Erythromycin

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000719lg Enteric coated erythomycin — Enteric-coated erythromycin capsule from Abbott Lab.

History[]

The major antibiotic was launched commercially in 1952 under the brand name Ilosone (after the Philippine region of Iloilo where it was originally collected). Erythromycin was formerly also called Ilotycin. It got the U.S. patent number 2,653,899 in 1953.

Formula- C37H67NO13
Molar mass- 733.94 g·mol−1
Biological half-life- 1.5 hours

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system.

Target illness[]

Erythromycin can be used to treat bacteria responsible for causing infections of the skin and upper respiratory tract, including Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Haemophilus and Corynebacterium genera.

Side effects[]

Gastrointestinal disturbances, such as diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting, are very common because erythromycin is a motilin agonist.

More serious side effects include arrhythmia with prolonged QT intervals including torsades de pointes, and reversible deafness. Allergic reactions range from urticaria to anaphylaxis. Cholestasis, Stevens–Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis are some other rare side effects that may occur.

Erythromycin related compounds[]

Azithromycin
Carbomycin
Cethromycin
Clarithromycin
Dirithromycin
Erythromycin/tretinoin
Mitemcinal
Oleandomycin
Roxithromycin
Spiramycin
Telithromycin
Tylosin

Cost[]

It is available as a generic medication and is inexpensive. The wholesale price is between 0.03 and 0.06 USD per pill. In the United States in 2014 the price increased to seven dollars per tablet. The wholesale price in the developing world is also between 0.03 and 0.06 USD per tablet.

Also see[]

Medicine