ERYTHROMYCIN oral

Prescription under medical supervision


Therapeutic action

– Macrolide antibacterial

Indications

– Neonatal conjonctivitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis 
– Alternative to first-line antibacterials in the treatment of:
• Borreliosis (louse-borne and tick-borne relapsing fevers), leptospirosis
• Acute otitis media, tonsillitis and sinusitis; diphtheria, pertussis, pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae
• Furuncle, leg ulcer
• Cervicitis and urethritis due to Chlamydia trachomatis (in combination with a treatment for gonorrhoea), donovanosis, chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum, syphilis
– 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

Dosage

– Neonatal conjonctivitis due to C. trachomatis 
Neonate: 12.5 mg/kg 4 times daily

– Louse-borne relapsing fever
Child under 5 years: 250 mg single dose
Child 5 years and over and adult: 500 mg single dose

– Other indications
Child: 30 to 50 mg/kg daily

Age

Weight

125 mg/5 ml susp.

250 mg tablet

500 mg tablet

1 to < 2 months

4 to < 5 kg

½ tsp x 2

¼ tab x 2

−

2 to < 12 months

5 to < 10 kg

1 tsp x 2

½ tab x 2

¼ tab x 2

1 to < 3 years

10 to < 15 kg

2 tsp x 2

1 tab x 2

½ tab x 2

3 to < 8 years

15 to < 25 kg

2 tsp x 3

1 tab x 3

½ tab x 3

8 to < 11 years

25 to < 35 kg

−

2 tab x 2

1 tab x 2

11 to < 13 years

35 to < 45 kg

−

2 tab x 3

1 tab x 3

Adult: 1 g 2 to 3 times daily

Duration

– Tick-borne relapsing fever, leptospirosis, pertussis, cervicitis and urethritis, chancroid, leg ulcer: 7 days; sinusitis: 7 to 10 days; tonsillitis, otitis: 10 days; atypical pneumonia: 10 to 14 days; diphtheria, early syphilis, lymphogranuloma venereum, donovanosis, conjunctivitis due to C. trachomatis: 14 days; late latent syphilis: 30 days.

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

– Do not administer to patients with allergy to erythromycin or another macrolide.
– Administer with caution to patients with renal impairment (max. 1.5 g daily for adult with severe renal impairment) or hepatic impairment.
– 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 or digoxin (increased their plasma levels).
– Avoid use in neonates less than 2 weeks (risk of pyloric stenosis).
– 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.