1 May 2026Oral drugs

Erythromycin oral

Erythromycin guidance for selected bacterial infections including pertussis, pneumonia, diphtheria, and chlamydial infections.

Prescription under medical supervision

This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.

Therapeutic action

Macrolide antibacterial.

Indications

Pertussis, diphtheria, atypical pneumonia, cervicitis and urethritis due to Chlamydia trachomatis, and other erythromycin-susceptible infections.

Forms and strengths

250 mg tablet or capsule.
125 mg/5 ml oral suspension.

Dose

Child: 10 to 12.5 mg/kg 4 times daily.
Adult: 500 mg 4 times daily.

Erythromycin dose by age, weight, and formulation

Age	Weight	Daily dose	125 mg/5 ml susp.	250 mg tablet	500 mg tablet
1 to < 2 months	4 to < 5 kg	62.5 mg x 2	2.5 ml x 2	¼ tab x 2	−
2 to < 12 months	5 to < 10 kg	125 mg x 2	5 ml x 2	½ tab x 2	¼ tab x 2
1 to < 3 years	10 to < 15 kg	250 mg x 2	10 ml x 2	1 tab x 2	½ tab x 2
3 to < 8 years	15 to < 25 kg	250 mg x 3	10 ml x 3	1 tab x 3	½ tab x 3
8 to < 11 years	25 to < 35 kg	500 mg x 2	−	2 tab x 2	1 tab x 2
11 to < 13 years	35 to < 45 kg	500 mg x 3	−	2 tab x 3	1 tab x 3

Duration

According to indication and clinical response.

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

Do not administer to patients with allergy to erythromycin or another macrolide.
May cause gastrointestinal disturbances, reversible hearing disorders, and QT prolongation.
Avoid or monitor combinations with drugs that prolong the QT interval and with medicines whose concentrations are increased by macrolides.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: no contra-indication.

Source

MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)

This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.

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