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| Pronunciation |
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 (er
ith roe MYE sin,
) |
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| Brand Names |
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| E.E.S.® Oral; E-Mycin® Oral;
Eryc® Oral; EryPed® Oral; Ery-Tab® Oral;
Erythrocin® Oral; Ilosone® Oral; PCE®
Oral |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
|
| Apo-Erythro® E-C (Canada);
Diomycin® (Canada); Eritroquim (Mexico); Erybid™ (Canada);
Erythro-Base® (Canada); Latotryd® (Mexico); Lauricin (Mexico);
Lederpax (Mexico); Luritran® (Mexico); Novo-Rythro Encap (Canada);
Pantomicina (Mexico); PMS-Erythromycin (Canada); Tromigal
(Mexico) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antibiotic, Macrolide |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to any other macrolide antibiotic,
erythromycin, or any other part of the medicine.
- If you have liver disease.
- If you are taking any of these medicines: Pimozide, terfenadine,
astemizole, or cisapride.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used as a treatment for a variety of bacterial
infections.
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| How does it work? |
|
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- Erythromycin, systemic prevents protein production in bacteria and
allows the body to get the infection under
control.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Oral:
- To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
- Take on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
- For tablet, take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine
causes an upset stomach.
- Swallow tablets and capsules whole except for chewable tablets.
- A liquid (suspension) is available if you cannot swallow pills. Those
who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before
and after medicine is given. Shake well first.
- Use entire prescription as directed, even if feeling better.
- Eye:
- For the eye only.
- Take out soft contact lenses before using medicine. Lenses can be
replaced 15 minutes after medicine is given.
- Do not touch the bottle or tube tip to the eye, lid, or other skin.
- Solution:
- Tilt head back and drop medicine into eye.
- After using medicine keep your eyes closed. Apply pressure to the
inside corner of the eye. Do this for 3-5 minutes. This keeps medicine in the
eye.
- Separate each eye medicine by 5 minutes. Give one and wait 5 minutes
before using the next.
- Ointment:
- Place medicine inside the lower lid. Close the eye for 1-2 minutes.
Roll eyeball around.
- Separate each eye medicine by 10 minutes. Give one and wait 10 minutes
before using the
next.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Can make infection
more difficult to treat.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Oral:
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Diarrhea. Yogurt, Bifidobacterium bifidum
, or Lactobacillus acidophilus
may help. These products are available at health food stores or in some
pharmacies.
- Belly pain and cramps.
- Eye:
- Redness, pain, or
itching.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Watch for change in temperature or worsening of infection if you are
being treated for an active
infection.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Oral:
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Fever and/or chills.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
- Eye:
- Severe redness, pain, or
itching.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store capsules/tablets/liquid (suspension) in a tight container at
room temperature.
- Any unused portion of liquid (suspension) should be thrown away after
10 days.
- Store eye medicine at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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