Read this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.  (DOWNLOAD)

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again before, during or after use of this medicine.
• If you have any further questions, ask your health care provider.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If any of the side effects become serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please inform your health care provider.

In this leaflet:

1. What Erythrokid Suspension is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Erythrokid Suspension
3. How to use Erythrokid Suspension
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Erythrokid Suspension
6. Contents of the pack and other information

• WHAT ERYTHROKID SUSPENSION IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR

The name of your medicine is Erythrokid Suspensions.

Erythrokid contains the active ingredient erythromycin which belongs to a group of medicines called macrolide antibiotics.

Erythromycin Suspensions are used to prevent and treat infections such as:

• Throat and sinus infections
• Chest infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia
• Ear infections
• Mouth and dental infections
• Eye infections
• Skin and tissue infections, such as acne
• Stomach and intestinal infections
• Prevention of infection following burns, operations or dental procedures
• Other infections, such as sexually transmitted diseases, bone infections or scarlet fever

2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE ERYTHROKID SUSPENSION

You should not receive Erythrokid Suspensions if you:

• Have been told that you are allergic to erythromycin.
• Are currently taking any of the below listed medicine:

• Ergotamine or dihydroergotamine (used to treat migraines) while taking erythromycin as this may cause serious side effects.
• Terfenadine or astemizole or mizolastine (widely taken for hayfever and allergies), domperidone (for nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick)), cisapride (for stomach disorders) or pimozide or amisulpride (for psychiatric conditions) while receiving erythromycin, as combining these drugs can sometimes cause serious disturbances in heart rhythm. Consult your doctor for advice on alternative medicines you can take instead.
• Simvastatin (used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides (types of fat) in the blood).
• Tolterodine (used for treating overactive bladder with symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency, and leakage)

• Have abnormally low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood (hypomagnesaemia or hypokalaemia).
• or someone in your family has a history of heart rhythm disorders (ventricular cardiac arrhythmia or torsades de pointes) or an abnormality of the electrocardiogram (electrical recording of the heart) called “long qt syndrome”.
• Are taking colchicine (used for treatment of gout and arthritis) whilst taking erythromycin as this may cause serious side effects.
• Have any liver problems or have been told that any drugs you are taking can cause liver problems
• Have previously experienced diarrhoea following the use of antibiotics;
• Are pregnant and have been told that you have a sexually transmitted disease called syphilis. In this case erythromycin may not be effective for preventing the transfer of this infection to your baby. Consult your doctor before receiving erythromycin. Alternatively, if you were treated for early stages of syphilis during your pregnancy, and your child is under 1 year and is prescribed erythromycin, consult your doctor before giving erythromycin to your child
• Are treating a young child with antibiotics and they are irritable or vomit when fed, you should contact your physician immediately.
• Suffer from a condition called myasthenia gravis, which causes muscle weakness, consult your doctor before receiving erythromycin.
• Are taking erythromycin with ‘statins’ such as simvastatin or lovastatin (used to lower cholesterol) as serious side effects can occur.
• You are taking other medicines which are known to cause serious disturbances in heart rhythm.
• If you have heart problems.

If any of these apply to you, or if you are not sure, tell your doctor.

Taking other medicines

Please tell your doctor if you are taking, or have recently taken any other medicines, including any medicines obtained without a prescription.

This is especially important if you are taking medicines from the following families:

• Astemizole, terfenadine or mizolastine (used to treat allergies such as hayfever)
• Domperidone (used to treat nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick))
• Pimozide (used to treat mental problems)
• Ergotamine or dihydroergotamine (used to relieve migraine)
• Cisapride (used to treat stomach disorders)
• Statins (used to help lower cholesterol levels e.g. Lovastatin and simvastatin);
• Protease inhibitors (used to treat viral infections e.g. Saquinavir);
• Oral contraceptives.

This is also important if you are taking medicines called:

• Colchicine (used to treat gout and arthritis)
• Cimetidine and omeprazole (used to treat acid reflux and other related conditions)
• Clarithromycin, rifabutin, or rifampicin (medicines used to treat different types of bacterial infection)
• Fluconazole, ketoconazole and itraconazole (medicines used to treat fungal infections)
• Digoxin, quinidine or disopyramide (used to treat heart problems)
• Cilostazol (a medicine used to treat peripheral circulation problems)
• Hexobarbitone, phenobarbital or midazolam (used as sedatives)
• Anticoagulants e.g. Warfarin, acenocoumarol and rivaroxaban (used to thin the blood);
• Valproate, carbamazepine or phenytoin (used to control epilepsy)
• Theophylline (used to treat asthma and other breathing problems)
• Ciclosporin or tacrolimus (used following organ transplants)
• Bromocriptine (used to treat parkinson’s disease)
• Zopiclone or triazolam/alprazolam (used to help you sleep or relieve states of anxiety)
• Alfentanil (a medicine used to provide pain relief)
• Methylprednisolone (used to help suppress the body’s immune system – this is useful in treating a wide range of conditions)
• St john’s wort (a herbal medicine used to treat depression)
• Verapamil (used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain)
• Vinblastine (used to treat certain types of cancer)
• Sildenafil (used to treat erectile dysfunction).

If you or your child goes for any medical tests, tell your doctor that you are taking Erythromycin, as this may interfere with some test results.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Erythrokid should be used by women during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, or if you are breast-feeding, please consult your doctor before taking this medicine.

3. HOW TO TAKE ERYTHROKID SUSPENSIONS

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

The recommended doses are:

For adults and children over 8 years of age: