Erythromycins Health Article

Definition

Erythromycins are medicines that kill bacteria or prevent their growth.

Purpose

Erythromycins are antibiotics, medicines used to treat infections caused by microorganisms. Physicians prescribe these drugs for many types of infections caused by bacteria, including strep throat, sinus infections, pneumonia, ear infections, tonsillitis, bronchitis, gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and urinary tract infections. Some medicines in this group are also used to treat Legionnaires' disease and ulcers caused by bacteria. These drugs will not work for colds, flu, and other infections caused by viruses.

Drugs in the erythromycin group may be used to eliminate such areas of infection as abscesses prior to surgery. For this purpose, they have been used in dentistry, eye surgery, and intestinal surgery. In some cases, erythromycin has been used to treat brain abscesses.

Description

The drugs described here include erythromycins (Erythrocin, Ery-C, E-Mycin, and other brands) and such medicines that are chemically related to erythromycins as azithromycin (Zithromax) and clarithromycin (Biaxin). They are available only with a physician's prescription and are sold in capsule, tablet (regular and chewable), liquid, and injectable forms.

Recommended dosage

The recommended dosage depends on the type of erythromycin, the strength of the medicine, and the medical problem for which it is being taken. The person should check with the physician who prescribed the drug or the pharmacist who filled the prescription for the correct dosage.

The patient must always take erythromycins exactly as directed. The patient should never take larger, smaller, more frequent, or less frequent doses. To make sure the infection clears up completely, it is very important to take the medicine for as long as it has been prescribed. Patients must not stop taking the drug just because symptoms begin to improve. This is important with all types of infections, but it is especially important in streptococcal infections, which can lead to serious heart problems if they are not cleared up completely.

Erythromycins work best when they are at constant levels in the blood. To help keep levels constant, the medicine should be taken in doses spaced evenly through the day and night. The patient must not miss any doses. Some of these medicines are most effective when taken with a full glass of water on an empty stomach, but they may be taken with food if stomach upset is a problem. Others work equally well when taken with or without food. Patients should check package directions or ask the physician or pharmacist for instructions on how to take the medicine.