Erythromycin

Date: June 2020, Version 3

What is it?

Erythromycin is an antibiotic and is used to treat a wide range of infections.

Benefits

What are the benefits of using erythromycin in pregnancy?

Erythromycin is usually effective in treating infection. It is commonly prescribed during pregnancy, with no proven harmful effects for the developing baby.

Risks

What are the risks of using erythromycin in pregnancy?

The majority of studies find no link between erythromycin use and birth defects (including heart defects) in the baby. There is also no evidence that use of erythromycin in pregnancy causes miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, or low infant birth weight.

Alternatives

Are there any alternatives to using erythromycin in pregnancy?

Possibly, as other antibiotics can also be used in pregnancy. However, the specific antibiotic prescribed will be based on the type of infection that you have and whether you have experienced side effects from antibiotics in the past. If you have any questions about a medicine that you are offered in pregnancy, you should discuss them with your doctor or midwife.

No treatment

What if I prefer not to take medicines to treat infection in pregnancy?

Treating infections during pregnancy may be crucial to your and your baby’s health. Infection, if left untreated, can make you and your baby seriously unwell. It is therefore important to take any antibiotics prescribed during pregnancy. You can also feel reassured that these medicines are commonly used. Your doctor will only prescribe medicines when absolutely necessary and will be happy to talk to you about any concerns that you might have.

Will my baby need extra monitoring during pregnancy?

As part of their routine antenatal care most women will be offered a scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy to check the baby’s wellbeing.

Taking erythromycin during pregnancy is not expected to cause any problems that would require extra monitoring of your baby.

Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken erythromycin?

We would not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father took erythromycin before or around the time you became pregnant.

Who can I talk to if I have questions?

If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your healthcare provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org

How can I help to improve drug safety information for pregnant women in the future?

Our online reporting system (MyBump Portal) allows women who are currently pregnant to create a secure record of their pregnancy, collected through a series of questionnaires. You will be asked to enter information about your health, whether or not you take any medicines, your pregnancy outcome and your child's development. You can update your details at any time during pregnancy or afterwards. This information will help us better understand how medicines affect the health of pregnant women and their babies. Please visit the MyBump Portal to register.

General information
Sadly, miscarriage and birth defects can occur in any pregnancy.

Miscarriage occurs in about 1 in every 5 pregnancies, and 1 in every 40 babies are born with a birth defect. This is called the ‘background risk’ and happens whether medication is taken or not.

Most medicines cross the placenta and reach the baby. For many medications this is not a problem. However, some medicines can affect a baby’s growth and development.

If you take regular medication and are planning to conceive, you should discuss whether your medicine is safe to continue with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant. If you have an unplanned pregnancy while taking a medicine, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible.

If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please make sure that the person prescribing it knows that you are pregnant. If you have any concerns about a medicine, you can check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

Our Bumps information leaflets provide information about the effects of medicines in pregnancy so that you can decide, together with your healthcare provider, what is best for you and your baby.