Patient was educated on the side effects of using Erythromycin as follows:
- Ototoxicity
- Erythromycin intake in high doses can lead to reversible hearing loss.
- Sometimes, the damage can be severe causing the hearing loss to be permanent.
- Normal therapeutic doses of Erythromycin in individuals with compromised renal function can lead to incomplete elimination of Erythromycin and elevated drug levels for longer duration, thus precipitating ototoxicity and hearing loss.
- Hepatic damage
- Long term Erythromycin intake can lead to hepatic injury, thus compromising liver function.
- Also, Erythromycin is significantly metabolized by the liver. Hepatic injury and altered liver function can result in increased bilirubin levels in the body, resulting in itching, jaundice with yellowing of skin and sclera, dark urine, altered metabolism with nausea and vomiting, pain in the right upper abdominal quadrant, and fatigue.
- Also, compromised liver function can lead to reduced metabolism of Erythromycin and increased blood levels for longer duration, leading to toxicity.
- Skin rash
- Erythromycin intake can result in skin rash ranging between mild to severe exfoliating rash and blisters.
- Central nervous system findings
- Erythromycin use can sometimes result in severe dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, tremors, and seizures.
