What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Ergotamine and erythromycin
Ergotamine's FDA label of February 25, 2025 names erythromycin in its contraindications section, and erythromycin's label names ergotamine too. The erythromycin label: “Erythromycin is contraindicated in patients taking terfenadine, astemizole, cisapride, pimozide, ergotamine, or dihydroergotamine.”
Check it at the source: the ergotamine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 25, 2025, Pangea Pharmaceuticals LLC); the erythromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 1, 2024, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.).
What does the ergotamine label say about erythromycin?
Ergotamine label, contraindicationsCONTRAINDICATIONS Coadministration of ergotamine with potent CYP 3A4 inhibitors (ritonavir, nelfinavir, indinavir, erythromycin, clarithromycin and troleandomycin) has been associated with acute ergot toxicity (ergotism) characterized by vasospasm and ischemia of the extremities ( See PRECAUTIONS:
Source: FDA drug label (Ergomar Sublingual), Pangea Pharmaceuticals LLC, effective February 25, 2025 (SPL set a9582fdb-7ddd-4f69-aa7a-66247cdb8c92), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the erythromycin label say about ergotamine?
Erythromycin label, contraindicationsErythromycin is contraindicated in patients taking terfenadine, astemizole, cisapride, pimozide, ergotamine, or dihydroergotamine (see PRECAUTIONS - Drug Interactions ).
Erythromycin label, drug interactionsErgotamine/dihydroergotamine Post-marketing reports indicate that co-administration of erythromycin with ergotamine or dihydroergotamine has been associated with acute ergot toxicity characterized by vasospasm and ischemia of the extremities and other tissues including the central nervous system.
Source: FDA drug label (Erythrocin Lactobionate, NDA050609), Hospira, Inc., effective October 30, 2025 (SPL set a96c405f-bd70-4bb4-719e-ac6a79dcc213), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Erythromycin, NDA050536), Dr. Reddy's Labratories Inc., effective September 25, 2025 (SPL set a2dcb48a-212c-1b0c-ec35-ee2ade85847f), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Erythromycin), Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., effective August 1, 2024 (SPL set 75a0bd5a-d09f-483b-bfd8-f8343b149eb2), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Ergotamine | Erythromycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | n/a | Bacterial infections, Acne |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $43.46 per tablet 2 mg tablet sublingual | $1.96 per tablet 250 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once