Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ERY TAB versus ZMAX.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ERY TAB versus ZMAX.
ERY-TAB vs ZMAX
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Erythromycin binds to the 50S ribosomal subunit of susceptible bacteria, inhibiting protein synthesis by blocking the translocation step.
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.
250-500 mg orally every 6 hours or 333-666 mg every 8 hours. Maximum 4 g/day.
500 mg orally once daily, administered as a single dose on an empty stomach.
None Documented
None Documented
The terminal elimination half-life of erythromycin base is approximately 1.5-2 hours in patients with normal renal function. In patients with end-stage renal disease, the half-life may be prolonged to 4-6 hours. The half-life is not significantly altered in hepatic impairment, but accumulation can occur with severe liver disease.
Terminal half-life: 68 hours (range 40-80 h); prolonged in hepatic impairment (up to 120 h) and elderly; supports once-weekly dosing.
Erythromycin is primarily excreted in bile as active drug and metabolites, with approximately 12-15% of an administered dose excreted unchanged in urine. Fecal elimination accounts for about 30-60% of the dose, largely due to biliary excretion.
Renal: ~20% unchanged; fecal: ~50% as metabolites; biliary: ~30% as metabolites and parent drug.
Category C
Category C
Macrolide Antibiotic
Macrolide Antibiotic