.

Source: Operational Medicine 2001, Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300.

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Department of the Navy
2300 E Street NW
Washington, D.C
20372-5300

Operational Medicine
 Health Care in Military Settings
CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR
NAVMED P-5139
  January 1, 2001

United States Special Operations Command
7701 Tampa Point Blvd.
MacDill AFB, Florida
33621-5323

*This web version is provided by The Brookside Associates, LLC.  It contains original contents from the official US Navy NAVMED P-5139, but has been reformatted for web access and includes advertising and links that were not present in the original version. The medical information presented was reviewed and felt to be accurate in 2001. Medical knowledge and practice methods may have changed since that time. Some links may no longer be active. This web version has not been approved by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. The Brookside Associates is a private organization, not affiliated with the United States Department of Defense.

© 2015, Brookside Associates, LLC. All rights reserved

Other Brookside Products

 

 

Advertise on this site