Ery-Tab

Generic Name: erythromycin (eer ith roe MYE sin)
Brand Names: E-Mycin, E.E.S.-200, E.E.S.-400, Ery-Tab, Eryc, EryPed, Erythrocin Stearate Filmtab, Erythrocot, Ilosone, MY-E, PCE Dispertab, Robimycin

What is Ery-Tab?

Ery-Tab is in a group of drugs called macrolide antibiotics. It fights bacteria in the body.

Ery-Tab is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria. It is also used to prevent bacterial endocarditis and attacks of rheumatic fever.

Ery-Tab may also be used for purposes other than those listed here.

Important information about Ery-Tab

Do not use Ery-Tab if you are allergic to erythromycin, or if you are also taking astemizole (Hismanal), cisapride (Propulsid), pimozide (Orap), or terfenadine (Seldane). Ery-Tab may interact with these medicines and could cause dangerous or life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.

Before taking Ery-Tab, tell your doctor if you have liver disease or myasthenia gravis. You may not be able to take Ery-Tab, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Ery-Tab can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Take Ery-Tab for as many days as it has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Ery-Tab will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Before taking Ery-Tab

Do not take Ery-Tab if you are allergic to erythromycin, or if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• astemizole (Hismanal);

• cisapride (Propulsid);

• pimozide (Orap); or

• terfenadine (Seldane).

Ery-Tab may interact with these medicines and could cause dangerous or life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.

Before taking Ery-Tab, tell your doctor if you have liver disease or myasthenia gravis. You may not be able to take Ery-Tab, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category B: This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Ery-Tab can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use Ery-Tab without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Ery-Tab?

Take Ery-Tab exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Ery-Tab can be taken on an empty stomach or with food or milk.Take this medication for as many days as it has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Ery-Tab will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Ery-Tab can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Ery-Tab.

Store Ery-Tab at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of an Ery-Tab overdose may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or hearing loss.

What should I avoid while taking Ery-Tab?

Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Ery-Tab can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Ery-Tab side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Ery-Tab and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• chest pain, uneven heartbeats, feeling light-headed or fainting;

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, lost appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

• diarrhea that is watery or bloody.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue taking Ery-Tab and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain;

• dizziness, headache, feeling tired;

• vaginal itching or discharge; or

• mild itching or skin rash.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Ery-Tab?

Before taking Ery-Tab, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• digoxin (Lanoxin);

• sildenafil (Viagra);

• disopyramide (Norpace);

• warfarin (Coumadin);

• theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theobid, and others);

• alprazolam (Xanax) or triazolam (Halcion);

• ergotamine (Ercaf, Cafergot, Ergostat, Ergomar) or dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal);

• carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), or valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene);

• tacrolimus (Prograf);

• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);

• lovastatin (Mevacor) or simvastatin (Zocor);

• bromocriptine (Parlodel);

• cilostazol (Pletal);

• quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex);

• vinblastine (Velban); or

• other antibiotics.

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take Ery-Tab, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Ery-Tab. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has additional information about Ery-Tab written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Erythromycin is available with a prescription generically and under several brand names. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2008 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.06. Revision Date: 10/13/06 11:41:29 AM.

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