Print Print
CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.

Insect bites and stings - Management
What are the adverse effects of macrolides?

  • Erythromycin commonly causes gastrointestinal adverse effects, especially at higher doses. If gastrointestinal adverse effects are known to occur, consider prescribing clarithromycin instead.
  • Cardiac arrhythmias have been very rarely reported in people taking erythromycin or clarithromycin.

[ABPI Medicines Compendium, 2002]

© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement