Erythromycin Tablets Bp 250mg
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Erythromycin tablets BP 250mg
erythromycin
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
1. What Erythromycin is and what it is used for
2. Before you take Erythromycin
3. How to take Erythromycin
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Erythromycin
6. Further information.
1. WHAT ERYTHROMYCIN IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Erythromycin is an antibiotic, which belongs to a group of medicines called macrolides. It can be used to treat a variety of infections, including those that affect the eye, ear, nose, mouth, throat and respiratory system (chest infections). Erythromycin can also be used to treat infections of the skin, , stomach, gut, prostate, certain urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, syphilis, diphtheria and scarlet fever. The antibiotic can also be given before and after surgery to help prevent infection, and may also be given to prevent rheumatic fever.
2. BEFORE YOU TAKE ERYTHROMYCIN Do not take Erythromycin
• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to erythromycin or any of the other ingredients of this
medicine (see section 6 for further information)
• if you are taking antihistamines such as terfenadine, mizolastine, astemizole
• if you are taking anti-psychotic drugs (for mental illness) such as pimozide
• if you are taking dihydroergotamine or ergotamine (to treat migraines)
• if you are taking cisapride (for stomach problems)
• if you are taking cilostazol (for cramp-like pains in the legs when walking).
Take special care with Erythromycin
You should tell your doctor before taking this medicine:
• if you suffer from liver disease or are taking other medicine that can affect the liver
• if you suffer from a condition called myasthenia gravis, which causes muscle weakness.
If you need your urine tested, tell your doctor you are taking Erythromycin, as it may interfere with certain tests.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription or any of the following:
• bromocriptine, cabergoline or lisuride (used to treat Parkinson’s disease)
• carbamazepine, phenytoin or valproate (used to treat epilepsy)
• cimetidine (used to treat ulcers)
• clozapine (used to treat mental illness)
• digoxin, quinidine or disopyramide (used to treat heart problems)
• felodipine (used to treat high blood pressure and angina)
• loratadine (used to treat allergic reactions)
• methylprednisolone (used to treat some allergic conditions)
• lovastatin or simvastatin (used to reduce cholesterol)
• midazolam or alfentanil (used for sedation)
• zopiclone or alprazolam (used to treat anxiety and insomnia)
• reboxetine ( an antidepressant)
• rifabutin (used to treat tuberculosis)
• ritonavir or amprenavir (used to treat HIV infections)
• artemether with lumefantrine (to treat malaria)
• sildenafil (used to treat erectile dysfunction or pulmonary arterial hypertension)
• tacrolimus or ciclosporin (used following transplants)
• theophylline (used to treat breathing problems)
• zafirlukast (used to prevent asthma)
• tolterodine (used to treat incontinence)
• vinblastine or docetaxel (used to treat cancer)
• warfarin or acenocoumarol (medicine to thin the blood)
• colchicine (for gout).
Taking Erythromycin with food and drink
Erythromycin is best taken one hour before meals.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
It is not recommended to breast-feed your baby while taking erythromycin, as small amounts of this medicine can pass into breast milk. You should ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
Erythromycin should not affect your ability to drive or use machines. If you are affected, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Erythromycin
These tablets contain the colorants sunset yellow (E110) and Ponceau 4R (E124) which may cause allergic reactions in some people.
3. HOW TO TAKE EYRTHROMYCIN
Always take Erythromycin exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
• Swallow the tablet with a glass of water one hour before food.
Your doctor will tell you how long to take your medicine for.
The usual dose is:
Adults and children over 8 years
For mild to moderate infections: 1 - 2 tablets (250-500mg) every 6 hours. For severe infections, the dose may be increased to 4g or more per day.
Children aged 2 to 8 years
For mild to moderate infections: 1 tablet (250mg) every 6 hours. This dose may be doubled for severe infections.
Infants and babies up to 2 years
Erythromycin tablets are not appropriate for infants and babies up to 2 years. Therefore use of Erythromycin granules for oral suspension is recommended.
Elderly
As adult dose
If you take more Erythromycin than you should
Contact your doctor or nearest hospital emergency department immediately. Take the container and any remaining tablets with you. Symptoms of overdose include nausea, vomiting, hearing loss and diarrhoea.
If you forget to take Erythromyin
Take the next dose as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Erythromycin
Do not stop taking Erythromycin without talking to your doctor first. It is important to finish the course of antibiotic as instructed by your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Erythromycin can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If any of the following happens stop taking Erythromycin and tell your doctor immediately or go to your nearest emergency hospital/ department:
• if you develop swelling of the face and/or throat or difficulty in breathing
• if you start to suffer from an allergic rash, itching or severe skin reactions with peeling, blistering or ulcerated skin.
These side effects are rare but serious. You may need medical attention.
If your child is being treated with Erythromycin, and he/she starts vomiting or appears irritable contact your doctor straight away.
Other possible side effects are:
• abdominal discomfort, feeling or being sick
• diarrhoea. If you suffer from watery diarrhoea, fever and cramps, and if these symptoms are severe or prolonged, contact your doctor immediately
• yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes and loss of appetite (signs of hepatitis or liver problems)
• chest pains, dizziness, palpitations or an abnormal heartbeat. Tell your doctor straight away.
• Very rarely, inflammation of the pancreas, causing severe pain in the stomach region
• discoloured urine, fluid retention or generally feeling unwell
• hearing loss (if you are taking a high dose of Erythromycin, however this side effect should only be temporary)
If any side effect gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell
your doctor or pharmacist.
5. HOW TO STORE ERYTHROMYCIN
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use Erythromycin after the expiry date, which is stated on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Store below 20°C. Keep the bottle and blister strips in the outer carton and protect from direct sunlight.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION What Erythromycin contains
The active substance is erythromycin 250mg
The other ingredients aremaize starch, croscarmellose sodium, povidone, talc, magnesium stearate.
The coating contains hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, dispersed red 18152 (sunset yellow E110 and Ponceau 4R (E124), methacrylic acid copolymer, talc, polysorbate 80.
What Erythromycin looks like and contents of the pack
Your medicine comes as a reddish, orange coloured, round coated tablet with no markings on either side.
Erythromycin is available in plastic bottles of 21, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 tablets, and blister packs of 28, 56, 84 and 100 tablets.
Not all packs may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Generics [UK] Ltd, Station Close, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1TL, United Kingdom This leaflet was last approved in 10/2009.
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