Macrolide antibiotic: Class Overview and Comparison
Quick answer: Macrolide antibiotic are a class of medicines used for specific therapeutic indications. iMedic covers 5 macrolide antibiotic substances. Below is a comparison table linking to detailed pages for each.
Macrolide antibiotic on iMedic (5 substances)
| Substance | Primary indications | Mechanism | Common dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azithromycin | Respiratory tract infections, Skin infections | Binds to the 50S ribosomal subunit inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis | 500 mg once daily for 3 days or 500 mg day 1 then 250 mg days 2-5 |
| Clarithromycin | Respiratory tract infections, H. pylori eradication | Binds 50S ribosomal subunit to inhibit bacterial protein synthesis | 250-500 mg twice daily |
| Ery Max | Respiratory tract infections, Skin infections | Macrolide antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the | 250-500 mg every 6 hours |
| Erythromycin | Respiratory tract infections, Skin infections | Macrolide antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the | 250-500 mg every 6 hours |
| Roximstad | Respiratory tract infections, Skin and soft tissue infections | Binds 50S ribosomal subunit inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis | 150 mg twice daily or 300 mg once daily |
About Macrolide antibiotic
Macrolide antibiotic share a common mechanism of action and clinical use. Specific dosing, side effects, contraindications, and drug interactions vary between individual substances within the class. Click any substance above for full prescribing information and patient guidance.
Common considerations across the class
- Indication-specific selection: Different members may be preferred for different conditions or patient populations
- Dose equivalence: Members of the same class are not always interchangeable on a 1:1 dose basis
- Drug interactions: Class members often share interaction profiles (e.g., CYP enzyme effects) but individual variation matters
- Side effects: Some side effects are class-wide; others are substance-specific
- Contraindications: Individual contraindications may not generalize across the class
Always consult the prescribing information for the specific medicine prescribed and discuss with your clinician.
Frequently asked questions
What are Macrolide antibiotic?
Macrolide antibiotic are medicines that share a common mechanism of action used for specific therapeutic indications. iMedic currently covers 5 substances in this class with detailed pages for each.
Are all Macrolide antibiotic interchangeable?
No. While medicines in the same class share a mechanism, they differ in potency, dosing, drug interactions, and tolerability. Switching between them is a clinical decision based on individual response, side effects, and treatment goals.
How do I choose between different Macrolide antibiotic?
Selection depends on the specific clinical indication, patient factors (age, comorbidities, kidney/liver function, other medications), tolerability of side effects, cost, and clinician preference. This is a prescribing decision.
Are Macrolide antibiotic available as generics?
Most well-established class members are available as generic alternatives, often substantially less expensive than brand-name versions while clinically equivalent. Newer members may still be brand-only.
Last reviewed: by iMedic Medical Editorial Team. Our editorial process.