What is a common side effect of erythromycin?

Erythromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, is well-known for causing gastrointestinal side effects, which can include symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. These effects are thought to result from its irritant properties on the gastrointestinal tract and its influence on gastric motility. The gut can also be affected by its action on motilin receptors, which can lead to enhanced motility and, consequently, discomfort in some patients.

While ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and cardiotoxicity can occur with other medications or certain classes of antibiotics, erythromycin is primarily associated with gastrointestinal disturbances. The nature and frequency of these GI side effects make them a key consideration in therapeutic decisions and patient management when using erythromycin.