“Biliary Colic” and Ilosone

The occurrence in one institution of five untoward reactions to erythromycin estolate (Ilosone) in a nine-month period suggests that hypersensitivity to this drug may be commoner than has been supposed. We would particularly emphasize that abdominal pain, perhaps without jaundice, may be the overriding symptom. Ilosone hypersensitivity should always be considered in patients with “biliary colic” who have a radiologically normal biliary tree.