Medication to Treat Lower and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Erythromycin Estolate is an oral macrolide antibiotic. It is used to treat mild-to-moderate bacterial infection since the 1950s caused by sensitive agents. It is active against many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Erythromycin was approved for use in the United States in 1967.

How does Erythromycin Estolate work?

It is broad-spectrum antibiotic effective against a wide variety of organisms. The drug belongs to the class of medication called as a macrolide antibiotic.

The drug penetrates the cell membrane of the bacterial cell. It binds to the 50s subunit of the bacterial ribosome and blocks the exit of the growing peptide chain. The above process inhibits the protein synthesis. The bacterial cell is unable to grow and multiply without protein and dies. This helps to clear the bacterial infection.

What are the uses of Erythromycin Estolate?

The above medicine is useful for the treatment of many bacterial diseases.

• Lower and upper respiratory tract infections.
• Whooping cough.
• Legionnaires’ disease.
• Certain sexually transmitted infections.
• Skin infections.
• Acne etc.
• Other infections.
• Infection of the middle ear.
• Throat infection.
• Rheumatic fever prevention.
• Infection of the lining. etc.

How to take Erythromycin Estolate?

The drug is available in the form of strength 250 mg and 500 mg. The dosage depends on

• The severity of the infection.
• Response of the patient to the therapy.

Recommended starting dose ( Adult)- 250 mg every 6 hours or 500 mg every 12 hours.

Children– 15 to 25 mg/kg body weight. Your doctor may adjust the dose according to the type of infection.

What are the precautions in taking Erythromycin Estolate?

• It is necessary to take precautions in certain cases. Inform your Doctor if you have/are
• Breast feeding.
• Diabetic patient.
• Liver disease.
• Heart patient.
• Kidney disease.
• Symptoms of diarrhea, rashes need a watch.
• Take the medicine on an empty stomach with a glass of water.
• Avoid drinking milk, dairy products and drinks that increase acidity. They can inactivate the effect of the drug.
• It can’t be used for viral infection.

Cost of Erythromycin Estolate (Generic and Brand).

Erythromycin Estolate is a generic drug. It is cheaper than the brand Erythrocin. The difference in the cost is due to the packing, pricing and the brand name of the company. Generic drugs is cheaper due to the various cost-cutting measure. It include no brand names of any company.

• Cost of Generic Erythromycin Estolate.

Pack of 30 tablets of 250 mg is $ 34, per unit cost is $1.13.

Pack of 30 tablets of 500 mg is $ 59, per unit cost is $ 1.97.

• Cost of Brand Erythrocin.

Cost of pack of 30 tablets of 250 mg is $ 206.73, per unit cost is $ 6.89.

This shows the difference in the cost of generic and brand version. It is beneficial to go with generic medicines with the same effect.