Erythromycin: drug interactions

The purpose of this article is to provide the dental hygienist with an understanding of potential drug interactions that can occur between the antimicrobial agent, erythromycin, and other medications. Erythromycin is the drug-of-choice against oral infections and to prevent infective endocarditis in patients who are allergic to penicillin. Erythromycin has the potential to interact with many medications by inhibiting drug metabolism in the liver. Several reports and controlled studies have shown that erythromycin may interact with theophylline, carbamazepine, cyclosporin, tacrolimus, warfarin, digoxin, terfenadine, astemazole, cisapride, lovastatin, triazolam, and disopyramide. During data collection, the hygienist can identify potential drug interactions with erythromycin. The majority of these interactions can be safely managed by using another antimicrobial with a similar spectrum of activity. If this cannot be done, the patient's physician should be consulted.