ERYTHROMYCIN oral

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    Last updated: January 2024

     

    Prescription under medical supervision

     

    Therapeutic action

    • Macrolide antibacterial

    Indications

    • Alternative to first-line antibiotic treatment of:
      • Louse-borne relapsing fever, leptospirosis
      • Acute otitis media, pharyngitis and sinusitis; diphtheria, pertussis, atypical pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Chlamydophila pneumoniae
      • Leg ulcer
      • Cervicitis and urethritis due to Chlamydia trachomatis (in combination with a treatment for gonorrhoea), donovanosis, chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum, syphilis
      • Trachoma
    • Neonatal conjunctivitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis
    • Completion treatment following parenteral therapy with erythromycin

    Forms and strengths

    • 250 mg and 500 mg tablets
    • 125 mg/5 ml powder for oral suspension: ,
      • to be reconstituted with filtered water
      • to be administered using a measuring device (oral syringe, measuring spoon, or cup with graduations)

    Dosage

    Louse-borne relapsing fever

    • Child under 5 years: 250 mg single dose
    • Child 5 years and over and adult: 500 mg single dose

     

    Diphtheria

    • Child under 40 kg: 10 to 15 mg/kg (max. 500 mg) 4 times daily
    • Child 40 kg and over and adult: 500 mg 4 times daily

     

    Neonatal conjunctivitis due to C. trachomatis 

    •  Neonate: 12.5 mg/kg 4 times daily

     

    Other indications

    • Child: 30 to 50 mg/kg daily in divided doses

     

    Age

    Weight

    Daily dose

    125 mg/5 ml susp.

    250 mg tablet

    500 mg tablet

    1 to < 2 months

    4 to < 5 kg

    62.5 mg x 2

    2.5 ml x 2

    ¼ tab x 2

    2 to < 12 months

    5 to < 10 kg

    125 mg x 2

    5 ml x 2

    ½ tab x 2

    ¼ tab x 2

    1 to < 3 years

    10 to < 15 kg

    250 mg x 2

    10 ml x 2

    1 tab x 2

    ½ tab x 2

    3 to < 8 years

    15 to < 25 kg

    250 mg x 3

    10 ml x 3

    1 tab x 3

    ½ tab x 3

    8 to < 11 years

    25 to < 35 kg

    500 mg x 2

    2 tab x 2

    1 tab x 2

    11 to < 13 years

    35 to < 45 kg

    500 mg x 3

    2 tab x 3

    1 tab x 3

     

    • Adult: 500 mg 4 times daily or 1 g 2 to 3 times daily

    Duration

    • Leptospirosis, pertussis, cervicitis and urethritis, chancroid, leg ulcer: 7 days
    • Sinusitis: 7 to 10 days
    • Pharyngitis, otitis: 10 days
    • Atypical pneumonia: 10 to 14 days
    • Diphtheria, early syphilis, lymphogranuloma venereum, donovanosis, conjunctivitis due to C. trachomatis, trachoma: 14 days
    • Late latent syphilis: 30 days

    Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

    • Do not administer to patients with allergy to erythromycin or another macrolide.
    • Avoid or administer with caution to children under 6 months and particularly to neonates under 2 weeks (risk of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis). 
    • Administer with caution to patients with hepatic or renal impairment (max. 1.5 g daily for adult with severe renal impairment), electrolyte disturbances or at increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity.
    • May cause: gastrointestinal disturbances, reversible hearing disorders, heart rhythm disorders (QT prolongation); allergic reactions sometimes severe. In the event of allergic reaction, stop treatment immediately.
    • Avoid combination with drugs that prolong the QT interval (amiodarone, chloroquine, co-artemether, fluconazole, haloperidol, mefloquine, moxifloxacin, ondansetron, pentamidine, quinine, etc.).
    • Administer with caution and monitor use in patients taking carbamazepine, digoxin or warfarin (plasma concentrations of these drugs increased).
    • Pregnancy and breast-feeding: no contra-indication

    Remarks

    • Take tablets preferably one hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

    Storage

     
    –  
     
    –  Below 25 °C
    For the oral suspension (powder or reconstituted suspension): follow manufacturer’s instructions.