Abdominal pain roxithromycin

The gastrointestinal adverse effects are the most common untoward effects of the macrolides (Table 2). Nausea and vomiting associated with abdominal pain and occasionally diarrhea can be minor and transitory or, in a small percentage of patients, become severe enough to result in premature withdrawal. The rate of these adverse effects varies among the different antibiotics. In general, newer macrolides, such as azithromycin, clarithromycin, or roxithromycin, are better tolerated and cause fewer adverse effects than erythromycin. 

In 2917 adults, adverse effects of roxithromycin occurred in 4.1% at a dosage of 150 mg/day (I). Nausea (1.3%), abdominal pain (1.2%), and diarrhea (0.8%) were the most frequently reported events, whereas rash, vomiting, headache, dizziness, pruritus, urticaria, and constipation were reported only rarely. Treatment had to be withdrawn in 0.9% of the patients because of adverse effects. 

In an uncontrolled study in 24 HIV-infected patients, roxithromycin (300 mg bd for 4 weeks) was effective against cryptosporidial diarrhea (2). The most limiting adverse effects were abdominal pain (two patients), raised hepatic enzymes (two patients), and abdominal pain with raised hepatic enzymes (one patient). Minor symptoms occurred in nine patients. 

Roxithromycin is usually well tolerated with a lower incidence of side effects than erythromycin. Minor adverse effects include GI upset, abdominal pain, elevated serum transaminase levels, and, rarely, skin rash. 

Placebo-controHed studies In a doubleblind study, 31 adults with early rheumatoid arthritis who had not previously received disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were randomized to oral roxithromycin 300 mg/day or placebo for 3 months [133 ]. There were adverse events in 11 who took roxithromycin and seven who took placebo. The most common adverse events (>5%) were nausea, abdominal pain, headache, and dry mouth. There were no dose-Umiting adverse effects. One patient taking roxithromycin withdrew because of severe emesis. 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

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