Ilotycin

Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Last updated on RxList: 5/18/2023

Drug Summary

What Is Ilotycin?

Ilotycin (erythromycin) Ointment is an antibiotic used to treat superficial ocular (eye) infections, and to prevent neonatal gonococcal or chlamydial conjunctivitis. The brand name Ilotycin is discontinued, but generic versions may be available.

What Are Side Effects of Ilotycin?

Ilotycin may cause serious side effects including:

  • new or worsening eye symptoms (pain, swelling, thick discharge or pus),
  • rash,
  • itching,
  • swelling of the face, tongue or throat,
  • severe dizziness, and
  • trouble breathing

Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.

Common side effects of Ilotycin (erythromycin) Ointment include:

  • minor eye irritations,
  • stinging,
  • burning,
  • redness,
  • temporary blurred vision, and
  • hypersensitivity reactions.

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

  • Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
  • Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in your chest; shortness of breath; and sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out;
  • Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

Dosage for Ilotycin

In the treatment of superficial ocular infections, a dose of a ribbon approximately 1 cm in length of Ilotycin Ophthalmic Ointment should be applied directly to the infected structure up to 6 times daily, depending on the severity of the infection. To prevent neonatal gonococcal or chlamydial conjunctivitis, a ribbon of ointment approximately 1 cm in length should be instilled into each lower conjunctival sac.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Ilotycin?

Ilotycin may interact with other drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Ilotycin During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Ilotycin. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Additional Information

Our Ilotycin (erythromycin) Ointment Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

Description for Ilotycin

ILOTYCIN™ Erythromycin Ophthalmic Ointment belongs to the macrolide group of antibiotics. It is basic and readily forms a salt when combined with an acid. The base, as crystals or powder, is slightly soluble in water, moderately soluble in ether, and readily soluble in alcohol or chloroform. Erythromycin ((3R*, 4S*, 5S*, 6R*, 7R*, 9R*, 11R*, 12R*, 13S*, 14R*) -4-[(2,6-dideoxy-3-C-methyl-3-0-methyl-α-L-ribo-hexopyranosyl)oxy]-14-ethyl-7, 12,13-trihydroxy-3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13-hexamethyl-6-[[3, 4, 6-trideoxy-3-(dimethylamino)-β-D-xylo-hexopyranosyl]oxy]oxacyclotetradecane-2, 10-dione) is an antibiotic produced from a strain of Streptomyces erythraeus. It has the following structural formula:

ILOTYCIN (erythromycin)  Structural Formula Illustration

Molecular Formula: C37H67NO13

Molecular Weight: 733.94

Each gram contains Erythromycin USP 5 mg in a sterile ophthalmic base of mineral oil and white petrolatum.

Uses for Ilotycin

For the treatment of superficial ocular infections involving the conjunctiva and/or cornea caused by organisms susceptible to erythromycin.

For prophylaxis of ophthalmia neonatorum due to N. gonorrhoeae or C. trachomatis.

The effectiveness of erythromycin in the prevention of ophthalmia caused by penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae is not established.

For infants born to mothers with clinically apparent gonorrhea, intravenous or intramuscular injections of aqueous crystalline penicillin G should be given; a single dose of 50,000 units for term infants or 20,000 units for infants of low birth weight. Topical prophylaxis alone is inadequate for these infants.

Dosage for Ilotycin

In the treatment of superficial ocular infections, a ribbon approximately 1 cm in length of ILOTYCIN™ Ophthalmic Ointment should be applied directly to the infected structure up to 6 times daily, depending on the severity of the infection.

For prophylaxis of neonatal gonococcal or chlamydial conjunctivitis, a ribbon of ointment approximately 1 cm in length should be instilled into each lower conjunctival sac. The ointment should not be flushed from the eye following instillation. A new tube should be used for each infant.

HOW SUPPLIED

Sterile ILOTYCIN™ Ophthalmic Ointment USP, 5 mg/g as follows:

1 g tamper-evident tubes NDC 48102-016-11

Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature].

Avoid excessive heat.

Protect from freezing.

Manufactured for: Fera Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Locust Valley, NY 11560. Rev. 06/10

Side Effects for Ilotycin

The most frequently reported adverse reactions are minor ocular irritations, redness, and hypersensitivity reactions.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Fera Pharmaceuticals, LLC at (414) 434-6604 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm EST or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Drug Interactions for Ilotycin

No information provided.

Warnings for Ilotycin

No information provided.

Precautions for Ilotycin

General

The use of antimicrobial agents may be associated with the overgrowth of nonsusceptible organisms including fungi; in such a case, antibiotic administration should be stopped and appropriate measures taken.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Two year oral studies conducted in rats with erythromycin did not provide evidence of tumorigenicity. Mutagenicity studies have not been conducted. No evidence of impaired fertility that appeared related to erythromycin was reported in animal studies.

Pregnancy

Teratogenic effects -Pregnancy category B

Reproduction studies have been performed in rats, mice, and rabbits using erythromycin and its various salts and esters, at doses that were several multiples of the usual human dose. No evidence of harm to the fetus that appeared related to erythromycin was reported in these studies. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproductive studies are not always predictive of human response, the erythromycins should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Nursing Mothers

Caution should be exercised when erythromycin is administered to a nursing woman.

Pediatric Use

See INDICATIONS and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION.

Overdose Information for Ilotycin

No information provided.

Contraindications for Ilotycin

This drug is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to erythromycin.

Clinical Pharmacology for Ilotycin

Microbiology

Erythromycin inhibits protein synthesis without affecting nucleic acid synthesis. Erythromycin is usually active against the following organisms in vitro and in clinical infections:

Streptococcus pyogenes (group A β-hemolytic)
Alpha-hemolytic streptococci (viridans group)
Staphylococcus aureus
, including penicillinase-producing strains (methicillin-resistant staphylococci are uniformly resistant to erythromycin)
Streptococcus pneumoniae

Mycoplasma pneumoniae
(Eaton Agent, PPLO)
Haemophilus influenzae
(not all strains of this organism are susceptible at the erythromycin concentrations ordinarily achieved)
Treponema pallidum

Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Chlamydia trachomatis

Patient Information for Ilotycin

Avoid contaminating the applicator tip with material from the eye, fingers, or other source.

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Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.