Inhouse Pharmacy (UK) E-Mycin, Eryc, EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, losone, PCE, Antibiotics discount prescription medications online ordering

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Eryc - Information for Patients

Eryc^®

Erythromycin (eh-rith-roe-MYE-sin)

What Eryc is used for

Eryc is used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by bacteria. It is also used to prevent infections in patients with a history of rheumatic disease who may be allergic to penicillin.

Eryc is an antibiotic which belongs to a group of medicines called macrolides.

Eryc works by killing or stopping the growth of bacteria which cause infections.

Eryc will not work against viral infections such as colds or flu.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Eryc has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed Eryc for another reason.

This medicine is not addictive.

This medicine is not expected to affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.

Before you take Eryc

When you must not take it

Do not take Eryc if you have an allergy to:

erythromycin
any other macrolide antibiotic
any ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.

Do not take Eryc if you are taking antihistamine medicines such as terfenadine or astemizole, or if you are taking cisapride, a medicine which helps the stomach empty its contents. If you are not sure if you are taking one of these medicines, ask you doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.

If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.

Before you start to take it

Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.

Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following conditions:

any liver problems
any kidney problems

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Your doctor will discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.

If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Eryc.

Taking other medicines

Tell you doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and Eryc may interfere with each other

These include:

theophylline, a medicine used to treat asthma
some medicines used for epilepsy such as carbamazepine, phenytoin and hexobarbitone
digoxin, a drug used to treat heart failure or disease
triazolam or midazolam, medicines used to treat sleep problems
warfarin, a medicine used to prevent blood clots
cyclosporin, a drug used to prevent organ transplant rejection or to treat certain problems with the immune system
the antibiotics clindamycin, lincomycin and chloramphenicol
some medicines for migraine headache such as ergotamine or dihydroergotamine
alfentanil, a strong pain killer used during anaesthesia

These medicines may be affected by Eryc or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.

Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Eryc.

Talk to your doctor about the need for additional contraception while taking Eryc. Some antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of some birth control pills.

How to take Eryc

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How much to take

The dose will depend on your infection and can be as high as 4g (16 capsules) a day. The capsules are usually taken two or four times a day, depending on the total daily dose. Your doctor will decide the right dose.

How to take it

Swallow the capsules whole with a full glass of water.

Do not chew or crush the pellets in the Eryc capsule.

When to take it

Take Eryc on an empty stomach, either 1 hour before or 2 hours after food. Food can interfere with the absorption of this medicine.

How long to take it

Continue taking Eryc until you finish the pack or until your doctor recommends.

Keep taking this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, the infection may not clear completely or your symptoms may return.

If you forget to take it

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then go back to your capsules as you would normally.

Do not double a dose to make up for the dose you have missed.

If you have trouble remembering to take your capsules, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much (overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or National Poisons Centre (telephone 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) for advice, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Eryc. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.

If you take too much Eryc your symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, hearing problems and allergic reactions.

While you are using Eryc

Things you must do

If the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, tell your doctor.

If you get severe diarrhoea, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after Eryc has been stopped. Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care. Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.

If you get a sore, white mouth or tongue while taking or soon after stopping Eryc, tell your doctor. Also tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge. This may mean you have a fungal infection called thrush. Sometimes the use of Eryc allows fungi to grow and the above symptoms to occur. Eryc does not work against fungi.

If you become pregnant while taking Eryc, tell your doctor immediately.

If you are about to start taking any new medicines, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Eryc.

If you are about to have any urine tests, tell your doctor you are using Eryc. Eryc may affect the results of some laboratory tests.

Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Eryc.

Things you must not do

Do not stop taking your capsules because you are feeling better, unless advised by your doctor. If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, all of the bacteria causing your infection may not be killed. These bacteria may continue to grow and multiply so that your infection may not clear completely or it may return.

Do not give Eryc to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Do not use Eryc to treat any other medical complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Eryc.

This medicine helps most people who need it but it may have some unwanted effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.

Do not be alarmed at the following list of side effects. You may not experience any of them.

While taking it

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you

oral thrush - white, furry, sore tongue and mouth
vaginal thrush - sore and itchy vagina and/or discharge
mild stomach upsets such as feeling sick, diarrhoea, or stomach pains
loss of appetite
vomiting

These are the more common side effects of Eryc.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

skin rashes, hives, itching, blisters, eczema
difficulty hearing
watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
shortness of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing
severe abdominal cramps or stomach cramps

These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. These side effects are rare.

After finishing it

Tell you doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects, particularly if they occur several weeks after stopping treatment with Eryc:

severe abdominal cramps or stomach cramps
watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
fever, in combination with one or both of the above

These are rare but serious side effects. You may have a serious condition affecting your bowel. Therefore you may need urgent medical attention. However, this side effect is rare.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.

Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients.

After using Eryc

Storage

Keep your capsules in their pack until it is time to take them. If you take the capsules out of their pack they may not keep well.

Keep Eryc in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Do not store it in a bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on the windowsill. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least 1� metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking Eryc, or the capsules have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any capsules left over.