Generic Ilosone

Ilosone is an antibiotic which is often generically prescribed as erythromycin and is a member of the family of drugs known as macrolide antibiotics. Ilosone has been known to produce heart related life threatening events in patients who are simultaneously taking medications such as cisapride, pimozide, terfenadine, or astemizole. Ilosone has also been associated with severe diarrhea that will present with bloody or watery stools. Patients should be advised that this could be a sign of a new infection and should contact the prescribing physician instead of taking anti-diarrhea medications.

Ilosone is not necessarily appropriate for all patients, especially those with other health conditions. Patients with a medical history which includes myasthenia gravis or a liver condition or liver disease may not be able to tolerate Ilosone or may require careful monitoring while undergoing drug therapy with this medication, depending on condition as well as the severity of the condition.

Patients who are pregnant should discuss with the prescribing physician the benefits and risks of taking Ilosone while pregnant. The American Food and Drug Administration did not determine significant risk to an unborn fetus and gave it a safety rating of Category B. It was determined however, that this medication passes into the mother’s breast milk and risks harming a nursing infant. Women who are nursing should avoid taking Ilosone unless the benefits outweigh the risks.

There are risks of side effects associated with the use of Ilosone, some of which can be very sever or life threatening. Patients who experience allergic reactions, nausea, stomach pain, dark urine, clay colored stools, loss of appetite, low fever, or yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin, bloody or watery diarrhea, lightheadedness, fainting, uneven heart rate, and chest pain should seek immediate medical attention. Allergic reactions are indicated by swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, hives, and difficulty breathing.

Less serious side effects are likely to include symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, headaches, mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, and mild itching or a skin rash generally don’t require any medical attention but should be reported to the prescribing physician to help determine the correct dosage. Often a side effect can be alleviated by reducing the dosage of Ilosone.

Ilosone should be taken as directed. Should the patient accidentally miss a dose, the dose should then be taken as soon as possible. From that dose, the dosing schedule should be adjusted to match the time spacing recommended by the pharmacist or physician. The missed dose can also be skipped and the dosing schedule resumed at the next regular dose. Double dosing, taking too much medication, or taking doses too close together can cause an overdose. An overdose is a medical emergency and appropriate treatment should be sought accordingly. An overdose may present with symptoms which can include stomach pain or nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and hearing loss.

Other medications may interfere with or react with Ilosone. Patients should always check with a pharmacist or the physician before taking any type of new medication. This includes over the counter medications and herbal remedies as well as prescription medications. Medications with known interactions with Ilosone include theophylline, blood thinners such as warfarin, sildenafil, digoxin, disopyramide, alprazolam, ergotamine, cyclosporine, carbamazepine, tacrolimus, lovastatin, bromocriptine, cilostazol, quinidine, vinblastine, and additional antibiotics.