Erythromycin

About erythromycin

Erythromycin is prescribed to treat short-term (acute) bacterial infections, such as chest (respiratory) infections, urine infections, skin infections, and mouth infections. It can be taken by adults and children. It works by killing the germs (bacteria) causing the infection. It is also prescribed for some longer-term skin conditions such as acne and rosacea.

Erythromycin is also available as an ingredient in some skin preparations used to treat acne - see the separate medicine leaflet called Erythromycin (with zinc) skin solution for acne for more information about this.

Before taking erythromycin

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking erythromycin it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• Wenn Sie schwanger sind oder stillen.

• If you have any problems with your liver or kidneys.

• If you know you have an unusual heart rhythm or you have any other heart or blood vessel problems.

• If you have been told you have low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood.

• Wenn Sie an einer Muskelerkrankung namens Myasthenia gravis leiden.

• Wenn Sie eine seltene vererbte Blutkrankheit namens Porphyrie haben.

• Wenn Sie andere Arzneimittel einnehmen. Dazu gehören alle Arzneimittel, die Sie einnehmen und die rezeptfrei erhältlich sind, sowie pflanzliche und ergänzende Arzneimittel.

• Wenn Sie schon einmal eine allergische Reaktion auf ein Arzneimittel hatten.

How to take erythromycin

• Before you start taking this antibiotic, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. The leaflet will give you more information about it and a full list of side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take erythromycin exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is usually prescribed four times daily, although one or two doses daily may be sufficient for some conditions. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you which dose is right for you (or for your child). Your dose will also be on the label of the pack to remind you. Space the doses out evenly during the day.

• Swallow erythromycin tablets whole, with a drink of water. Do not chew them. You may take erythromycin before or after food.

• When erythromycin is prescribed for a child, the dose depends upon the child's weight. Make sure you read the label carefully so that you measure out the correct amount of medicine.

• Even if you feel your infection has cleared up, keep taking this antibiotic until the course is finished unless your doctor tells you otherwise. This is to prevent the infection from coming back. A course of treatment for a short-term (acute) infection often lasts around 5-14 days. It may last for longer than this if you are taking erythromycin for chronic prostatitis, acne or rosacea - in these cases it is quite normal for your treatment to continue for several weeks or months.

• Wenn Sie sich nach Beendigung der Behandlung immer noch unwohl fühlen, vereinbaren Sie einen weiteren Termin bei Ihrem Arzt, um sich beraten zu lassen.

• If you forget to take a dose, take one as soon as you remember. Try to take the correct number of doses each day, but do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a forgotten one.

Das Beste aus Ihrer Behandlung herausholen

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with erythromycin. If you regularly take an indigestion remedy, make sure your doctor knows about this, as some brands of erythromycin should not be taken at the same time as antacids. Check the label on your pack of erythromycin for more information about this.

• Manche Menschen entwickeln nach der Einnahme von Antibiotika Soor (Rötung und Juckreiz im Mund oder in der Scheide). Wenn dies bei Ihnen der Fall ist, fragen Sie Ihren Arzt oder Apotheker um Rat.

• Wenn Sie eine kombinierte orale hormonelle Empfängnisverhütung (die "Pille") anwenden, sind zusätzliche empfängnisverhütende Maßnahmen wie Kondome während der Einnahme dieses Antibiotikums nicht erforderlich, es sei denn, Sie sind krank (erbrechen) oder haben Durchfall. Wenn Sie weiteren Rat benötigen, sprechen Sie mit Ihrem Arzt oder Apotheker.

• Dieses Antibiotikum kann die Wirkung der Schluckimpfung gegen Typhus beeinträchtigen. Wenn Sie geimpft werden, stellen Sie sicher, dass die behandelnde Person weiß, dass Sie dieses Medikament einnehmen.

Can erythromycin cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, all medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below lists some of the most common ones associated with erythromycin. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve over the first few days of taking a new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side-effects continue or become troublesome.

On rare occasions treatment with erythromycin could cause an allergic reaction such as an itchy rash, swelling of the face or mouth and breathing difficulties. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking erythromycin and contact your doctor for advice.

Wenn Sie andere Symptome haben, von denen Sie glauben, dass sie auf dieses Arzneimittel zurückzuführen sind, sprechen Sie mit Ihrem Arzt oder Apotheker.

How to store erythromycin

• Bewahren Sie alle Arzneimittel außerhalb der Reichweite und Sichtweite von Kindern auf.

• An einem kühlen, trockenen Ort aufbewahren, vor direkter Hitze und Licht schützen.

• If you have been given liquid medicine, it will have been made up by the pharmacy and it lasts for a limited number of days only. Check the expiry date on the bottle and do not use it after this date. Store it in the fridge.

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