Gastrointestinal Side Effects with Erythromycin Preparations

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Abstract
This study was designed to determine the incidence and severity of gastrointestinal (GI) side effects in patients taking erythromycin. More patients complained of GI side effects with the enteric-coated tablet (70.8 percent) than with the stearate (51.4 percent) or the ethylsuccinate (48.9 percent) salts. The enteric-coated tablet was associated with a higher incidence of individual adverse reactions; more patients discontinued it because of adverse GI effects. These data demonstrate a high incidence of GI side effects to erythromycin. Additionally, GI side-effect incidence appears to be higher with the enteric-coated tablet.