DrugindexOnline^{2nd edition}

Generic Name: Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate Suspension (Refrigerated) (eh-RITH-roe-MYE-sin)
Brand Name: Examples include E. E. S. and EryPed

EryPed Suspension is used for:

Treating infections caused by certain bacteria or amoebas. It may also be used to prevent attacks of rheumatic fever in patients who are unable to use other medicines.

EryPed Suspension is a macrolide antibiotic. Macrolide antibiotics slow the growth of, or sometimes kill, sensitive bacteria by reducing the production of important proteins needed by the bacteria to survive.

Do NOT use EryPed Suspension if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in EryPed Suspension
• you are taking 5HT-1 receptor agonists (eg, sumatriptan), astemizole, cisapride, diltiazem, dofetilide, ergot alkaloids (eg, ergotamine), HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), imidazoles (eg, ketoconazole), pimozide, propafenone, streptogramins (eg, quinupristin/dalfopristin), terfenadine, or verapamil

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using EryPed Suspension:

Some medical conditions may interact with EryPed Suspension. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have kidney or liver disease, myasthenia gravis, irregular heartbeat, or you have a blood disorder called porphyria

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with EryPed Suspension. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Arsenic, astemizole, atypical antipsychotics (eg, ziprasidone), cisapride, diltiazem, disopyramide, dofetilide, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), haloperidol, imidazoles (eg, ketoconazole), phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), pimozide, propafenone, quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin), streptogramins (eg, quinupristin/dalfopristin), terfenadine, verapamil, 5HT-3 receptor antagonists (eg, dolasetron), or medicines for irregular heartbeat (eg, amiodarone, quinidine), because side effects, such as heart toxicity or irregular heartbeat, may occur
• 5HT-1 receptor agonists (eg, sumatriptan), anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), aldosterone blockers (eg, eplerenone), alfentanil, benzodiazepines (eg, triazolam), bromocriptine, buspirone, carbamazepine, cilostazol, corticosteroids (eg, methylprednisolone), cyclosporine, digoxin, ergot alkaloids (eg, ergotamine), felodipine, hexobarbital, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (eg, lovastatin), imatinib, macrolide immunosuppressants (eg, tacrolimus), midazolam, muscarinic receptor antagonists (eg, darifenacin), phenytoin, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (eg, sildenafil), rifampin, theophyllines, valproic acid, or vinca alkaloids (eg, vincristine) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by this medicine

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if EryPed Suspension may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use EryPed Suspension:

Use EryPed Suspension as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take EryPed Suspension by mouth with or without food.
• Shake well before each use
• Use a measuring device marked for medicine dosing. Ask your pharmacist for help if you are unsure of how to measure your dose.
• Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking EryPed Suspension. Serious heart problems can occur.
• To clear up your infection completely, take EryPed Suspension for the full course of treatment. Keep taking it even if you feel better in a few days.
• If you miss a dose of EryPed Suspension, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use EryPed Suspension.

Important safety information:

• Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.
• EryPed Suspension only works against bacteria or amoebas; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).
• Be sure to use EryPed Suspension for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
• Long-term or repeated use of EryPed Suspension may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.
• EryPed Suspension may interfere with certain lab tests. Be sure your doctor and lab personnel know you are taking EryPed Suspension.
• Lab tests, including liver function, kidney function, and complete blood cell counts, may be performed while you use EryPed Suspension. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use EryPed Suspension with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 10 years old who have diarrhea or an infection of the stomach or bowel.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using EryPed Suspension while you are pregnant. EryPed Suspension is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use EryPed Suspension, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of EryPed Suspension:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea; loss of appetite; nausea; stomach pain; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody stools; dark urine; hearing loss; irregular heartbeat; red, swollen, or blistered skin; severe diarrhea; severe stomach pain/cramps; yellowing of skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include hearing loss; severe nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, or diarrhea.

Proper storage of EryPed Suspension:

Store EryPed Suspension in the refrigerator, between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C). Do not freeze. Throw away any unused medicine after 10 days. Keep EryPed Suspension out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about EryPed Suspension, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• EryPed Suspension is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about EryPed Suspension. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.