Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Erythro Es.
Allergy: Anyone who has had any form of allergy to medications should be carefully monitored when taking erythromycin. If you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction to erythromycin, such as abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, or swelling of the face and throat, stop taking it and contact your doctor.
Heart conditions: Antibiotics in the same class as erythromycin ethylsuccinatecan cause an abnormal heart rhythm and should be avoided by people with certain heart rhythm problems, especially long QT syndrome, congenital QT interval prolongation, and bradycardia (low heart rate). There have been a few reports of long QT syndrome occurring with people taking erythromycin ethylsuccinate. People who have had irregular heart rhythms caused by other medications in the past should avoid taking Erythro Es. It should also be avoided by people with low blood potassium or magnesium levels, and by people taking certain medications used to treat irregular heart rhythms (e.g., quinidine, procainamide, Amiodarone, Sotalol). If you experience an irregular heartbeat, stop taking Erythro Es and contact your doctor.
Liver problems: There have been reports of liver problems occurring in a small percentage of people taking erythromycin products. People with liver disease or reduced liver function should discuss with their doctor how Erythro Es may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Erythro Es, and whether any special monitoring is needed. Anyone who experiences symptoms of decreased liver function, such as yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, or pale stools, should contact their doctor as soon as possible.
Myasthenia Gravis: People taking erythromycin ethylsuccinate have on occasionally reported worsening of their symptoms. People with myasthenia gravis should discuss with their doctor how Erythro Es may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Erythro Es, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Overgrowth of organisms: Prolonged or repeated use of erythromycin may result in an overgrowth of bacteria or fungi and organisms that are not killed by the medication. This can cause problems such as yeast infections.
Pregnancy: The safety of erythromycin for use during pregnancy has not been established. Erythro Es should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking Erythro Es, contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: The safety of erythromycin for use during breast-feeding has not been established. It passes into breast milk and may affect the infant. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Erythro Es, talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety of erythromycin for use by newborns has not been established.
Seniors: Seniors taking erythromycin ethylsuccinate may be at increased risk of side effects as a result of drug interactions with other medications they may be taking.
