Erythromycin

What is this medication for?

Erythromycin belongs to a class of antibiotics known as macrolides. It is used to treat bacterial infections.

It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

You can also find out about this medication by watching these videos:

For videos in 中文, Melayu and தமிழ், click here.

How should I take or use this medication?

• Erythromycin is available in tablet or suspension form.
  • For Erythromycin Tablets (Erythromycin Stearate): Take on an empty stomach, half to one hour before food.
  • For Erythromycin Suspension (Erythromycin Ethyl succinate): Take with or without food.
• You should complete each course of antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor even if you feel better. Incomplete treatment might cause the infection to return or lead to antibiotic resistance. When antibiotic resistance happens, the antibiotic becomes less effective or not effective anymore.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the usual scheduled time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You have myasthenia gravis (a disease that causes muscle weakness)
• You ever had heart issues e.g. abnormal heartbeats or prolonged QT on ECG (an abnormal finding on a electrocardiogram)
• You are taking medications to treat irregular heartbeats
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
• You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies

What are some common side effects of this medication? ​

• Nausea/vomiting, stomach discomfort, diarrhoea
  • Take the medication with or after food.
  • If diarrhoea occurs, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
  • If you experience persistent diarrhoea or stomach pain, do seek medical advice immediately.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately? 

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

You can also find out about drug allergies by watching these videos:

For videos in 中文, Melayu and தமிழ், click here.

Other rare side effects include:

• Liver damage
  • Yellowing of your skin and whites of the eyes
  • Dark coloured urine or light-coloured stools
  • Nausea and vomiting that does not go away
  • Loss of appetite
  • Stomach pain
• Irregular or fast heartbeats
  • Symptoms include light headedness, dizziness or heart palpitations.
• Hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in ears)

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

Erythromycin may affect the levels of other medications in your body. Inform your healthcare providers if you are on long term medications for additional advice, especially if you are on medications to manage your cholesterol (eg simvastatin, lovastatin) or Warfarin (blood thinner).

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

Erythromycin Suspension: Follow the storage and expiry date as stated on the bottle or as advised by your healthcare professionals.

How do I throw away this medication safely? ​

Pack the medication into a bag and bring it back to the pharmacy where you received the medication from.