Comparison of Two Oral Forms of Erythromycin in the Treatment of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections. A Multicentre General Practice Study

A total of 1244 patients with acute upper or lower respiratory tract infection were randomized to receive, twice daily for 7 days, either capsules of enteric-coated pellets of erythromycin base at a dose of 1 g/day or erythromycin ethylsuccinate tablets at a dose of 2 g/day in a single-blind, multicentre study. The efficacy of each formulation was similar, with about 90% of patients who had completed at least 5 days of treatment being reported as either cured or improved. Gastro-intestinal symptoms were the most commonly reported side-effects, being significantly more frequent in patients receiving erythromycin base. Gastro-intestinal intolerance was also the main reason for discontinuing either treatment, although it was a significantly more frequent reason in patients given erythromycin base. This study indicates that both formulations of erythromycin are highly effective for routine, empirical treatment of acute respiratory tract infections. Erythromycin base, however, appears to be less well tolerated than erythromycin ethylsuccinate.