Azithromycin
About
Azithromycin 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.
Azithromycin slows the growth or sometimes kills the harmful bacteria by preventing the production of proteins required by the bacteria for its survival. Azithromycin does not treat a viral infection like flu or a common cold.
Azithromycin 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. Azithromycin 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 Azithromycin 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 Azithromycin harms the baby or passes into breast milk in pregnancy and breastfeeding state. Contacting a doctor before using Azithromycin during pregnancy and while breastfeeding is better. Avoid too much exposure to sunlight as Azithromycin 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.
Uses of Azithromycin
Medicinal Benefits
Azithromycin 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 Azithromycin 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).
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Azithromycin
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
- Stomach cramps
- Loss of appetite
- Bloating
- Indigestion
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
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 Azithromycin can cause diarrhoea, so if you have watery or bloody diarrhoea, stop taking Azithromycin and call your doctor. However, do not take any anti-diarrheal medicine until your doctor tells you. It is unknown whether Azithromycin harms the baby during pregnancy. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant, planning for pregnancy or breastfeeding before using Azithromycin. Do not take Azithromycin 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). Azithromycin 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.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Azithromycin have interactions with anti-nausea pills (domperidone), mental health pills (pimozide, amisulpride), anti-migraine medicines (ergotamine, dihydroergotamine), anti-cholesterol pills (simvastatin), bladder weakness medicine (tolterodine) and anti-gout/arthritis medicine (colchicine). Taking these drugs with Azithromycin may cause serious side effects.
Drug-Food Interactions: No relevant drug-food interaction found with Azithromycin. As a precautionary measure, the consumption of alcoholic beverages should be avoided as it may lead to drowsiness and dizziness.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Azithromycin should not be given to people with liver problems, muscle problem (myasthenia gravis), heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia), electrolyte imbalance (low potassium or magnesium level) and colitis (inflammation of the intestine).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
safe if prescribedAzithromycin should not be taken until prescribed if you are taking alcohol. Keep your doctor informed if you drink alcohol.
Pregnancy
unsafeThere is insufficient information available about the use of Azithromycin during pregnancy. Therefore you should not use Azithromycin during pregnancy unless explicitly advised by your doctor.
Breast Feeding
unsafeAzithromycin is partially passed through the mother’s milk, therefore it should not be used if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
safe if prescribedThere are no data available about the influence of Azithromycin on the ability to drive or operate machines. However, Azithromycin may cause dizziness and seizures so make sure you are not affected before driving or operating machinery.
Liver
cautionYou should tell your doctor if you have liver problems as your doctor may need to alter the normal dose.
Kidney
cautionYou should tell your doctor if you have kidney problems as your doctor may need to alter the normal dose.
Children
cautionSafety and effectiveness in the treatment of patients under 6 months of age have not been established. So, it is not recommended for children less than 6 months of age. However, if the doctor has prescribed for the children more than 6 months Azithromycin can be used.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- It would be best to take probiotics after taking the full course of Azithromycin 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 Azithromycin.
- Avoid intake of alcoholic beverages with Azithromycin as it can make you dehydrated and affect your sleep. This can make it harder for your body to aid the Azithromycin in fighting off infections.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
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.
FAQs
Do not take antacids that contain aluminium or magnesium hydroxide within 2 hours before or after you take Azithromycin. These antacids can interact with Azithromycin and make them less effective when taken at the same time.
Never stop the treatment with Azithromycin on your own as the infection may come back again (relapse) if the prescribed treatment is not completely taken. Before stopping Azithromycin once discuss this with your doctor.
If you forget to take Azithromycin, take your dose as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the next dose, just skip that dose and take the next one when it is due. If in doubt, please contact your doctor. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose
Azithromycin contains lactose monohydrate so if you have intolerance towards sugars, consult your doctor before starting Azithromycin.
Azithromycin can cause diarrhoea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhoea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhoea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
You should avoid taking Azithromycin if you have colitis (intestine inflammation), heart rhythm disorder, liver disease (like jaundice), and muscle problem (like myasthenia gravis). Contact your doctor if you have these conditions before taking Azithromycin.
No, it is a Schedule H drug that can be taken only if your doctor has prescribed it. Taking it on your own or self-medication can cause unwanted side-effects and lead to antibiotic resistance thereby lowering its efficiency.
Yes in some cases, people using Azithromycin may get a fungal skin infection known as thrush. It happens because Azithromycin also kills harmless bacteria that protects against thrush.
Clinical evidence suggests that Azithromycin does not affect the working of any oral birth control pills and contraceptives devices.
