Absorption of erythromycin stearate and enteric-coated erythromycin base after a single oral dose immediately before breakfast.

To study the absorption of different preparations of erythromycin in the fasting state, 500 mg stearate (tablets) and 500 mg base (enteric-coated pellets) were given immediately before a standardised breakfast to 24 young, healthy volunteers in an open, random, cross-over trial. The serum peak concentration appeared earlier and was higher after intake of the stearate tablets than after intake of the base pellets; however, there was no difference in the area under the serum concentration vs. time curves (AUC) between the two preparations. The bioavailability of erythromycin stearate in tablet form and of erythromycin base in the form of enteric-coated pellets thus appears comparable when taken on an empty stomach.