Skin Health Acne Treatment What to Know About Oral Erythromycin An antibiotic for inflammatory acne and much more By Angela Palmer facebook Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment. Learn about our editorial process Angela Palmer Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD on November 03, 2019 Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology. He is a clinical professor at the University of Colorado in Denver, and co-founder and practicing dermatologist at the Boulder Valley Center for Dermatology in Colorado. His research has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Learn about our Medical Review Board Casey Gallagher, MD Updated on June 05, 2021 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Overview Before Taking Dosage Side Effects Warnings/Interactions Oral erythromycin is a prescription antibiotic from the group called macrolide antibiotics, which stop the growth of bacteria. Erythromycin is used to treat both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) bacterial infections. In tablet, capsule, and granule form, oral erythromycin is sold under the brand names: ERY-C Ery-Tab EryPed E-Mycin Erythrocin PCE Generic erythromycin is available, as well. In addition to oral forms, this drug is sold as a topical gel and liquid, an eye ointment, and an intravenous solution. Siriporn Kaenseeya / EyeEm / Getty Images Uses In pill form, erythromycin is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) to treat: Respiratory tract infections (upper and lower) Community-acquired pneumonia Legionnaires' disease Prevention of rheumatic fever Listeriosis Pertussis (whooping cough) As an additional treatment for diphtheria (a throat infection) Acute pelvic inflammatory diseases Urogenital infections, including during pregnancy, and including those due to chlamydia Syphilis in people who are allergic to penicillin It's used off-label (without FDA approval) for: Moderate-to severe inflammatory acne or acne that isn’t getting better with other treatments Infantile acne Rosacea Gastroparesis Lyme disease Impetigo Infected burn wounds Tetanus in people who can't take penicillin or tetracycline Cholera Some infections in people with HIV Many other infections Why You Don't Need Antibiotics for a Cold or Flu Before Taking Erythromycin isn't a safe drug for everyone. Before taking it, tell your doctor if you: Have ever had an allergic reaction to erythromycin or similar medications Have been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat or a heart problem called a prolonged QT interval Have low levels of magnesium or potassium in your blood Have been diagnosed with liver disease Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding Are planning to have surgery, including dental surgery Talk to your doctor about all medications, supplements, and vitamins that you currently take. While some drugs pose minor interaction risks, others may outright contraindicate use or prompt careful consideration as to whether the pros of treatment outweigh the cons in your case. These factors may influence your doctor's decision about what antibiotic is right for you. Precautions and Contraindications Erythromycin use has contributed to the growing problem of bacterial resistance, which is caused by the overuse of antibiotics. To combat this serious problem, erythromycin should only be prescribed for infections that are known to respond well to this drug. You shouldn't take erythromycin if you've ever had an allergic reaction to it or any of its ingredients. Your doctor will likely not give you erythromycin if you're currently taking any of these medications: Orap (pimozide) Propulsid (cisapride) DHE 45, Migranal (dihydroergotamine) Mergomar, Cafergot, Migergot (ergotamine) Altoprev, Mevacor (lovastatin) Flolipid, Zocor (simvastatin) Pregnancy Warning If you're pregnant, you shouldn't take a form of erythromycin called erythromycin estolate, which can cause pregnancy-related liver toxicity. Other Macrolide Antibiotics Other oral antibiotics in the same class as erythromycin include: Zithromax, Zmax (azithromycin) Biaxin (clarithromycine) Dificid (fidaxomicin) Antibiotics That May Help Heal Your Acne Dosage Available dosages for erythromycin include: Oral granules: 5 milliliters (mL), 200 milligrams (mg), 400 mg Oral tablets: 250 mg, 333 mg, 400 mg, 500 mg Oral capsules: 250 mg Adult dosages for infection vary depending on the infectious agent, with the typical range between 250 mg and 500 mg three or four times per day. A typical dose for acne is 250 mg or 500 mg twice a day to start, then dropping down to once a day for maintenance. All listed dosages are according to the drug manufacturer. Check your prescription and talk to your doctor to make sure you are taking the right dose for you. High Rates of Resistance Due to high rates of bacterial resistance that have developed, erythromycin is rarely used as an acne treatment. Modifications Pediatric dosages for erythromycin are calculated based on weight. How to Take and Store Oral erythrmycin should be taken: By mouth With or without food With a full glass of water Between two and four times per day Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Do not crush or chew tablets or capsules, as it may impact the way the drug is released into your system. You should store erythromycin at room temperature in its original container with the lid tightly closed. It's recommended that you don't store it in the bathroom, where it could be exposed to excess heat and moisture. Keep this and all medications away from children. Side Effects As with all medications, you should be aware of possible side effects that may occur with erythromycin. Common The most common side effects of erythromycin include: Nausea Stomach pain Vomiting Diarrhea Loss of appetite Taking this medication with food may help alleviate gastrointestinal side effects. Tell your doctor if these symptoms are persistent or severe. Antibiotic-Related Diarrhea Severe Less-common side effects may be more serious. Contact your doctor right away or get emergency medical help for any of the following: Rash or hives Itching Wheezing or difficulty breathing or swallowing Yellowed skin or eyes Dark urine Pale stools Unusual fatigue Pain in the upper right part of the stomach Seizures Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat Severe diarrhea, possibly bloody, that may occur without fever and stomach cramps Warnings and Interactions Erythromycin carries a risk of cardiotoxicity, especially when it comes to lengthening a measure of the heartbeat called the QT interval and a potentially deadly heart rhythm called torsades de pointes. Your doctor should carefully monitor your heart while you're taking this medication. If you're at high risk of these problems, you may need regular testing to monitor levels of: Potassium Magnesium Calcium Drugs that can have major negative interactions with erythromycin include: Theophylline: brand names are Elixophyllin, Quibron-T, Theo-24, Theochron, Theolair, Uniphyl Verapamil: Calan, Covera HS, Veralan Digoxin: Cardoxin, Digitek, Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin Triazolam: Hacion Tacrolimus: Astagraft XL, Envarsus XR, Prograf, Protopic Colchicine: Colcrys, Gloperba Common drugs that may have moderate negative interactions with erythromycin include: Anticoagulants, including Coumadin (warfarin) Xanax (alprazolam) Viagra (sildenafil) Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune (cyclosporine) Carbatrol, Epitol, Tegretol (carbamazepine) How Antibiotics Fight Infections Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with acne can be frustrating. Our free guide provides expert tips to help you take control. Sign up and get yours today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Prescribers' Digital Reference. Erythromycin - Drug summary. National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Erythromycin. Updated September 15, 2019. U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA AccessData. Ery-Ped (erhythromycin ethylsuccinate, USP) Rx only. Updated April 2018. Chien AL, Qi J, Rainer B, Sachs DL, Helfrich YR. Treatment of acne in pregnancy. J Am Board Fam Med. 2016;29(2):254-262. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2016.02.150165 Baldwin H. Oral antibiotic treatment options for acne vulgaris. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(9):26-32. Hancox JC, Hasnain M, Vieweg WV, Gysel M, Methot M, Baranchuk A. Erythromycin, QTc interval prolongation, and torsade de pointes: Case reports, major risk factors and illness severity. Ther Adv Infect Dis. 2014;2(2):47-59. doi:10.1177/2049936114527744 U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA AccessData. Pce (erythromycin) tablet.