Erythromycin oral tablets are prescribed for certain types of infections. It’s an antibiotic that may cause mild or serious side effects. These include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved erythromycin oral tablets to treat the following infections:
It’s also approved to help prevent rheumatic fever in people who cannot take other antibiotics.
This article describes possible side effects of erythromycin oral tablets. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for erythromycin. You can explore this overview article to learn more about erythromycin oral tablets, including the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Erythromycin oral tablets are generic medications. They aren’t available in brand-name versions. Erythromycin also comes in an injectable form, a form that you use in your eyes, and forms that you apply to your skin, but those aren’t described in this article. To learn more about those forms, talk with your doctor.
More common side effects of erythromycin
Erythromycin oral tablets may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of erythromycin oral tablets include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- abdominal pain*
These side effects were reported in studies of erythromycin oral tablet, erythromycin delayed-release oral tablet, and erythromycin ethylsuccinate. (With delayed-release tablets, the active drug is released once it passes through your stomach.)
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of erythromycin in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of erythromycin
Erythromycin may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of erythromycin oral tablets that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of erythromycin in detail” section below.
These side effects were reported in studies of erythromycin oral tablet, erythromycin delayed-release oral tablet, and erythromycin ethylsuccinate. (With delayed-release tablets, the active drug is released once it passes through your stomach.)
Erythromycin oral tablets may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information for erythromycin oral tablet, erythromycin delayed-release oral tablet, and erythromycin ethylsuccinate.
Serious side effects of erythromycin
Erythromycin may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from erythromycin oral tablets, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with erythromycin.
Serious side effects of erythromycin oral tablets that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of erythromycin in detail” section below.
These side effects were reported in studies of erythromycin oral tablet, erythromycin delayed-release oral tablet, and erythromycin ethylsuccinate. (With delayed-release tablets, the active drug is released once it passes through your stomach.)
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Start consult nowCommon questions about side effects of erythromycin
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of erythromycin oral tablets. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can erythromycin oral tablets cause eye-related side effects?
No. Eye-related problems were not reported* side effects of erythromycin oral tablets.
If you have questions about erythromycin oral tablets and eye-related side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* For details about side effects reported in studies of erythromycin oral tablets, see the prescribing information for erythromycin oral tablet, erythromycin delayed-release oral tablet, and erythromycin ethylsuccinate. (With delayed-release tablets, the active drug is released once it passes through your stomach.)
Does erythromycin cause long-term side effects?
Yes, in some cases erythromycin oral tablets may cause long-term side effects. Examples include:
These side effects were reported in studies of erythromycin oral tablet, erythromycin delayed-release oral tablet,† and erythromycin ethylsuccinate. These can occur anytime during treatment and may last after you stop taking the drug.
Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. You can ask your doctor for details about how long these side effects may last.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of erythromycin in detail” section below.
† With delayed-release tablets, the active drug is released once it passes through your stomach.
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Side effects of erythromycin in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of erythromycin oral tablets.
Abdominal pain
In studies, mild abdominal pain was common in people taking erythromycin oral tablets.
This side effect was reported in studies of erythromycin oral tablet, erythromycin delayed-release oral tablet, and erythromycin ethylsuccinate. (With delayed-release tablets, the active drug is released once it passes through your stomach.)
With abdominal pain, you have cramping in your belly. Symptoms may include:
Certain factors can increase the risk of abdominal pain with erythromycin oral tablets. These include eating foods that increase bloating or drinking carbonated beverages. Other medications and health conditions you may have can also increase your risk of abdominal pain.
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of abdominal pain, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend eating foods that are less likely to cause bloating and avoiding carbonated beverages. They may also recommend medications to help ease this side effect.
Heart-related side effects
In studies, serious heart-related side effects were reported in people taking erythromycin oral tablets. These include heart rhythm problems, such as ventricular tachycardia.
This side effect was reported in studies of erythromycin oral tablet, erythromycin delayed-release oral tablet, and erythromycin ethylsuccinate.
Symptoms of heart rhythm problems may include dizziness, fainting, or shortness of breath. They also include chest pain and palpitations (a feeling of skipped or extra heartbeats).
Certain factors can increase the risk of heart-related side effects with erythromycin oral tablets. These include:
Ways to manage
If you experience any of the side effects above, seek immediate medical attention by calling 911 (or a local emergency number). If you have any heart-related side effects, your doctor will likely stop treatment with erythromycin oral tablets.
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In studies, inflammation of the large intestine, such as pseudomembranous colitis, was reported in people taking erythromycin oral tablets. This side effect may be serious.
This side effect was reported in studies of erythromycin oral tablet, erythromycin delayed-release oral tablet, and erythromycin ethylsuccinate.
With inflammation of the large intestine, you experience swelling in the colon and an overgrowth of bacteria known as Clostridioides difficile. Symptoms may include abdominal cramps, watery diarrhea, pain, fever, and mucus in the stool.
Certain factors can increase the risk of pseudomembranous colitis with erythromycin oral tablets. These include:
- staying in a nursing home or hospital
- being age 65 years or older
- having a weakened immune system
- having other health conditions
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of pseudomembranous colitis, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend you stop taking erythromycin oral tablets and may prescribe a different treatment for you.
Allergic reaction
For some people, erythromycin oral tablets can cause an allergic reaction. This side effect was reported in studies of erythromycin oral tablet, erythromycin delayed-release oral tablet, and erythromycin ethylsuccinate.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know if you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to erythromycin oral tablets, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for erythromycin
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking erythromycin oral tablets.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take erythromycin oral tablets if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether erythromycin oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking erythromycin oral tablets, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
Erythromycin and pregnancy
In general, erythromycin oral tablet is considered safe to take during pregnancy. That said, check with your doctor about whether they feel it’s safe for you specifically. If it’s early in your pregnancy, your doctor may recommend a different antibiotic.
Erythromycin and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether erythromycin oral tablets should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Erythromycin and alcohol
Erythromycin oral tablets are not known to interact with alcohol.
However, drinking alcohol can damage your liver. And erythromycin oral tablets may cause liver damage. So combining these may increase your risk for liver damage.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with erythromycin oral tablets.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of erythromycin oral tablets. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Do I have a higher risk of side effects than others?
- Is my risk of abdominal pain higher when I first start the treatment?
- Does my risk of diarrhea depend on the dosage you prescribe?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
