erythromycin + zinc acetate dihydrate: prescribing and clinical use
Focused clinical detail for use alongside current product information, local policy and patient-specific assessment.
erythromycin + zinc acetate dihydrate: clinical details
Prescribing considerations
- Confirm acne vulgaris is the treatment target and review previous or concurrent antibiotic exposure.
- Consider antimicrobial cross-resistance with macrolides, clindamycin and lincomycin.
- Counsel on local irritation, mucosal avoidance and correct applicator use.
Contraindications and cautions
- Hypersensitivity to erythromycin, zinc acetate, another ingredient or another macrolide antibiotic.
Monitoring
- Assess clinical response and local skin tolerability.
- Stop treatment and assess suspected hypersensitivity or a severe pustular skin reaction.
- No routine laboratory monitoring is specified in the product information.
Clinical pharmacology
The erythromycin–zinc complex separates in the skin. Erythromycin penetrates the skin and may be partly systemically absorbed, whereas zinc is not systemically absorbed according to the product information.
Formulation and product differences
- Supplied as powder and solvent that are mixed to form a cutaneous solution.
- The mixed solution is delivered through a fitted applicator pad.
- Excipients include ethanol and di-isopropyl sebacate.
- After constitution, follow the pharmacist's use-before label and storage instructions.
erythromycin + zinc acetate dihydrate interactions
Formal interaction studies have not been performed. Tell the prescriber or pharmacist about other acne treatments and antibiotics being used.
Other macrolide antibiotics
Bacterial cross-resistance may reduce the effectiveness of erythromycin or another macrolide.
Clindamycin or lincomycin
Cross-resistance may occur, so concurrent or recent use should be reviewed by the prescriber.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.