Erythromycin

"Eryc" redirects here. For the local authority of the East Riding of Yorkshire, see East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
Not to be confused with Azithromycin.

Erythromycin
Clinical data
Trade namesEryc, Erythrocin, others[1]
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa682381
License data
Pregnancy
category
Routes of
administration		By mouth, intravenous, intramuscular, topical, eye drops
Drug classMacrolide antibiotic
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • AU: S4 (Prescription only)
  • UK: POM (Prescription only)
  • US: ℞-only
Pharmacokinetic data
BioavailabilityDepends on the ester type; between 30% and 65%
Protein binding90%
MetabolismLiver (under 5% excreted unchanged)
Elimination half-life1.5 hours
ExcretionBile
Identifiers
  • (3R,4S,5S,6R,7R,9R,11R,12R,13S,14R)-6-{[(2S,3R,4S,6R)-4-(Dimethylamino)-3-hydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy}-14-ethyl-7,12,13-trihydroxy-4-{[(2R,4R,5S,6S)-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4,6-dimethyloxan-2-yl]oxy}-3,5,7,9,11,13-hexamethyl-1-oxacyclotetradecane-2,10-dione
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
PDB ligand
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.003.673 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC37H67NO13
Molar mass733.937 g·mol−1
  • CC[C@@H]1[C@@]([C@@H]([C@H](C(=O)[C@@H](C[C@@]([C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](C(=O)O1)C)O[C@H]2C[C@@]([C@H]([C@@H](O2)C)O)(C)OC)C)O[C@H]3[C@@H]([C@H](C[C@H](O3)C)N(C)C)O)(C)O)C)C)O)(C)O
  • InChI=1S/C37H67NO13/c1-14-25-37(10,45)30(41)20(4)27(39)18(2)16-35(8,44)32(51-34-28(40)24(38(11)12)15-19(3)47-34)21(5)29(22(6)33(43)49-25)50-26-17-36(9,46-13)31(42)23(7)48-26/h18-26,28-32,34,40-42,44-45H,14-17H2,1-13H3/t18-,19-,20+,21+,22-,23+,24+,25-,26+,28-,29+,30-,31+,32-,34+,35-,36-,37-/m1/s1 checkY
  • Key:ULGZDMOVFRHVEP-RWJQBGPGSA-N checkY
  (verify)

Erythromycin is an antibiotic used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections.[1] This includes respiratory tract infections, skin infections, chlamydia infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and syphilis.[1] It may also be used during pregnancy to prevent Group B streptococcal infection in the newborn,[1] and to improve delayed stomach emptying.[3] It can be given intravenously and by mouth.[1] An eye ointment is routinely recommended after delivery to prevent eye infections in the newborn.[4]

Common side effects include abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.[1] More serious side effects may include Clostridioides difficile colitis, liver problems, prolonged QT, and allergic reactions.[1] It is generally safe in those who are allergic to penicillin.[1] Erythromycin also appears to be safe to use during pregnancy.[2] While generally regarded as safe during breastfeeding, its use by the mother during the first two weeks of life may increase the risk of pyloric stenosis in the baby.[5][6] This risk also applies if taken directly by the baby during this age.[7] It is in the macrolide family of antibiotics and works by decreasing bacterial protein production.[1]

Erythromycin was first isolated in 1952 from the bacteria Saccharopolyspora erythraea.[1][8] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[9] In 2021, it was the 259th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1 million prescriptions.[10][11]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Erythromycin". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database". Australian Government. 23 August 2015. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014.
  3. ^ Camilleri M, Parkman HP, Shafi MA, Abell TL, Gerson L (January 2013). "Clinical guideline: management of gastroparesis". The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 108 (1): 18–37, quiz 38. doi:10.1038/ajg.2012.373. PMC 3722580. PMID 23147521.
  4. ^ Matejcek A, Goldman RD (November 2013). "Treatment and prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum". Canadian Family Physician. 59 (11): 1187–90. PMC 3828094. PMID 24235191.
  5. ^ Hamilton RJ (2013). Tarascon pocket pharmacopoeia (2013 delux lab-coat ed., 14th ed.). [Sudbury, Mass.]: Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 72. ISBN 9781449673611. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  6. ^ Kong YL, Tey HL (June 2013). "Treatment of acne vulgaris during pregnancy and lactation". Drugs. 73 (8): 779–87. doi:10.1007/s40265-013-0060-0. PMID 23657872. S2CID 45531743.
  7. ^ Maheshwai N (March 2007). "Are young infants treated with erythromycin at risk for developing hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?". Archives of Disease in Childhood. 92 (3): 271–3. doi:10.1136/adc.2006.110007. PMC 2083424. PMID 17337692. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012.
  8. ^ Vedas JC (2000). Biosynthesis : polyketides and vitamins. Berlin [u.a.]: Springer. p. 52. ISBN 9783540669692. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  9. ^ World Health Organization (2021). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 22nd list (2021). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/345533. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2021.02.
  10. ^ "The Top 300 of 2021". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Erythromycin - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Retrieved 14 January 2024.