Home › NDC Lookup › Ingredients › Erythromycin › 68071-4791-06
🧴image loading
(from DailyMed)

erythromycin 20 mg/mL Solution, 60 mL

by NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc. · 60 mL in 1 BOTTLE (68071-4791-6)
NDC 68071-4791-06
🏷️ FDA NDC (as labeled) 68071-4791-6 billing pads the package segment with a zero
Rx only Generic On market Non-controlled
🗂️ Data synced Jul 24, 2026 · sources: openFDA · FDA label (DailyMed) · FDA Orange & Purple Book · First Databank · CMS NADAC, ASP, Medicare & Medicaid · RxNorm
📋 All sources & update times →

This page is curated, coded, and maintained by

Compiled from public FDA, CMS, DailyMed, NADAC, and related drug data sources. Editorial policy

⚠️
Other active recalls for Erythromycin (different manufacturers) — 2 · tap to view
These affect other manufacturers’ products for the same ingredient — not necessarily the exact NDC on this page.
Class II · Apr 29, 2026 — CGMP Deviations; presence of N-Nitroso-Desmethyl-Erythromycin above the recommended acceptable intake limit (Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc) · FDA recall D-0545-2026
Class II · Apr 29, 2026 — CGMP Deviations; presence of N-Nitroso-Desmethyl-Erythromycin above the recommended acceptable intake limit (Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc) · FDA recall D-0544-2026
Each entry is an official FDA enforcement report — look up any recall number in the FDA recall database ↗

🆔 Identity & classification

FDA NDC (as labeled) 68071-4791-6
Product NDC 68071-4791
11-digit billing NDC 68071479106
RxCUI 318202
UNII 63937KV33D
UPC 0368071479164
Application # ANDA063038
SPL Set ID 8349b4ec-3ca6-bdb6-e053-2a91aa0a8b63
Established class (EPC) Macrolide; Macrolide Antimicrobial
Physiologic effect Decreased Sebaceous Gland Activity
Chemical class Macrolides
DEA schedule Non-controlled
Marketing category ANDA
Marketing status On market
FDA listing status Listed (active directory)
Marketing start 2011-12-19
Route TOPICAL
Dosage form SOLUTION
Substance ERYTHROMYCIN
TE code (Orange Book) AT · RLD · RS
Why two NDCs? The FDA registers this code as 68071-4791-6 — a 5-4-1 layout, and that's what's printed on the package and shown on DailyMed. For insurance claims, every NDC is standardized to a uniform 11-digit 5-4-2 format by adding a zero to the package segment → 68071-4791-06. Same drug, same package — only the format differs.
Where does this data come from?
Identifiers from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory and Structured Product Labeling; RxCUI from RxNorm (NLM); GPI from Medi-Span; GCN / HIC / AHFS / legend from First Databank.

🏷️ RxNorm drug class

This medicine belongs to the Macrolide class.

Pharmacologic class Macrolide, Macrolide Antimicrobial
Drug family (ATC) Antiinfectives for treatment of acne, Macrolides, Antibiotics
Where does this data come from?
Therapeutic classes from RxNorm RxClass (U.S. National Library of Medicine) — Established Pharmacologic Class (FDA), ATC drug family (WHO) and mechanism of action, matched by this product’s RxCUI.

🏭 Manufacturer & labeler

LabelerNuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc.
Application holderPADAGIS US LLC
FDA applicationANDA063038 (ANDA)
Labeler code68071
First marketedDec 2011
Product typeHuman Prescription Drug
Portfolio1,015 products on file
The labeler markets the product; the application holder owns the FDA approval. They’re often the same company but can differ (e.g. a repackager or an authorized generic). A mailing address / phone appears here when the manufacturer includes it in the product’s FDA label (not all do).
Where does this data come from?
Labeler, application holder and registered establishment from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory and Drugs@FDA; address/contact from the product’s FDA label.

🩺 Clinical

📗 Our plain-language guide HelloPharmacist
  • Erythromycin treats a pretty wide range of bacterial infections. That includes respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia, skin infections, whooping cough, Legionnaires'...
  • What kinds of infections does erythromycin treat?
  • It depends on the form you have. If you're taking ERY-TAB delayed-release tablets, they work best on an empty stomach — ideally about 2 hours before a meal, though taking them with...
  • Can I take this on an empty stomach, or do I need food?
📖 Read our full Erythromycin guide →
7
Nutrient depletion considerations

Erythromycin may be associated with lower levels of 7 nutrients — worth a chat with your pharmacist, not a cause for alarm.

🧪 Full Erythromycin nutrient depletion report →
An association is not a deficiency. Educational only — don't start or stop anything without professional guidance.
Where does this data come from?
Plain-language summary from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine); supplement & herbal interactions and nutrient depletion data from the Natural Medicines database; our full guide is HelloPharmacist editorial content.

🧪 Inactive Ingredients / Excipients

Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.

💡 Tap an ingredient (hover on desktop) to see what it is and why it’s used.

  • UNII 3K9958V90M
    A liquid solvent derived from fermentation or chemical synthesis. In medicines, alcohol dissolves active ingredients, helps preserve the product, and improves how the body absorbs certain drugs.
  • UNII 2968PHW8QP
    A weak organic acid derived from citrus fruits or made through fermentation. It works as a buffer to control pH, a preservative to extend shelf life, and a flavoring agent in medications.
  • UNII 6DC9Q167V3
    Propylene glycol is a clear liquid derived from petroleum or vegetable sources. It acts as a solvent, humectant, and preservative in medicines, helping dissolve active ingredients and maintain product stability.

3 inactive ingredients listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.

Where does this data come from?
Data sourced from official FDA Structured Product Labeling (SPL) via DailyMed — ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.

Inactive ingredient FAQ

Are inactive ingredients the same for every manufacturer?
No. Inactive ingredients can differ by manufacturer, dosage form, strength, and package / product version.
Why might an inactive ingredient be missing?
Some SPLs do not provide a complete structured inactive-ingredient list, and older or unusual labels may only include the information in narrative text.
Can inactive ingredients matter?
Yes. They can matter for allergies, intolerances, dyes, gluten / lactose concerns, preservatives, and formulation differences — but confirm with a pharmacist or the manufacturer when it’s clinically important.

💲 Pricing

A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.

Price systemPer mLPer package
Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly Not in the retail survey — common for institutional, discontinued, or low-volume packs.
Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo No recent Medicaid claims on file for this NDC — rare and low-volume NDCs are suppressed in the public data.
Medicare drug plans payPart D · Q2 2026 $0.4210 $25.26 / 60 ml
Where does this data come from?
NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) is the CMS weekly pharmacy-acquisition-cost survey — what pharmacies pay. ASP (Average Sales Price) is the CMS Medicare Part B drug-payment file, published quarterly. Medicaid pays is computed by us from CMS State Drug Utilization Data (total reimbursed ÷ units, trailing 12 months) — gross of rebates and inclusive of dispensing fees, so it reflects what Medicaid paid, not an acquisition cost. Medicare drug plans pay is the median negotiated point-of-sale unit cost across plans listing this NDC in the CMS quarterly Prescription Drug Plan pricing files, before rebates. The VA pays is the federal contract price (FSS, and the statutory Big 4 ceiling where listed) from the VA National Acquisition Center pharmaceutical price file. All are free public government data; each measures a different payer, so the figures are not directly comparable.

🔁 Therapeutic equivalents

ProductLabelerPackNADAC/unitTEStatusPrice vs. this
erythromycin 20 mg/mL 45802-0038-46 Padagis 1 bottle $0.348 AT Availability likely —
erythromycin topical solution 2% 20 mg/mL 71656-0030-60 Saptalis 1 bottle $0.348 AT Availability likely —
erythromycin 20 mg/mLthis 68071-4791-06 NuCare 60 ml — AT FDA listed —
erythromycin 20 mg/mL 72162-2075-06 Bryant 1 bottle — AT FDA listed —
About this product: this is a generic version of the medicine. FDA equivalence ratings are shown when available, and other versions are listed above, least expensive first.
Where does this data come from?
Equivalents are other NDCs of the same ingredient, form and route from the openFDA NDC Directory, ranked least-expensive-first by NADAC. Therapeutic-equivalence (AB) ratings come from the FDA Orange Book; biologics use the FDA Purple Book for biosimilar & interchangeable status.

⏳ Availability & generic status

🏛️
2011
On the market since
Dec 2011
📍
2026
Currently FDA-listed
15 years listed
🔓
·
Generic on the market
this product is a generic
✅This is a generic drug

This product is an FDA-approved generic. Other versions of the same drug are listed under Therapeutic equivalents, least expensive first.

Where does this data come from?
Patents and exclusivity from the FDA Orange Book (small-molecule drugs), refreshed from public FDA data. Generic launch timing is an estimate, not a guarantee.

📊 Medicare Part D spend CMS · PART D · 2026 (Q1)

Medicare Part D (outpatient prescription) spending for Erythromycin — the program that covers self-administered drugs. 12 manufacturers.
⚠️ Drug-level data: CMS publishes Part D spending by drug, not by NDC — these figures combine every manufacturer, strength and package size sold under the name Erythromycin. That’s a different level of aggregation than the Medicaid card above, which is specific to this exact 11-digit NDC (pack size included), so the two aren’t directly comparable.
Period
Total Part D spend
$6.84M
Claims incl. refills
399.1K
Beneficiaries
329.3K
Spend / beneficiary
$20.78
Spend / claim
$17.15
Trend by period
💵 About the dollar figures: spending is what Part D plans paid before confidential manufacturer rebates, so the program’s real net cost is lower. A blank patient count means fewer than 11 people — CMS hides counts that small to protect privacy. Source: CMS Medicare Quarterly Part D Spending by Drug (data.cms.gov), updated quarterly.

📦 Packaging — all sizes for this product

Package NDCDescription Marketing startStatus
68071-4791-06 You're viewing this 60 mL in 1 BOTTLE (68071-4791-6) 2019-03-04 Active

🧭 About this NDC listing & data coverage

Finished prescription product
What data is (and isn’t) available for this NDC — tap to expand
NDC identity (package / product / labeler codes) ✓ Available
Labeler ✓ Available
Product & package description ✓ Available
Marketing category & status ✓ Available
Active ingredient / dosage form / route ✓ Available
FDA label (SPL via DailyMed) ✓ Available
Package photos — Not published for this NDC No photo available yet for this listing.
Inactive ingredients (structured) ✓ Available
NADAC pharmacy acquisition price (CMS) — Not published for this NDC CMS publishes NADAC only for NDCs reported in its retail-pharmacy survey.
Orange Book / therapeutic-equivalence data ✓ Available
HCPCS J-code billing crosswalk — Not published for this NDC Most self-administered / retail products have no J-code — that is normal.
Medicaid utilization (CMS SDUD) — Not published for this NDC CMS reports utilization only for NDCs with Medicaid claims above its privacy threshold.
“Not published” reflects what the public FDA / CMS / NLM sources provide for this exact package code — it is a property of the data feeds, not a judgment about the product.

Questions about this listing

Why is there no price listed?
The pricing shown on our NDC pages comes from CMS NADAC, a voluntary survey of retail community pharmacy invoices. CMS does not publish a NADAC for every NDC — packages outside the retail survey (institutional and hospital products, bulk packages, discontinued items, and many OTC items) may never receive one. A missing price reflects the survey's scope, not this product's actual cost, and does not mean the product is free or unavailable.
Is the NDC printed on the package the same as the 11-digit billing NDC?
Yes, they identify this exact package in different formats. The FDA registers it as 68071-4791-6, which is what is printed on the packaging and shown on DailyMed. Insurance claims use a fixed 11-digit 5-4-2 format, so the short segment is padded with a leading zero: 68071-4791-06, written without dashes as 68071479106. The Identity section at the top of this page lists every form of this code.
What do the three segments of this NDC mean?
In 68071-4791-06, the first segment (68071) is the labeler code FDA assigned to NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc.; the middle segment (4791) identifies this specific product — its ingredient, strength, and dosage form; and the last segment (06) identifies this exact package size and type. Together they name one specific package of one specific product.
Is this package still being marketed?
Yes, per the latest FDA NDC Directory data on this page: this package is listed as actively marketed, with no marketing end date reported by NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc.. Listing status can change — the directory data on this page refreshes weekly.
Who lists this product with the FDA?
NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc. is the labeler of record for this NDC — the company under whose FDA-assigned code the package is listed. The labeler may be the manufacturer itself or a distributor marketing the product under its own code.
Do I need a prescription for this product?
This NDC is listed with FDA as a prescription product, so it is dispensed under a prescriber's order. Your pharmacist can tell you whether any over-the-counter forms of the same medication exist.
This page identifies an FDA-listed package (the NDC) and reports public regulatory and pricing data about the listing. It is reference information, not a medical recommendation — talk to your pharmacist or prescriber about your own medication.
Where does this data come from?
Listing facts (marketing category, packager status, marketing dates) from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory; label availability from DailyMed; pricing coverage from CMS NADAC; equivalence scope from the FDA Orange Book.

📄 Full prescribing information FDA SPL

The complete FDA label for this product — the official prescribing information, verbatim, section by section. Jump with a chip, search within the label, or expand everything.
🎯 Indications and Usage ⏱️ Dosage and Administration ⛔ Contraindications ⚠️ Warnings 🤒 Adverse Reactions 🤰 Pregnancy 🧒 Pediatric Use 🧬 Clinical Pharmacology 📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling 📦 Storage and Handling 📋 Description 💬 Information for Patients
🎯 Indications and Usage 17 words ▾

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Erythromycin Topical Solution USP, 2% is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris.

⏱️ Dosage and Administration 79 words ▾

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Erythromycin Topical Solution USP, 2% should be applied over the affected areas twice a day (morning and evening) after the skin is thoroughly washed with warm water and soap and patted dry. Acne lesions on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, and back may be treated in this manner. This medication should be applied with applicator top.

If fingertips are used, wash hands after application. Drying and peeling may be controlled by reducing the frequency of applications.

⛔ Contraindications 20 words ▾

CONTRAINDICATIONS Erythromycin Topical Solution USP, 2% is contraindicated in those individuals who have shown hypersensitivity to any of its components.

⚠️ Warnings 130 words ▾

WARNINGS Pseudomembranous colitis has been reported with nearly all antibacterial agents, including erythromycin, and may range in severity from mild to life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to consider this diagnosis in patients who present with diarrhea subsequent to the administration of antibacterial agents. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon and may permit overgrowth of clostridia.

Studies indicate that a toxin produced by Clostridium difficile is one primary cause of “antibiotic-associated colitis”. After the diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis has been established, therapeutic measures should be initiated. Mild cases of pseudomembranous colitis usually respond to drug discontinuation alone.

In moderate to severe cases, consideration should be given to management with fluids and electrolytes, protein supplementation and treatment with an antibacterial drug clinically effective against C. difficile colitis.

🤒 Adverse Reactions 53 words ▾

ADVERSE REACTIONS The following local adverse reactions have been reported occasionally: peeling, dryness, itching, erythema, and oiliness. Irritation of the eyes and tenderness of the skin have also been reported with topical use of erythromycin. Generalized urticarial reactions possibly related to the use of erythromycin, which required systemic steroid therapy have been reported.

🤰 Pregnancy 96 words ▾

Pregnancy: Teratogenic Effects: Pregnancy Category B - There was no evidence of teratogenicity or any other adverse effect on reproduction in female rats fed erythromycin base (up to 0.25% of diet) prior to and during mating, during gestation and through weaning of two successive litters. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used in pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Erythromycin has been reported to cross the placental barrier in humans, but fetal plasma levels are generally low.

🧒 Pediatric Use 16 words ▾

Pediatric Use - Safety and effectiveness of this product in pediatric patients have not been established.

🧬 Clinical Pharmacology 74 words ▾

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY The exact mechanism by which erythromycin reduces lesions of acne vulgaris is not fully known; however, the effect appears to be due in part to the antibacterial activity of the drug. Microbiology – Erythromycin acts by inhibition of protein synthesis in susceptible organisms by reversibly binding to 50S ribosomal subunits, thereby inhibiting translocation of aminoacyl transfer-RNA and inhibiting polypeptide synthesis. Antagonism has been demonstrated in vitro between erythromycin, lincomycin, chloramphenicol, and clindamycin.

📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling 2 words ▾

HOW SUPPLIED

📦 Storage and Handling 33 words ▾

Erythromycin Topical Solution USP, 2% is available as follows: 60 mL bottle with applicator (NDC 68071-4791-6) Store in a dry place at 20 to 25°C (68 to 77°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].

📋 Description 150 words ▾

DESCRIPTION Erythromycin Topical Solution USP, 2% contains erythromycin for topical dermatologic use. Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic produced from a strain of Saccaropolyspora erythraea (formerly Streptomyces erythreus ). It is a base and readily forms salts with acids.

Chemically, erythromycin is: (3 R *,4 S *,5 S *,6 R *,7 R *,9 R *,11 R *,12 R *,13 S *,14 R *)-4-[(2,6-Dideoxy-3- C -methyl-3- 0 -methyl-α-L- ribo -hexopyranosyl)oxy]-14-ethyl-7,12,13-trihydroxy -3,5,7,9,11,13-hexamethyl-6-[[3,4,6-trideoxy-3-(dimethylamino)-ß-D- xylo -hexopyranosyl]oxy]oxacyclotetradecane-2,10-dione. It has the following structural formula: Molecular Formula: C 37 H 67 NO 13 Molecular Weight: 733.94 Erythromycin is a white or slightly yellow crystalline powder that is slightly soluble in water, freely soluble in alcohols, acetone, chloroform, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, and moderately soluble in ether, ethylene dichloride and amyl acetate.

Each mL of Erythromycin Topical Solution USP, 2% contains 20 mg of erythromycin base in a vehicle consisting of alcohol (66%), citric acid, and propylene glycol. Structural Formula

💬 Information for Patients 90 words ▾

Information for Patients - Patients using Erythromycin Topical Solution USP, 2% should receive the following information and instructions: This medication is to be used as directed by the physician. It is for external use only. Avoid contact with the eyes, nose, mouth, and all mucous membranes.

This medication should not be used for any disorder other than that for which it was prescribed. Patients should not use any other topical acne medication unless otherwise directed by their physician. Patients should report to their physician any signs of local adverse reactions.

Source: FDA Structured Product Labeling, mirrored from DailyMed / openFDA. Prefer the government’s original formatting? View this label on DailyMed ↗
← 68071-4789-02 · NuCare 68071-4795-03 · NuCare →
For educational and professional reference only — not medical advice. Pricing reflects published NADAC and CMS ASP (free public data) and may differ from your acquisition cost; always verify before billing or dispensing.