Erythromycin Base
Brand names: Ery-Tab, Erythromycin
At a glance
- Medicare prescriptions, 2024
- 945,498
- Medicare drug cost
- $14.8M
- Average cost per prescription
- $15.68
- Clinicians who prescribed it
- 20,353
Where it is prescribed
List the prescribers in any state, county, city or ZIP code →
What it is used for
To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of erythromycin tablets, USP and other antibacterial drugs, erythromycin tablets, USP should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy. Erythromycin tablets, USP are indicated in the treatment of infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in the diseases listed below: Upper respiratory tract infections of mild to moderate degree caused by Streptococcus pyogenes; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Haemophilus influenzae (when used concomitantly with adequate doses of sulfonamides, since many strains of H. influenzae are not susceptible to the erythromycin concentrations ordinarily achieved). (See appropriate sulfonamide labeling for prescribing information.) Lower respiratory tract infections of mild to moderate severity caused by Streptococcus pyogenes or Streptococcus pneumoniae. Listeriosis caused by Listeria monocytogenes. Respiratory tract infections due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
From the FDA-approved prescribing information (label dated October 2025). Full labels on DailyMed (opens in a new tab)
Who prescribes it
- Ophthalmology 68.5%
- Optometrists 17.3%
- Nurse Practitioners 2.8%
- Internal Medicine 2.7%
- Family Medicine 2.5%
- Retina Specialist 1.8%
- Physician Assistants 1.7%
- Geriatric Medicine 0.4%
- Emergency Medicine 0.3%
- Gastroenterology 0.3%
- General Surgery 0.3%
- Plastic Surgery 0.2%
All prescribers, by place, name or specialty →
Share of Medicare prescriptions written by each specialty. Select one to list its prescribers.
Trend, 2019–2024
Medicare prescriptions rose 33% from 2019 to 2024.
Biggest change by state since 2019
- Idaho +57%
- South Carolina +49%
- Kansas +44%
- Arkansas +44%
- Texas +43%
- Hawaii (smallest change) −1%
- Massachusetts (smallest change) +12%
From CMS’s yearly state and national Part D summaries, which count every prescriber, including those CMS leaves out of its per-clinician data (fewer than 11 prescriptions). That is why these totals are higher than the count at the top of this page. Prescriptions include refills.
What it looks like
Pills from 4 makers on file. The same medicine can look different depending on who made it, so check the imprint (the letters and numbers on the pill) with your pharmacist if a refill looks different.
Ascend Laboratories, LLC
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 250 mg | pink oval tablet, 15 mm | E2 |
| 500 mg | pink oval tablet, 19 mm | E5 |
Carilion Materials Management
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 250 mg | pink oval tablet, 15 mm | EB |
Physicians Total Care, Inc.
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 250 mg | pink oval tablet, 15 mm | EB |
| 500 mg | pink oval tablet, 19 mm | EA |
Rebel Distributors Corp
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 250 mg | pink oval tablet, 15 mm | EB |
| 500 mg | pink oval tablet, 19 mm | EA |
Source: DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), from each maker’s FDA drug listing. A few makers are shown, not every one. Never take a pill you can’t identify; ask a pharmacist.
Industry payments about this drug
No industry payments to clinicians named this drug in 2025.
Recalls and shortages
Not on the FDA drug shortage list.
1 recall since 2020
- Apr 2026 · Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc · Class II
CGMP Deviations; presence of N-Nitroso-Desmethyl-Erythromycin above the recommended acceptable intake limit
Recalls usually affect specific lots from one maker, not every version of a drug. Class I is the most serious; most drug recalls are Class II. FDA recalls (opens in a new tab)
Sources: CMS Medicare Part D Prescribers by Provider and Drug (2024; prescriptions include refills, and CMS hides counts under 11 per prescriber); U.S. Food and Drug Administration, openFDA (drug labels, NDC directory, enforcement reports, drug shortages); CMS Open Payments 2025; ClinicalTrials.gov. General information only, not medical advice; not yet reviewed by our medical reviewer.