DENTAL ANXIETY AND THE ABSORPTION OF ORALLY-ADMINISTERED ERYTHROMYCINSTEARATE

Erythromycin stearate is an acid labile antibiotic, therefore fear and apprehension, which are known to affect gastric motility, may produce erratic absorption resulting in lower serum levels. The mean (SD) ser um erythromycin concentration 75 minutes after a 1.5 gm oral dose of e rythromycin stearate to 45 patients was 8.7 (4.8) mg/L and ranged wide ly from 0.4 to 20.5 mg/L. The serum concentration of erythromycin was below therapeutic levels (1.0 mg/L) in two patients. No significant as sociation was found between anxiety and serum levels of erythromycin w hen age, gender, and gastric distress were taken into account. It is c oncluded that dental anxiety may indirectly influence the uptake of or al erythromycin stearate; but this relationship is complex, and there is no evidence from this study that increased dental anxiety decreases the uptake of the drug.