Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: E E S 400 versus ZMAX.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: E E S 400 versus ZMAX.
E.E.S. 400 vs ZMAX
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Erythromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, binds to the 50S ribosomal subunit of susceptible bacteria, inhibiting protein synthesis. At high concentrations, it may also inhibit RNA synthesis.
Azithromycin, the active ingredient in ZMAX, is a macrolide antibiotic that binds to the 50S ribosomal subunit of susceptible bacteria, inhibiting protein synthesis and bacterial growth.
Erythromycin ethylsuccinate 400 mg orally every 6 hours. For severe infections, up to 4 g/day in divided doses.
500 mg orally once daily, administered as a single dose on an empty stomach.
None Documented
None Documented
1.5-2.0 hours in adults with normal renal function; may be prolonged in hepatic impairment (up to 5-6 hours) but not significantly changed in renal disease.
Terminal half-life: 68 hours (range 40-80 h); prolonged in hepatic impairment (up to 120 h) and elderly; supports once-weekly dosing.
Primarily hepatic (biliary) excretion of unchanged drug and metabolites; approximately 2-5% renal excretion of unchanged drug; 5-15% fecal elimination.
Renal: ~20% unchanged; fecal: ~50% as metabolites; biliary: ~30% as metabolites and parent drug.
Category C
Category C
Macrolide Antibiotic
Macrolide Antibiotic