E.E.S, 400 Tablets and Food

Food decreases the levels of erythromycin in your body. Take erythromycin on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after a meal. This will make it easier for your body to absorb the medication. However, some erythromycin products may be taken without regard to meals. Ask your healthcare provider about your particular prescription if you are uncertain of how to take it. Grapefruits and grapefruit juice may increase erythromycin levels but how this may affect you is not known. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food may variably affect the bioavailability of different oral formulations and salt forms of erythromycin. The individual product package labeling should be consulted regarding the appropriate time of administration in relation to food ingestion. Grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of orally administered erythromycin. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruits. In an open-label, crossover study consisting of six healthy subjects, the coadministration with double-strength grapefruit juice increased the mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of a single dose of erythromycin (400 mg) by 52% and 49%, respectively, compared to water. The half-life was not affected. The clinical significance of this potential interaction is unknown.

MANAGEMENT: In general, optimal serum levels are achieved when erythromycin is taken in the fasting state, one-half to two hours before meals. However, some erythromycin products may be taken without regard to meals.