What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Erythromycin and hydrocodone
Hydrocodone's FDA label of May 29, 2026 names erythromycin in its drug interactions section; the erythromycin labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name hydrocodone. The hydrocodone label: “The concomitant use of HYSINGLA ER and CYP3A4 inhibitors can increase the plasma concentration of hydrocodone, resulting in increased or prolonged opioid effects. …”
Check it at the source: the erythromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 1, 2024, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.); the hydrocodone FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 29, 2026).
What does the erythromycin label say about hydrocodone?
Erythromycin's label (effective August 1, 2024) and its 3 other brand-application labels do not name hydrocodone in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
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
What does the hydrocodone label say about erythromycin?
Hydrocodone label, drug interactionsClinically Significant Drug Interactions with HYSINGLA ER Inhibitors of CYP3A4 Clinical Impact: The concomitant use of HYSINGLA ER and CYP3A4 inhibitors can increase the plasma concentration of hydrocodone, resulting in increased or prolonged opioid effects. These effects could be more pronounced with concomitant use of HYSINGLA ER and CYP3A4 inhibitors, particularly when an inhibitor is added after a stable dose of HYSINGLA … drug effects are achieved. Assess for signs of opioid withdrawal. Examples Macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin), azole-antifungal agents (e.g., ketoconazole), protease inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir).
Hydrocodone label, warnings and precautionsUse or Discontinuation of Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors and Inducers Concomitant use of HYSINGLA ER with a CYP3A4 inhibitor, such as macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin), azole-antifungal agents (e.g., ketoconazole), and protease inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir), may increase plasma concentrations of hydrocodone and prolong opioid adverse reactions, which may cause potentially fatal respiratory depression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ], particularly when an inhibitor is added after a stable dose of HYSINGLA ER is achieved.
Source: FDA drug label (Hysingla ER), Knoa Pharma LLC, effective May 29, 2026 (SPL set b7d23ac2-e776-9f62-3290-c64c2d6eb353), 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
| Erythromycin | Hydrocodone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Acne | Pain |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $1.96 per tablet 250 mg tablet | $7.95 per capsule 15 mg capsule |
| 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