Azithromycin (Zithromax) is an antibody that can help treat sure bacterial infections. It is mostly rubber to apply while breastfeeding, only people with existing heart weather should avoid this drug.

Azithromycin is an antibody in the macrolides grade. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved azithromycin in 1991.

Like all antibiotics, azithromycin can merely fight certain bacteria. For this reason, it is important to talk to a doctor earlier taking the drug. It is not effective against viral infections or as a pain reliever.

This article provides an overview of azithromycin, including its uses, side effects, warnings, and drug interactions.

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A physician may prescribe azithromycin for a sinus infection, COPD complications, or tonsillitis, for case.

Azithromycin can fight a wide range of leaner, including many in the Streptococcus family. It tin can cease harmful bacteria from growing.

Healthcare providers tend to utilise this drug to care for balmy-to-moderate infections of the lungs, sinuses, skin, and other body parts.

A md may prescribe azithromycin to care for the following bacterial infections:

  • sinus infections related to Moraxella catarrhalis or Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • community-caused pneumonia related to Chlamydia pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, or S. pneumoniae
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complications related to M. catarrhalis or Southward. pneumoniae
  • some pare infections related to Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, or Streptococcus agalactiae
  • tonsillitis related to Due south. pyogenes
  • urethritis and cervicitis related to Chlamydia trachomatis
  • chancroid genital ulcers (in males) related to Haemophilus ducreyi
  • certain ear infections in children aged 6 months and over, such as those related to One thousand. catarrhalis

Azithromycin is a prescription medication. Therefore, people should non accept it without a prescription.

The drug is bachelor in the form of a tablet, an oral suspension solution, an center drop, and an injection. The best type and dosage depends on the infection a person has.

People tin can take the drug with or without food. They should thoroughly shake the liquid form earlier use.

Some examples of common dosages include:

Infection Dosage
community-acquired pneumonia
tonsillitis
skin infections
an initial dose of 500 milligrams (mg) followed by 250 mg once daily until twenty-four hour period 5
balmy-to-moderate bacterial COPD exacerbations 500 mg per twenty-four hour period for 3 days
OR
an initial dose of 500 mg followed past 250 mg in one case daily until 24-hour interval five
sinus infections 500 mg per day for iii days
chancroid genital ulcers a single dose of 1 gram (g)
urethritis
cervicitis
a single dose of 1 g
gonococcal urethritis
cervicitis
a single dose of ii one thousand

Using antibiotics incorrectly can lead to the development of drug-resistant strains of bacteria, meaning that antibiotics no longer work against them. This is chosen antibiotic resistance.

When taking azithromycin or any other antibiotic, people should heed the post-obit precautions:

  • Take the unabridged course of antibiotics the doctor recommends, even when starting to feel better.
  • Do non take antibiotics without a prescription. Not all antibiotics can treat all bacteria.
  • Do non share antibiotics.
  • Do not take antibiotics on a different dosing schedule than the one a doctor prescribes.
  • Immediately call a doctor if side effects develop.
  • Go to the emergency room for symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing.

Learn more than about antibody resistance hither.

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Side effects of azithromycin may include nausea and vomiting.

Like all drugs, azithromycin can have certain side effects. These are usually minor. In clinical trials, only 0.vii% of people stopped taking Zithromax considering of its side effects.

Most of the side effects that led people to terminate taking the drug were gastrointestinal, such as:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • pain in the abdomen

Less common side effects, occurring in up to 1% of cases, include:

  • heart palpitations or chest pain
  • acid reflux
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • fatigue
  • vaginitis
  • a rash
  • dry skin
  • sun sensitivity

Serious side effects are rare but can include:

  • liver damage, especially in people with a history of liver health problems
  • heart rhythm changes, which are more probable in people who take heart rhythm medications, older people, and those with low blood potassium
  • serious allergic reactions

People who have myasthenia gravis, a condition that causes muscle weakness, may develop worsening symptoms or breathing bug.

People with a history of allergic reactions to macrolides or ketolides should not have azithromycin.

Doctors should non prescribe this drug to treat pneumonia if a person:

  • has cystic fibrosis
  • has a hospital-acquired infection
  • has bacteremia
  • requires a stay in the hospital
  • is older or debilitated
  • has a meaning underlying wellness problem, such as immune system bug

People should not rely on azithromycin to treat syphilis.

A person should speak to a doctor about any existing heart, kidney, and liver weather condition before taking azithromycin, including an irregular heartbeat and especially QT prolongation.

What does the research say?

A big 2012 cohort study institute a small increase in the risk of cardiovascular death amid people taking azithromycin. The risk was college amidst those with other risk factors for middle illness, such as smoking, low physical activeness levels, and a high body mass index (BMI).

The report reported that when compared with amoxicillin, there were 47 additional cardiovascular deaths per 1 million azithromycin prescriptions. Amidst people with the highest take chances of heart disease, there were 245 more deaths per 1 million courses of azithromycin.

This suggests that other antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, may be a safer selection for people with middle illness or certain types of heart arrythmias.

In 2018, the FDA issued a alert nigh the long term use of azithromycin in people with sure claret or lymph node cancers who have stem cell transplants. Emerging research has suggested that azithromycin may increase the take chances of cancer relapse in these people.

Post-obit a stem cell transplant, some people take azithromycin to reduce the risk of an inflammatory lung condition called bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. The FDA have non canonical azithromycin for this use, nonetheless.

Rarely, azithromycin can cause liver toxicity. People should stop taking the drug and call their doctor if they develop any symptoms of liver problems, including dark urine, itching, or xanthous eyes.

In newborns younger than 42 days old, azithromycin may cause a dangerous status called infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Caregivers should contact a doctor if a infant becomes irritable or vomits when eating.

Azithromycin may interact with other medications a person is taking.

For case, using azithromycin while taking nelfinavir, which is a drug that helps care for HIV, can increase the risk of liver abnormalities and hearing problems.

Azithromycin can also increase the effects of blood thinners such as warfarin.

Other drugs that may interact with azithromycin include:

  • digoxin, a heart medication
  • colchicine, a gout medication
  • phenytoin, a seizure medication
  • antacids that incorporate magnesium or aluminum

A person should tell a doctor almost all electric current medications, supplements, and remedies before taking azithromycin. Ever speak to a dr. earlier stopping taking medications.

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A person may accept azithromycin while breastfeeding but should discuss information technology with a healthcare professional first.

Azithromycin may be rubber to use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Studies of animals who received very large doses of azithromycin did not discover an increased risk of miscarriage or birth defects.

Even so, there have been no high quality studies in pregnant humans, so the drug label currently states that "azithromycin should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed."

Azithromycin tin can transfer into breast milk and may remain present for 48 hours following a person's final dose. Although it is generally condom to apply when breastfeeding, azithromycin may cause diarrhea, vomiting, or a rash in some babies.

A person should tell a medico if they are pregnant, might be pregnant, or are breastfeeding before taking azithromycin. If a nursing infant develops side effects while the parent is taking azithromycin, phone call a doctor for advice.

The brand name version of azithromycin (Zithromax) is typically more expensive than the generic version.

However, the cost may vary depending on the chemist's, a person's insurance coverage and deductibles, and their geographic location.

Azithromycin treats many of the same infections that drugs such as penicillin and amoxicillin can treat.

A doc may prescribe azithromycin as an alternative to other antibiotics because it typically requires a shorter class. It is also a good choice for people with a history of allergies to other medications, or when other antibiotics practise not piece of work.

Because the adventure of heart wellness problems is higher with azithromycin than with some other antibiotics, people with heart disease or arrhythmias should ask their doctor about trying a different antibiotic.

Azithromycin is an antibody that tin can treat many types of bacterial infection. Information technology can likewise prevent these infections from getting worse or spreading.

Like all antibiotics, information technology presents some risks, so it is important to only take it under the guidance of a medical professional.