Gastrointestinal Side Effects with Erythromycin Preparations

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.