Editing Erythromycin (section)

== Adverse effects ==
Gastrointestinal disturbances, such as [[diarrhea]], [[nausea]], [[abdominal pain]], and [[vomiting]], are very common because erythromycin is a [[motilin]] agonist.<ref name="pmid8470625">{{cite journal | vauthors = Weber FH, Richards RD, McCallum RW | title = Erythromycin: a motilin agonist and gastrointestinal prokinetic agent | journal = The American Journal of Gastroenterology | volume = 88 | issue = 4 | pages = 485–90 | date = April 1993 | pmid = 8470625 }}</ref>

More serious side effects include [[Heart arrhythmia|arrhythmia]] with [[prolonged QT interval]]s, including ''[[torsades de pointes]]'', and reversible [[deafness]]. Allergic reactions range from [[urticaria]] to [[anaphylaxis]]. [[Cholestasis]] and [[Stevens–Johnson syndrome]] are some other rare side effects that may occur.<ref>{{cite book |title=Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs |publisher=Elsevier |year=2016 |pages=99–108 |url= | veditors = Aronson JK |chapter=Erythromycin |edition=Sixteenth |doi=10.1016/B978-0-444-53717-1.00698-3 |isbn=9780444537164 |chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780444537171006983}}</ref>

Studies have shown evidence both for and against the association of [[pyloric stenosis]] and exposure to erythromycin prenatally and postnatally.<ref name = "Briggs_2011">{{cite book |vauthors=Briggs GG, Freeman RK, Yaffe SJ |title=Drugs in pregnancy and lactation : a reference guide to fetal and neonatal risk |date=2011 |publisher=Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |location=Philadelphia |isbn=978-1-60831-708-0 |edition=9th |chapter=Erythromycin |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OIgTE4aynrMC&q=erythromycin&pg=PA512 |access-date=20 October 2021 |archive-date=23 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523131602/https://books.google.com/books?id=OIgTE4aynrMC&q=erythromycin&pg=PA512 |url-status=live }}</ref> Exposure to erythromycin (especially long courses at antimicrobial doses, and also through [[breastfeeding]]) has been linked to an increased probability of pyloric stenosis in young infants.<ref name="pmid17337692">{{cite journal | vauthors = Maheshwai N | title = Are young infants treated with erythromycin at risk for developing hypertrophic pyloric stenosis? | journal = Archives of Disease in Childhood | volume = 92 | issue = 3 | pages = 271–3 | date = March 2007 | pmid = 17337692 | pmc = 2083424 | doi = 10.1136/adc.2006.110007 }}</ref><ref name="pmid24618148">{{cite journal | vauthors = Lund M, Pasternak B, Davidsen RB, Feenstra B, Krogh C, Diaz LJ, Wohlfahrt J, Melbye M | title = Use of macrolides in mother and child and risk of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: nationwide cohort study | journal = BMJ | volume = 348 | pages = g1908 | date = March 2014 | pmid = 24618148 | pmc = 3949411 | doi = 10.1136/bmj.g1908 }}</ref> Erythromycin used for feeding intolerance in young infants has not been associated with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.<ref name="pmid17337692"/>

Erythromycin estolate has been associated with reversible hepatotoxicity in pregnant women in the form of elevated serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and is not recommended during pregnancy. Some evidence suggests similar hepatotoxicity in other populations.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = McCormack WM, George H, Donner A, Kodgis LF, Alpert S, Lowe EW, Kass EH | title = Hepatotoxicity of erythromycin estolate during pregnancy | journal = Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy | volume = 12 | issue = 5 | pages = 630–5 | date = November 1977 | pmid = 21610 | pmc = 429989 | doi = 10.1128/AAC.12.5.630 }}</ref>

It can also affect the [[central nervous system]], causing [[psychosis|psychotic reactions]], nightmares, and night sweats.<ref name="BCFI"/>