Description

Drug Information

Azithromycin as an azalide macrolid antibiotic works very well in treating a wide variety of bacterial infections. Being a derivative of erythromycin, it works very well against numerous kinds of bacteria such as Haemophilus influenza, Escherichia coli, Eikenella corrodens, and Chlamydia pneumonia among others. Therefore it works very well for treating bacterial infections such as infections of the urinary tract, ears, respiratory tract, skin, as well as bacterial infections which are sexually transmitted.

Bear in mind, antibiotics for cervicitis, tonsillitis, urethritis etc. work on bacteria but not on viruses so they will not be potent in treating viral infections like flu or cold.

The basic premise of the medication

The basic premise of the drug is that it is a bacteriostatic antibiotic.

The way it works

As a bacteriostatic antibiotic, it works by preventing bacteria from multiplying, which are otherwise known to grow incrementally with the help of cell division. In other words, it prevents bacterial reproduction. Scientifically, it can be said that Azithromycin attaches with 50 S ribosomal unit of protein and does not allow mRNA to be translated.

Situations in which to avoid the medication

There are many situations in which the medication is best avoided:

Arrhythmia
Myasthenia Gravis
Allergy to the active ingredients in Azithromycin
In case of jaundice or other diseases of the liver
Heart conditions
While pregnant, planning to be pregnant, or already breast feeding

Dosage

Your doctor will determine dosage based on a whole host of factors such as age, weight and medical condition, apart from the actual affliction that you have.

Remember that dosage varies considerably from patient to patient and you are to take the exact dosage that has been prescribed to you.

Strengths

Strengths include:

Azee DT 100 mg
Azee 250 mg
Azee 500 mg
Azee 1000 mg

You will find all of these available on our website.

Manufacturer

Azithromycin is made by reputed pharmaceutical company Cipla, which offers it in various pack sizes, all of which are available with us on our website.

Ingestion

Azithromycin is to be ingested with a full glass of water, in line with the exact instructions as received from your doctor. Swallow the medicine with the water, without crushing or chewing it.

Timing

Your doctor will advise you on when to take as well as the manner in which to do so. Never take more than what has been prescribed to you, since dosages vary from patient to patient.

Duration

Again, your doctor will advise you on the duration and do not stop before your doctor tells you to do so.

Overdose

In case you know you have overdosed, stop taking the medication, contact your doctor and seek medical help immediately.

Missing your Dose

If you take your medication at the same time each day, there is much less chance that you will miss a dose. Speak with your doctor about the subsequent course of action if you have missed your dose; do not double dose or overdose to compensate for the dose(s) that you have missed.

Side Effects

Side effects vary from person to person; most show no side effects, while some may show only one or a few. Yet, it is good to know about all the possible side effects.

More common and mild ones include:

Diarrhea
Heightened sensitivity to sunlight
Nausea
Itching
Headache
Hoarseness
Sores in the mouth
Immense fatigue
Abdominal pain
Peeling or blistering of the skin
Mild discomfort and pain in the stomach
Vaginal discharge or itching

More serious side effects include:

Bloody or watery diarrhea
Pain in the chest
Fainting or dizziness
Skin rashes which are purple or red, often accompanied by blisters and skin peeling
Jaundice
Swelling of the face, especially the tongue and throat

Drug Interactions

There are many drugs which could possibly interact with Azithromycin such as:

Amiodarone
Afatinib
Argatroban
Antithrombin-alfa
Arsenic trioxide
Bivalirudin
BCG vaccine live
Coumadin
Chloroquine
Disopyramide
Escitalopram
Pimozide
Halofantrine
Citalopram
Sotalol
Warfarin
Amiodarone
Methadone
Procainamide
Flecainide
Quinidine
Nelfinavir
Haloperidol

Given that there are so many medications that could intervene with Azithromycin, it is always better to check with your doctor and discuss any and every medication that you might be taking at the moment.

Precautions

Take your medication entirely in line with your prescription
Never use expired medication
Consult your doctor about how you are to dispose the drug, say an expired one
Store at room temperature, away from direct heat or moisture
Do not take antacids such as magnesium or aluminum with it since that may reduce the potency of the medication
Your medicine is for you and you only; it is not to be shared with anyone else, even if the same symptoms are seen

The medicine can cause diarrhea; if you experience it, consult your doctor.