Drug interactions
Erythromycin lactobionate + Formoterol
Severity: Moderate
Erythromycin lactobionate and Formoterol: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Intravenous erythromycin prolongs the QT interval, and formoterol can add to this effect and lower potassium, increasing risk of torsades de pointes.
What this interaction means in plain words
Erythromycin lactobionate and Formoterol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Erythromycin lactobionate belongs to Anti Bacterial; Formoterol belongs to Respiratory.
Why it happens
Additive QT prolongation with beta-agonist hypokalemia.
What to do
Monitor ECG and potassium in patients with additional QT risk factors, or consider a non-QT-prolonging antibiotic.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Formoterol
- Adagrasib + Formoterol Major
- Amiodarone + Formoterol Major
- Amisulpride + Formoterol Major
- Amitriptyline + Formoterol Major
- Amoxapine + Formoterol Major
- Arformoterol + Formoterol Major
Other interactions of Erythromycin lactobionate
- Cisapride + Erythromycin lactobionate Contraindicated
- Dihydroergotamine + Erythromycin lactobionate Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Erythromycin lactobionate Contraindicated
- Eletriptan + Erythromycin lactobionate Contraindicated
- Ergotamine + Erythromycin lactobionate Contraindicated
- Erythromycin lactobionate + Flibanserin Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Erythromycin lactobionate with Formoterol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Erythromycin lactobionate and Formoterol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Intravenous erythromycin prolongs the QT interval, and formoterol can add to this effect and lower potassium, increasing risk of torsades de pointes.
How serious is the interaction between Erythromycin lactobionate and Formoterol?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor ECG and potassium in patients with additional QT risk factors, or consider a non-QT-prolonging antibiotic.
What other medicines interact with Formoterol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Formoterol with, for example, Adagrasib, Amiodarone, Amisulpride. The full list is on the Formoterol page.
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