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bromocriptine vs erythromycin

Side-by-side comparison of bromocriptine and erythromycin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

The concomitant use of macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin was shown to increase the plasma levels of bromocriptine (mean AUC and C max values increased 3.7-fold and 4.6-fold, respectively).

Recommendation: Your doctor may need to lower your dose of bromocriptine or watch you more closely for side effects while you are taking this antibiotic.

Drug Class
bromocriptine Dopamine Agonist (Diabetes)
erythromycin Macrolide Antibiotic
Type
bromocriptine Prescription
erythromycin Prescription
Summary
bromocriptine

Bromocriptine (Cycloset) is a medicine that acts like dopamine in your body. It is used to treat conditions caused by hormone imbalances, acromegaly, and Parkinson's disease.

erythromycin

Erythromycin Topical Solution is a medicine that you put on your skin to treat acne. It contains an antibiotic to help clear up your skin.

What It Treats
bromocriptine

This medicine can treat problems caused by too much prolactin, a hormone. These problems include irregular periods, lack of periods, infertility, and low sex hormone levels. It can also treat tumors that produce prolactin. Bromocriptine can also treat acromegaly (a condition where the body produces too much growth hormone) and Parkinson's disease.

erythromycin

Erythromycin Topical Solution treats acne vulgaris. This medicine helps to reduce acne on your face, neck, shoulders, chest, and back. It works by fighting the bacteria that cause acne.

How It Works
bromocriptine

Bromocriptine works by acting like dopamine, a natural substance in the brain. It helps to lower the amount of prolactin and growth hormone in your body. In Parkinson's disease, it helps improve motor control.

erythromycin

Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps to reduce inflammation and clear up acne.

Common Side Effects
bromocriptine
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Lightheadedness
erythromycin
  • Peeling
  • Dryness
  • Itching
  • Redness
  • Oily skin
FAERS Reports
bromocriptine
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 46
  • Pain in your head 35
  • Throwing up 33
  • Feeling unsteady or lightheaded 31
  • Fever 29
erythromycin
  • Drug Hypersensitivity 4,088
  • Nausea 1,271
  • Vomiting 1,121
  • Diarrhoea 1,069
  • Dyspnoea 1,023
Serious Warnings
bromocriptine

This medicine may cause low blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, are sensitive to ergot alkaloids, or are allergic to bromocriptine or any of the ingredients in the tablets. If you are taking this medicine for high prolactin and become pregnant, talk to your doctor about whether to continue taking it.

erythromycin

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.

Pregnancy
bromocriptine

If you are taking bromocriptine for high prolactin and become pregnant, talk to your doctor. They will help you decide whether to continue taking it. If you are taking this medicine for acromegaly, prolactinoma, or Parkinson’s disease and become pregnant, discuss with your doctor whether the therapy is still medically necessary.

erythromycin

It is not known if erythromycin topical solution can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This bromocriptine vs erythromycin Comparison

bromocriptine is classified in the Dopamine Agonist (Diabetes) drug class, while erythromycin sits within the Macrolide Antibiotic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, bromocriptine has 174 submissions while erythromycin has 8,572. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to erythromycin slows down how fast your body gets rid of bromocriptine. this causes the medicine to build up to higher levels in your blood.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between bromocriptine and erythromycin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.