RETCIN, ERYTHROMYCIN

Adults and children over 8 years: 1-2 g daily in divided doses for mild to moderate infection. This dosage may be increased to 4 g daily in divided doses. Tablets should be taken before or with meals.

Elderly:

No special dosage recommendations.

Period of dosing with regard to indications:

Upper respiratory tract infections: 5 to 10 days Lower respiratory tract infections: 7 to 14 days or until the signs and symptoms indicate that the condition is cured. Legionnaire's Disease requires prolonged treatment. It is recommended that initially Erythromycin lactobionate intravenously should be administered.

Skin and soft tissue infections: 5 to 10 days. Acne may require prolonged treatment. Sexually transmitted diseases - NGU and syphilis: 10 to 21 days. Some conditions may require prolonged treatment. Oral and dental infections: at least 5 days.

Eye infections - Chlamydia inclusion conjunctivitis: 3 weeks. Gastro-intestinal infections - Campylobacter: a minimum of 5 days. RETCIN is taken by mouth.

Allergic reactions are rare and mild but anaphylaxis has occurred. Skin reactions ranging from mild eruptions to erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis have rarely been reported. Occasionally nausea, abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea and vomiting which subside after a few days without having to discontinue treatment.

As with other broad-spectrum antibiotics, pseudomembranous colitis has been reported rarely with erythromycin. Reversible hearing loss associated with doses of erythromycin usually greater then 4 g per day has been reported. Symptoms of hepatitis, hepatic dysfunction and/or abnormal liver function test results may occur.

Cardiac effects (including chest pain and arrhythmias) and myasthenia-like syndrome have also been reported. Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders Not known: acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)

Caution should be exercised when administering RETCIN to patients with impaired hepatic function as the drug is principally excreted by the liver. Super infection caused by non-susceptible bacteria or fungi may occur during prolonged or repeated therapy and this is more likely when other anti-bacterial agents are simultaneously employed.

Hepatic dysfunction including increased liver enzymes and/or cholestatic hepatitis, with or without jaundice, has been infrequently reported with erythromycin. Renal impairment. Prolongation of QT interval (ventricular tachycardia reported).

Porphyria. As with other macrolides, rare serious allergic reactions, including acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) have been reported. If an allergic reaction occurs, the drug should be discontinued and appropriate therapy should be instituted.

Physicians should be aware that reappearance of the allergic symptoms may occur when symptomatic therapy is discontinued. 5). RETCIN contains lactose and is unsuitable for people with lactase insufficiency, galactosaemia or glucose/galactose malabsorption syndrome.

The product also contains ponceau 4R (E124) which may cause allergic-type reactions including asthma. Allergy is more common in those people who are allergic to aspirin.

RETCIN is contraindicated in patients sensitive to Erythromycin. Use of RETCIN in conjunction with other anti-infection agents except when especially warranted. Erythromycin is contraindicated with either Astemizole or Terfenadine and is also contra-indicated with ergotamine and di-hydroergotamine.

5).