Azikem 500 mg Tablet belongs to a group of medicines known as macrolide antibiotics. It is used to treat various respiratory system bacterial infections (like pneumonia, bronchitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis and sinusitis), skin infections (like acne and rosacea), ear infections, and sexually transmitted infections. A bacterial infection is a condition in which bacteria grow in the body and cause infection. It can target any body part and multiple very quickly.

Azikem 500 mg Tablet slows the growth or sometimes kills the harmful bacteria by preventing the production of proteins required by the bacteria for its survival. Azikem 500 mg Tablet does not treat a viral infection like flu or a common cold.

Azikem 500 mg Tablet should only be taken if advised by your doctor. It can be taken with or without food but should be consumed at a fixed time for the best results. Azikem 500 mg Tablet should not be consumed more than the recommended dose, to avoid unpleasant side effects. And also, the course should be completed even if you feel better as it is an antibiotic. Some common side effects of Azikem 500 mg Tablet are diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. An allergic reaction such as rashes, itching, swelling, and shortness of breath can occur in rare cases. Please consult your doctor if an allergic reaction becomes severe.

Tell your doctor if you have liver problems, muscle problems (myasthenia gravis), heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia), or electrolyte imbalance (low potassium or magnesium level). You should consult a doctor if you have had diarrhoea for more than four days. However, do not take any anti-diarrheal medicine until your doctor tells you. It is unknown whether Azikem 500 mg Tablet harms the baby or passes into breast milk in pregnancy and breastfeeding state. Contacting a doctor before using Azikem 500 mg Tablet during pregnancy and while breastfeeding is better. Avoid too much exposure to sunlight as Azikem 500 mg Tablet can make your skin sensitive to sunburn. In this case, it is advisable to wear protective clothing or apply sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

Azikem 500 mg Tablet slows the growth or sometimes kills the harmful bacteria by preventing the production of proteins required by the bacteria for its survival. It prevents and treats bacterial infections like throat and sinus infections, chest infections (like bronchitis and pneumonia), ear infections, mouth and dental infections, eye infections, skin and tissue infections (like acne), and stomach and intestinal infections. It is better tolerated and has more effective tissue penetration than other similar antibiotics like erythromycin. Doctors prescribe Azikem 500 mg Tablet for people who are intolerant to penicillin antibiotics. Besides this, it also helps prevent infection following burns, surgery or dental procedure, sexually transmitted infections, bone infections or scarlet fever (bacterial illness with strep throat).

Tell your doctor if you have liver problems (jaundice), muscle problems (myasthenia gravis), heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia), or electrolyte imbalance (low potassium or magnesium level). In rare cases, the use of Azikem 500 mg Tablet can cause diarrhoea, so if you have watery or bloody diarrhoea, stop taking Azikem 500 mg Tablet and call your doctor. However, do not take any anti-diarrheal medicine until your doctor tells you. It is unknown whether Azikem 500 mg Tablet harms the baby during pregnancy. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant, planning for pregnancy or breastfeeding before using Azikem 500 mg Tablet. Do not take Azikem 500 mg Tablet if allergic to azithromycin or other macrolide antibiotics. Inform the doctor if you are using cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins like simvastatin, lovastatin etc.), anti-gout or anti-arthritis drugs (colchicine) and medicine for treating overactive bladder (tolterodine). Azikem 500 mg Tablet is not recommended for the patients with pneumonia who are judged to be inappropriate for oral therapy due to moderate to severe illness or risk factors.

• It would be best to take probiotics after taking the full course of Azikem 500 mg Tablet to restore some healthy bacteria in the intestine that may have been killed. Taking probiotics after antibiotic treatment can reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Certain fermented foods like yoghurt, cheese, sauerkraut and kimchi can help restore the intestine's good bacteria.
• Include more fibre-enriched food in your diet, as it can be easily digested by gut bacteria which helps stimulate their growth. Thus fibre foods may help restore healthy gut bacteria after taking a course of antibiotics. Whole grains like whole-grain bread, and brown rice, should be included in your diet.
• Avoid taking too much calcium enriched foods and drinks as it might affect the working of Azikem 500 mg Tablet.
• Avoid intake of alcoholic beverages with Azikem 500 mg Tablet as it can make you dehydrated and affect your sleep. This can make it harder for your body to aid the Azikem 500 mg Tablet in fighting off infections.

Bacterial infection: A bacterial infection is a condition in which harmful bacteria enter, multiply, and infect our body. It can target any body part and multiple very quickly. When you get infected with bacteria, you can experience generalized symptoms like fevers, chills, and fatigue. Bacteria are of various forms comprising commonly spherical, rod, and spiral-shaped. Bacterial infections vary from minor illnesses like sore throat and ear infections to severe brain infections like meningitis and encephalitis. Few harmful bacteria that cause infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli. Anyone can become infected with a bacterial infection. But, people with weak immune systems or taking immunosuppressive medicine can make you more prone to bacterial infection.