Erythroped

How does it work?

Erythroped tablets and suspensions contain the active ingredient erythromycin, which is a type of medicine known as a macrolide antibiotic. It is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. (NB. Erythromycin is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.)

Erythromycin works by preventing bacteria from producing proteins that are essential to them. Without these proteins the bacteria cannot grow, replicate and increase in numbers. Erythromycin doesn’t directly kill the bacteria, but leaves them unable to increase in numbers. The remaining bacteria eventually die or are destroyed by the immune system. This treats the infection.

Erythromycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is active against a wide variety of bacteria that cause a wide variety of infections. Erythromycin may be used to treat infections of the upper or lower airways, skin or soft tissue, eyes or ears. It may also be used to treat certain sexually-transmitted infections, oral and dental infections, and to prevent infections in people who are at risk, for example due to surgery, trauma or burns.

Erythromycin is also used for treating inflammatory acne, as it is active against the bacteria associated with acne, Propionebacterium acnes. This is a common type of bacteria that feeds on sebum produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. It produces waste products and fatty acids that irritate the sebaceous glands, making them inflamed and causing spots. By controlling bacterial numbers, erythromycin brings the inflammation of the sebaceous glands under control, and allows the skin to heal. (Other antibiotics may be preferred for acne however, as strains of the Propionebacterium that are resistant to erythromycin are becoming widespread.)

To make sure the bacteria causing an infection are susceptible to erythromycin your doctor may take a tissue sample, for example a swab from the throat or skin.

Erythromycin has a similar range of antibacterial activity to penicillin and so is also useful as an alternative to penicillin in people who are allergic to penicillins.

What is it used for?

Bacterial infections of the lungs (chest or lower respiratory tract), eg bronchitis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia, Legionnaires' disease

Bacterial infection of the nasal passages, sinuses or throat (upper respiratory tract infection), eg sinusitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis

Whooping cough

Bacterial infection of the middle ear (otitis media) or outer ear canal (otitis externa)

Bacterial mouth infections, eg gum disease (gingivitis), Vincent's angina

Bacterial infection of the eyelids (blepharitis)

Bacterial infections of the skin or soft tissue, eg boils, abscesses, cellulitis, impetigo, erysipelas

Acne

Chronic inflammatory disorder of the facial skin (acne rosacea)

Bacterial infections of the stomach and intestines

Inflammation of bone due to bacterial infection (osteomyelitis)

Inflammation of the urethra due to bacterial infection (urethritis)

Inflammation of the prostate gland due to bacterial infection

Gonorrhoea

Syphilis

Diphtheria

Scarlet fever

Prevention of bacterial infection following surgery, burns, trauma or dental procedures

Warning!

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is important that you finish the prescribed course of this antibiotic medicine, even if you feel better or it seems the infection has cleared up. Stopping the course early increases the chance that the infection will come back and that the bacteria will grow resistant to the antibiotic.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics can sometimes cause inflammation of the bowel (colitis). For this reason, if you get diarrhoea that becomes severe or persistent or contains blood or mucus, either during or after taking this medicine, you should consult your doctor immediately.

Use with caution in

Decreased liver function

Severely decreased kidney function

Abnormal heart rhythm seen on the heart monitoring trace as a 'prolonged QT interval', or people at risk of this (your doctor will know)

Abnormal muscle weakness

Life long inherited blood diseases which can cause a variety of symptoms, including mental health problems (porphyrias)

Not to be used in

People taking astemizole, pimozide, cisapride, terfenadine, sertindole or ergot derivatives, eg ergotamine, dihdyroergotamine

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

There are no known harmful effects when this medicine is used during pregnancy.

This medicine passes into breast milk in small amounts. It should be used with caution in mothers who are breastfeeding. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

Take at regular intervals. Complete the prescribed course unless otherwise directed.

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