Erythromycin is highly effective in the treatment of a wide variety of clinical infections.

• Upper respiratory tract infections: Tonsilitis, Peritonsillar abscess, Pharyngitis, laryngitis, Sinusitis. Secondary infections in colds and influenza.
• Lower respiratory tract infections: Tracheitis, acute and chronic bronchitis.
• Ear infections: Otitis media, otitis externa, mastoiditis.
• Eye infections: Blepharitis, established trachoma.
• Skin and Soft tissue infections: Boils and carbuncles, impetigo, abscesses, pustular acne, paromychia, cellulitis, erysipelas.
• Gastrointestinal tract infections: Cholecystitis, staphylococcal enterocolitis.
• Prophylaxis: Pre and post-operative, trauma, burns, rheumatic fever.
• Other infections: Osteomyelitis, diptheria, scarlet fever, whooping cough.

Adult and Children over 8 years: 250-500 mg every six hours for mild to moderate infections. This may be increased upto 4 gm. or more daily in severe cases.

Elderly: No special dosage recommendation. Erythromycin may be administered if desired, three times daily or twice daily by giving one-third or half of the total daily requirement 8 hourly or 12 hourly respectively.

Children aged 2 to 8 years: 250 mg. every six hours or 30-50 mg/kg body weight per day divided into four equal dosage.

Infants and Children upto 2 years: 500 mg. in divided doses or 30-50 mg/kg body weight in divided doses.

Known hypersensitivity to Erythromycin.

Allergic reactions are rare and mild although anaphylaxis has occurred. Occasionally there is abdominal discomfort after oral administration, sometimes with nausea and vomiting. This discomfort usually subsides after a few days without it being necessary to reduce the dosage.

Overdose Effects

In case of overdosage, Erythromycin should be discontinued. Overdosage should be handled with the prompt elimination of unabsorbed drug and all other appropriate measures should be instituted. Erythromycin is not removed by peritoneal dialysis or haemodialysis.

Erythromycin should be given with care in patients with impaired hepatic function, as erythromycin is excreted principally in the bile.

Pregnancy & Lactation

Clinical and Laboratory studies have been shown no evidence in human of teratogenicity or toxicity. However, caution should be exercised when prescribing this drug to pregnant patients and lactating mothers since erythromycin crosses the placental barrier and is excreted in breast milk.