At Children’s Hospital of
Gastroparesis is associated with delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction
Gastroparesis is a neuromuscular disorder whose hallmark is delayed gastric emptying
Prokinetic medications are most often the first line pharmacological treatment, which work by increasing gastrointestinal motility; liquid formulation of
Possible side effects of erythromycin include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps
The most common etiologies are Idiopathic (28%) and Diabetes mellitus related (DM) (29%)
It has also been shown to have potential benefits in patients with postvagotomy gastroparesis
PARENTERAL: Erythromycin Lactobionate (Lactobionate): 15 to 20 mg/kg IV per day via intermittent IV infusion over 20 to 60 minutes no more than every 6 hours or via slow continuous IV infusion
( 30348463 ) The main drawback of erythromycin is that, over time, its use leads to tachyphylaxis (diminishing efficacy) due to down-regulation of motilin receptors
The same group of authors in an earlier study
Prokinetic agents, including metoclopramide (Reglan) and erythromycin, can be administered orally or intravenously
We also review information about erythromycin's mechanism of action, previous therapeutic uses, administration (doses, duration, and route), and role as an alternative to other prokinetic agents
A systematic review of the literature concluded that the prevalence of definite gastroparesis (symptoms plus evidence of delayed gastric emptying) in the general population ranged from 13
Why use erythromycin to manage gastroparesis? King, Joan E
, coordinator of Clinical Queries, and a member of the Nursing2007 editorial advisory board
500 mg 4 times a day for 7 days, alternatively 1 g twice daily for 7 days
Intravenous erythromycin has been shown to improve gastric emptying in diabetic gastroparesis
Recently, erythromycin has been linked to the occurrences of sudden cardiac death due to QT prolongation