Intravenous erythromycin lactobionate has been used for several years to treat various infectious diseases. Several cases of severe nausea and vomiting associated with its use have been reported in Europe but only a few cases have been reported in the U.S. The official product information does not refer to severe nausea and vomiting associated with its intravenous use; however, we report six additional cases of severe nausea and vomiting associated with rapid administration of erythromycin lactobionate, and review the current literature on the characteristics of this adverse effect.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
WILSONWR, COCKERILLFR. Tetracycline, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and clindamycin. Mayo Clin Proc1983; 58: 92-8.
2.
SIMMENHP, LUTHYR. Erythromycin (2 × 1 Gm.) as a regimen for community acquired pneumonia. Infection1982; 10: 84-5.
3.
PUTZIR, BLASTERJ, LUTHYR, WEHRLIR, SEIGENTHALERW. Side-effects due to the intravenous infusion of erythromycin lactobionate. Infection1983; 11: 161-3.
4.
BLENKH, BLENKB, JAHNEKEG, SIMMK, LUCKEBV, LAFRANIERD. Erythromycin injections for treatment of infections in the ear, nose and throat region. J Int Med Res1980; 8: 41-6.
5.
SIETZENW. The pharmacokinetics of 1000 mg erythromycin lactobionate IV in patients with respiratory tract infections. Infection1982; 10: 99-101.
6.
AUSTINKL, MATHERLE, PHILPOTLR, MCDONALDPJ. Inter-subject and dose-related variability after intravenous administration of erythromycin. Br J Clin Pharmacol1980; 10: 273-9.
7.
MARLINGE, THOMPSONPJ, JENKINSCR, BURGESSKR, LAFRANIERDAJ. Study of serum levels, venous irritation and gastrointestinal side-effects with intravenous erythromycin lactobionate in patients with bronchopulmonary infection. Hum Toxicol1983; 2: 593-605.
8.
NEAVERSONMA. Intravenous administration of erythromycin: serum, sputum and urine levels. Curr Med Res Opin1976; 4: 359-64.
CHELVANP, HAMILTON-MILLERJM, BRUMFITTW. Biliary excretion of erythromycin after parenteral administration. Br J Clin Pharmacol1979; 8: 233-5.
13.
ITOHZ, NAKAYAM, SUZUKIT, ARAIH, WAKABAYASHIK. Erythromycin mimics exogenous motilin in gastrointestinal contractile activity in the dog. Am J Physiol1984; 247: 688-94.
14.
ZARAGP, THOMPSONHH, PILOTMA, RITCHIEHD. Effects of erythromycin on gastrointestinal tract motility. J Antimicrob Chemother1985; 16(suppl A): 175-9.
15.
SINGHYN, HARVEYAL, MARSHALLG. Antibiotic induced paralysis of the mouse phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparation and reversibility by calcium and by neostigmine. Anesthesiology1978; 48: 418-24.