Amdipharm Limited

Erythromycin Tablets BP 250mg.

Each tablet contains 250mg erythromycin

For a full list of excipients, see 6.1.

Gastro-resistant tablets.

White tablets embossed with the letter 'T' on one side.

For the treatment of infections caused by erythromycin-sensitive organisms. Consideration should be given to official guidance on the appropriate use of antibacterial agents.

Adults and older children:

Usual oral dosage is 1 to 2 grams daily in divided doses, increased to 4g per day in severe infections.

Children:

Usual oral dosage is 30mg/kg daily in divided doses, increased to 50mg/kg daily in severe infections.

Elderly:

No special dosage requirements.

Known hypersensitivity to macrolide antibiotics.

Use in patients with serious impairment of hepatic function.

Concomitant administration of erythromycin and any of the following drugs is contraindicated: terfenadine, astemizole, cisapride, pimozide, ergotamine or dihydroergotamine (see section 4.5).

Erythromycin is excreted principally by the liver, so caution should be exercised in administering the antibiotic to patients with impaired hepatic function or concomitantly receiving potentially hepatotoxic agents. Hepatic dysfunction including increased liver enzymes and hepatocellular and/or cholestatic hepatitis, with or without jaundice, has been infrequently reported with erythromycin.

The use of erythromycin in patients concurrently taking drugs metabolised by the cytochrome P450 system may be associated with elevations in serum levels of these drugs (see section 4.5). Serum concentrations should be closely monitored in patients receiving erythromycin.

Prolonged or repeated use of erythromycin may result in overgrowth of non-susceptible bacteria. If super-infection occurs, erythromycin should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted.

There have been reports of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) occurring in infants following erythromycin therapy. In one cohort of 157 newborns who were given erythromycin for pertussis prophylaxis, seven neonates (5%) developed symptoms of non-bilious, vomiting or irritability with feeding and were subsequently diagnosed as having IHPS requiring surgical pyloromyotomy. Since erythromycin may be used in the treatment of conditions in infants which are associated with significant mortality or morbidity (such as pertussis or chlamydia), the benefit of erythromycin therapy needs to be carefully considered against the potential risk of developing IHPS. Parents should be informed to contact their physician if vomiting or irritability occur (see section 4.8).

There have been reports suggesting erythromycin does not reach the foetus in adequate concentrations to prevent congenital syphilis. Infants born to women treated during pregnancy with oral erythromycin for early syphilis should be treated with an appropriate penicillin regimen.

As with other broad spectrum antibiotics, pseudomembranous colitis has been reported rarely with erythromycin (see section 4.8).

Rhabdomyolysis with or without renal impairment has been reported in seriously ill patients receiving erythromycin concomitantly with lovastatin (see section 4.5).

There have been reports that erythromycin may aggravate the weakness of patients with myasthenia gravis.

Colchicine toxicity has been reported in patients receiving erythromycin concomitantly with colchicines (see section 4.5)

Laboratory Tests:

Erythromycin interferes with the fluorometric determination of urinary catecholamines.

Erythromycin significantly alters the metabolism of terfenadine and astemizole when taken concomitantly. Rare cases of serious cardiovascular adverse events, including cardiac arrest, Torsade de Pointes, and other ventricular arrhythmias, and also, in the case of terfenadine, death, have been observed.

Elevated cisapride levels have been reported in patients receiving erythromycin concomitantly. This may result in QT prolongation and cardiac arrhythmias including ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation and Torsade de Pointes. Similar effects have been observed with concomitant administration of pimozide and other macrolide antibiotics, e.g. clarithromycin.

Post-marketing reports indicate that co-administration of erythromycin with ergotamine or dihydroergotamine has been associated with acute ergot toxicity characterised by vasospasm and ischemia of the extremities and other tissues including the central nervous system (see section 4.3).

The concomitant use of the above drugs with erythromycin is contraindicated (see 4.3 Contraindications).

Concurrent use of erythromycin and high doses of theophylline may be associated with an increase in serum theophylline levels and potential theophylline toxicity. In case of theophylline toxicity and/or elevated serum theophylline levels, the dose of theophylline should be reduced while the patient is receiving erythromycin therapy.

When oral erythromycin is given concurrently with theophylline, there is also a significant decrease in erythromycin serum concentrations. The decrease could result in subtherapeutic concentrations of erythromycin.

The use of erythromycin in patients who are receiving digoxin, may result in potentiation of the effects of digoxin due to reduction in the rate of excretion. Monitoring of serum digoxin levels should be considered.

Rhabdomyolysis with or without renal impairment has been reported in seriously ill patients receiving erythromycin concomitantly with lovastatin.

Erythromycin is an inhibitor of CYP 3A4.The use of erythromycin in patients concurrently taking drugs metabolised by the cytochrome P450 system may be associated with elevations in serum levels of these other drugs. There have been reports of interactions of erythromycin with astemizole, carbamazepine, cyclosporin, hexabarbital, phenytoin, alfentanil, disopyramide, bromocriptine, valproate, tacrolimus, quinidine, cilostazol, methylprednisolone, rifabutin, sildenafil, vinblastine, terfenadine. Serum concentrations of drugs metabolised by the cytochrome P450 system should be monitored closely in patients concurrently receiving erythromycin.

Triazolobenzodiazepines (such as triazolam and alprazolam) and related benzodiazepines: Erythromycin has been reported to decrease the clearance of triazolam, midazolam and zopiclone and thus may increase pharmacologic effect of these benzodiazepines.

HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors: Erythromycin has been reported to increase concentrations of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (e.g. lovastatin and simvastatin). Rare reports of rhabdomyolysis have been reported in patients taking these drugs concomitantly (see section 4.4).

Post-marketing reports indicate that co-administration of erythromycin with ergotamine or dihydroergotamine has been associated with acute ergot toxicity characterized by vasospasm and ischemia of the extremities and other tissues including the central nervous system (see section 4.3).

There have been reports of increased anticoagulant effects when erythromycin and oral anticoagulants were used concomitantly.

There have been post-marketing reports of colchicine toxicity with concomitant use of erythromycin and colchicines (see section 4.4)

Long term (2 year) oral studies conducted in rats up to about 400mg/kg/day and in mice up to about 500mg/kg/day with erythromycin base did not provide evidence of tumorigenicity. Mutagenicity studies conducted did not show any genotoxic potential, and there was no apparent effect on male or female fertility in rats with erthromycin base by oral gavage at 700 mg/kg/day.

There is no evidence of teratogenicity or any other adverse effect on reproduction in female rats dosed by oral gavage at 350 mg/kg/day (7 times the human dose) of erythromycin base prior to and during mating, during gestation, and through weaning.

No evidence of teratogenicity or embryotoxicity was observed when erythromycin base was given by oral gavage to pregnant rats and mice at 700 mg/kg/day (14 times the human dose), and to pregnant rabbits at 125 mg/kg/day (2.5 times the human dose).

A slight reduction in birth weights was noted when female rats were treated prior to mating, during mating, gestation and lactation at a high oral dosage of 700 mg/kg/day of erythromycin base; weights of the offspring were comparable to those of the controls by weaning. No evidence of teratogenicity or effects on reproduction was noted at this dosage. When administered during late gestation and lactation periods, this dosage of 700mg/kg/day (14 times the human dose) did not result in any adverse effects on birth weight, growth and survival of offspring.

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. However, observational studies in humans have reported cardiovascular malformations after exposure to medicinal products containing erythromycin during early pregnancy.

Erythromycin should be used by women during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Erythromycin should not be used in women breast feeding infants.

None reported

The most frequently reported side effects of oral erythromycin preparations are gastrointestinal and are dose-related. They include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and anorexia.

As with other macrolides, hepatic dysfunction including increased liver enzymes and hepatocellular and/or cholestatic hepatitis, with or without jaundice, has been infrequently reported with erythromycin.

Pseudomembranous colitis has been rarely reported in association with erythromycin therapy, and may range in severity from mild to life threatening (see section 4.4).

There have been reports that erythromycin may aggravate the weakness of patients with myasthenia gravis.

There have been isolated reports of transient central nervous system side effects including confusion, hallucinations, seizures, tinnitus and vertigo, and also of cardiac effects such as chest pain, dizziness and palpitations; however, a cause and effect relationship has not been established in either case.

As with other macrolides, QT prolongation, ventricular tachycardia, and Torsades de Pointes have rarely been reported with erythromycin.

There have been reports of pancreatitis and convulsions.

There have been reports of interstitial nephritis coincident with erythromycin use.

Allergic reactions ranging from urticaria and mild skin eruptions to anaphylaxis, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis have rarely been reported.

There have been isolated reports of reversible hearing loss occurring chiefly in patients with renal insufficiency and in patients receiving high doses of erythromycin.

Cases of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) occurring in infants following erythromycin therapy have been reported (see section 4.4.). This has been associated with vomiting and irritability with feeding in infants.

Symptoms: hearing loss, severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Treatment: gastric lavage, general supportive measures.

Erythromycin is not removed by peritoneal dialysis or haemodialysis.

ATC Code: J01FA

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Macrolides

Erythromycin exerts its antimicrobial action by binding to the 50S ribosomal sub-unit of susceptible microorganisms and suppresses protein synthesis.

Absorption and Fate:

Erythromycin is adversely affected by gastric acid. For this reason erythromycin tablets are enteric coated.

It is absorbed from the small intestine. It is widely distributed throughout body tissues. Little metabolism occurs and only about 5% is eliminated in the urine. It is excreted principally by the liver.

There are no pre-clinical data of relevance to the prescriber which are additional to that already included in other sections of the SPC.

Tablet core

Carmellose Sodium

Cellulose, Microcrystalline

Povidone

Polacrilin Potassium

Talc

Magnesium Stearate

Sub Coat

Hypromellose

Hydroxypropylcellulose

Propylene Glycol

Sorbitan Oleate

Enteric Coat

Methacrylic Acid – Ethyl Acrylate Copolymer

Talc

Titanium Dioxide

Triethyl Citrate

Antifoam Emulsion

Not applicable.

2 years.

Do not store above 25^oC. Store in the original container to protect from light.

Type III amber glass bottles with a urea outer / aluminium liner cap, of 100 tablets.

Polypropylene bottles with either an LDPE or an HDPE closure, of 50, 100, 500 and 1000 tablets.

Aluminium foil/clear or opaque PVC/PVDC blisters in packs of 28, 40 and 56 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

No special requirements.

Amdipharm Limited

Temple Chambers

3 Burlington Road

Dublin 4

Ireland

PA 1142/7/1

Date of first authorisation: 01 November 1982

Date of last renewal: 01 November 2007

September 2010