What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Erythromycin and sufentanil
Sufentanil's FDA label of June 1, 2026 names erythromycin in its drug interactions section; the erythromycin labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name sufentanil. The sufentanil label: “… Citrate Injection 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 …”
Check it at the source: the erythromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 1, 2024, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.); the sufentanil FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 1, 2026, Hospira, Inc.).
What does the erythromycin label say about sufentanil?
Erythromycin's label (effective August 1, 2024) and its 3 other brand-application labels do not name sufentanil 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 sufentanil label say about erythromycin?
Sufentanil label, drug interactionsMacrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin), azole-antifungal agents (e.g., ketoconazole), protease inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir), grapefruit juice.
Sufentanil label, warnings and precautionsUse or Discontinuation of Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors and Inducers Concomitant use of Sufentanil Citrate Injection 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 sufentanil and prolong opioid adverse reactions, which may exacerbate fatal respiratory depression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ], particularly when an inhibitor is added after a stable dose of Sufentanil Citrate Injection is achieved.
Source: FDA drug label (Sufentanil Citrate), Hospira, Inc., effective June 1, 2026 (SPL set 20293943-46ff-4345-1aa4-929b4e017a25), 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 | Sufentanil | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Acne | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $1.96 per tablet 250 mg tablet | n/a |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
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