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Erythromycin Drug Interactions
If certain benzodiazepines, statins, ED medications, or other drugs are taken with erythromycin, interactions can occur that may be dangerous, even life-threatening. For example, erythromycin should never be taken with ergot medicines because it can increase the risk of ergot toxicity. To minimize your risk of problems, make sure your healthcare provider has a complete list of all drugs you are taking.
Erythromycin can potentially interact with a number of other medications. Some of the drugs that may lead to interactions with erythromycin include but are not limited to:
- Calcium channel blockers, such as:
- Amlodipine (Norvasc®)
- Diltiazem (Cardizem®, Cardizem CD®, Cardizem LA®, Cartia XT®, Dilacor XR®, Dilt-CD®, Diltia XT®, Dilt-XR®, Taztia XT®, Tiazac®)
- Felodipine (Plendil®)
- Isradipine (Dynacirc®, Dynacirc CR®)
- Nisoldipine (Sular®)
- Nicardipine (Cardene®, Cardene SR®)
- Nifedipine (Adalat CC®, Afeditab CR®, Nifediac CC®, Nifedical XL®, Procardia®, Procardia XL®)
- Nimodipine (Nimotop®)
- Verapamil (Calan®, Calan SR®, Covera-HS®, Isoptin SR®, Verelan®, Verelan PM®)
- Carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®)
- Certain benzodiazepines, such as:
- Alprazolam (Xanax®)
- Chlordiazepoxide (Librium®, Limbitrol®, Librax®)
- Clobazam (Onfi™)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin®)
- Clorazepate (Tranxene®)
- Diazepam (Valium®)
- Estazolam (ProSom®)
- Flurazepam (Dalmane®)
- Midazolam (Versed®)
- Quazepam (Doral®)
- Triazolam (Halcion®)
- Colchicine
- Digoxin (Digitek®, Lanoxin®)
- Ergot medications, such as:
- Bromocriptine (Parlodel®)
- Dihydroergotamine (Migranal®)
- Ergonovine
- Ergotamine (Cafergot®, Ergomar®)
- Methylergonovine (Methergine®)
- Pergolide (Permax®)
- Pimozide (Orap®)
- QT-prolonging medications (drugs that cause an irregular heart rhythm known as QT prolongation)
- Some statin medications, such as:
- Atorvastatin (Lipitor®) or combination medications that contain atorvastatin (Caduet®)
- Lovastatin (Altoprev®, Mevacor®) or combination medications that contain lovastatin (Advicor®)
- Simvastatin (Zocor®) or combination medications that contain simvastatin (Juvisync®, Simcor®, Vytorin®)
- Theophylline (Uniphyl®, Theocron®, TheoCap®, Theo-24®, Elixophyllin®)
- Warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®).
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD