Comparison of the effects of midecamycin acetate and clarithromycin on gastrointestinal motility in man.

The gastrointestinal motor effects of the macrolide antibiotic, clarithromycin, were compared with those of midecamycin acetate. The method of investigation consisted of intraluminal pressure measurements in the gastric antrum and upper small intestine by means of a low compliance perfused catheter system. Six healthy volunteers participated in the single-blind, placebo-controlled study of both interdigestive and postprandial gastrointestinal motility. Clarithromycin was administered by mouth in a dose of 250 mg b.i.d.; midecamycin acetate was given in a dose of 600 mg b.i.d. The effect of midecamycin acetate on gastric antral and jejunal motility was not significantly different from that of placebo. This was true for both the interdigestive and the postprandial phases of gastrointestinal motility. Oral treatment with clarithromycin (250 mg, b.i.d.) resulted in a statistically significant increase in the postprandial number of antral contractions per hour as well as in the postprandial antral motility index, as compared to placebo.