Effect of single dose of oral erythromycin on gastric and gallbladder emptying. Simultaneous assessment by ultrasound.

To evaluate the effects of a single oral dose of erythromycin on gastric and gallbladder emptying, 10 volunteers, without a known history of gastrointestinal disease, were investigated. Erythromycin stearate (500 mg) or placebo was given on separate mornings 30 min before a standard solid meal in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Gastric and gallbladder emptying rates were simultaneously evaluated by means of real-time ultrasonography. Gastric antral area and gallbladder volume were determined before the meal and 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 min after commencing eating. Erythromycin, compared to placebo, significantly accelerates and increases the degree of both gastric and gallbladder emptying. As previously reported for intravenous and chronic oral assumption, also a single dose of oral erythromycin is able to accelerate gastric and gallbladder emptying in normal human subjects.