Medicine Baby Test | Can’t erythromycin and hawthorn be taken together?

Erythromycin is an alkaline antibiotic produced by streptococci and belongs to the macrolide class of drugs. It is mainly used as an alternative drug for the treatment of infections in patients who are allergic to penicillin. Erythromycin has enhanced antibacterial ability in alkaline environments, but dissociates under acidic conditions and its antibacterial ability is weakened.

Hawthorn contains a variety of vitamins and organic acids such as hawthorn acid and citric acid. If taken together with erythromycin, the latter will be in a strong acidic environment, its chemical structure will be destroyed, and it will not be easily absorbed through the small intestinal wall, thus weakening the antibacterial effect or even losing its effectiveness. Therefore, erythromycin cannot be taken together with acidic drugs such as vitamin C and aspirin, nor with acidic foods such as juice and yogurt.