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If youre wondering whether you need azithromycin, it may be time to talk to a doctor. Did you know you can get affordable primary care with the K Health app? to check your symptoms, explore conditions and treatments, and if needed, text with a doctor in minutes. K Healths AI-powered app is HIPAA compliant and based on 20 years of clinical data.
How To Take It
Azithromycin is a prescription medication. Therefore, people should not take it without a prescription.
The drug is available in the form of a tablet, an oral suspension solution, an eye drop, and an injection. The best type and dosage depends on the infection a person has.
People can take the drug with or without food. They should thoroughly shake the liquid form before use.
Some examples of common dosages include:
| Infection |
- has a significant underlying health problem, such as immune system problems
People should not rely on azithromycin to treat syphilis.
A person should speak to a doctor about any existing heart, kidney, and liver conditions before taking azithromycin, including an irregular heartbeat and especially QT prolongation.
What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Azithromycin
You should not use azithromycin if you are allergic to it, or if you have ever had:
- jaundice or liver problems caused by taking azithromycin or
- a severe allergic reaction to similar drugs such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, or telithromycin.
Azithromycin oral should not be used to treat pneumonia in people who have:
- cystic fibrosis
- an infection after being in a hospital
- an infection in the blood
- a weak immune system or
- in older adults and those who are ill or debilitated.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- pneumonia
- low levels of potassium in your blood
- a heart rhythm disorder or
- long QT syndrome .
It is not known whether this medicine is effective in treating genital ulcers in women.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Taking azithromycin while breastfeeding may cause diarrhea, vomiting, or rash in the nursing baby.
Azithromycin is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 months old. Azithromycin should not be used to treat a throat or tonsil infection in a child younger than 2 years old.
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When To See A Doctor
See your doctor or healthcare provider if you feel unwell and think it might be a bacterial infection.
They will decide on what antibiotic to prescribe based on your test results.
Remember, you cannot purchase azithromycin over the counter, so you will need a doctors prescription to get one.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe side effects or allergic reactions.
If you do not feel any better after using your medication for the prescribed duration, speak with your doctor or health provider.
Do not discontinue the medicine without your doctors approval.
Is There Anything Else I Need To Know About This Medicine
- Azithromycin is a type of antibiotic called a macrolide. Your child should not have Azithromycin if they are allergic to any macrolide antibiotics .
- If your child has ever had an allergic reaction or any other type of reaction to a medicine, tell your doctor before giving Azithromycin.
- Azithromycin tablets and liquid can be taken with or without food but the capsules should be taken an hour before food or two hours after food.
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What Is The Dosage For Amoxicillin And Azithromycin
Amoxicillin
- For most infections in adults the dose of amoxicillin is 250 mg every 8 hours, 500 mg every 8 hours, 500 mg every 12 hours or 875 mg every 12 hours, depending on the type and severity of infection.
- For the treatment of adults with gonorrhea, the dose is 3 g given as one dose.
- For most infections, children older than 3 months but less than 40 kg are treated with 25 or 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours or 20 or 40 mg/kg/day with one-third of the daily dose given every 8 hours depending on the type and severity of the infection.
- Amoxicillin can be taken with or without food.
Azithromycin
- Azithromycin can be taken with or without food, but food reduces stomach upset.
- Zmax should be taken on an empty stomach 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal since food reduces its absorption.
- The adult azithromycin dose is 500-2000 mg in multiple or single doses.
- For most infections, azithromycin is taken once daily for a relatively short course of treatment .
- The first dose is often a “double dose,” twice as much as the remainder of the doses given.
- For acute bacterial sinusitis, azithromycin way be taken once daily for three days.
- Zmax usually is given as a single 2 gm dose.
How Your Doctor Chooses
Your doctor will select the right antibiotic for you based on multiple factors, including:
- Your age: People 65 and older have a greater risk of serious complications from pneumonia infections.
- Your health history: A history of smoking, lung diseases, or other conditions may influence a person’s ability to fight off infections.
- The exact infection you have: Your doctor may take a sample and test it for bacteria. They can then pick an antibiotic based on your specific infection.
- Your previous experiences with antibiotics: Make sure to tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medications, had bad reactions to antibiotics in the past, or have developed an antibacterial-resistant infection.
- The antibiotic sensitivity of the bacteria: The lab will test the bacteria causing your pneumonia to determine which antibiotics it is sensitive or resistant to.
Doctors typically choose your antibiotics prescription based on what medicines they think will be most effective and cause the fewest side effects.
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Many Methods Of Intradermal Hyposensitization With Insulin Have Been Proposed Largely Differing In The Rate Of Increasing The Intradermal Dose Of Insulin
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The rate of hyposensitization in the case of severe allergic reactions of the immediate type is determined primarily by the body’s response to an increase in the dose of insulin.
- Sometimes it is suggested to start with very high, almost homeopathic, dilutions .
- Desensitization techniques used today in the treatment of allergy to human insulin preparations and human insulin analogs have been described for a long time, including in my doctoral dissertation, which presents the results of my treatment of about 50 cases of a severe allergic reaction of an immediate type to all insulin preparations produced at that time.
- Treatment is extremely burdensome for both the patient and the doctor, sometimes dragging on for several months.
In the world practice of insulin therapy, four such cases are described, in two of which insulin therapy was carried out despite allergy, and the patients managed to wake up from a coma, and they did not develop an anaphylactic reaction, despite intravenous insulin administration. In two other cases, when doctors refrained from timely administration of insulin, the patients died from a diabetic coma.
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Where Should I Keep This Medicine
- Keep the medicine in a cupboard, away from heat and direct sunlight.
- You may need to keep liquid medicine in the fridge check the instructions on the bottle. Make sure the medicine does not freeze.
- Make sure that children cannot see or reach the medicine.
- Keep the medicine in the container it came in.
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What Drugs And Food Should I Avoid While Taking Azithromycin
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor before using anti-diarrhea medicine.
Azithromycin could make you sunburn more easily. Avoid sunlight or tanning beds. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen when you are outdoors.
Azithromycin May Interact With Other Medications
Azithromycin oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.
To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs youre taking. If you have questions about whether a drug youre taking might interact with azithromycin, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with azithromycin are listed below.
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For Pharyngitis Or Tonsillitis
Adult dosage
Your doctor may prescribe 500 mg in a single dose on day 1, followed by 250 mg once per day on days 2 through 5.
Child dosage
The typical dosage is 12 mg/kg of body weight once per day for 5 days.
Child dosage
This drug should not be used for this condition in children who are younger than 2 years.
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you.
Azithromycin May Cause Side Effects Tell Your Doctor If Any Of These Symptoms Are Severe Or Do Not Go Away:
- nausea
- unusual muscle weakness or difficulty with muscle control
- pink and swollen eyes
Azithromycin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone .
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More Common Side Effects
The more common side effects of azithromycin oral tablet can include:
- diarrhea
- nausea
- reduced appetite
- irritability with feeding
- lack of weight gain
If you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor or local poison control center right away. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Dont take this drug again if youve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could cause death.
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history.
Azithromycin Vs Amoxicillin: Differences Similarities And Which Is Better For You
Drug overview & main differences | Conditions treated | Efficacy | Insurance coverage and cost comparison | Side effects | Drug interactions | Warnings | FAQ
If you have ever suffered from a bacterial sinus infection or a variety of other types of bacterial infections, chances are you have taken an antibiotic. Azithromycin and amoxicillin are two of the most common antibiotics used in the treatment of bacterial infections. Antibiotics are used in the treatment of bacterial infections, and will not work for viral infections such as the flu or common cold.
Azithromycin is also known by its brand name Zithromax . It is classified in a group of medications called macrolide antibiotics. Azithromycin works by binding to the bacteria and preventing the bacteria from producing proteins that it needs to survive. Azithromycin is commonly used to treat bacterial infections like sinus infections, pneumonia, and certain sexually transmitted diseases, to name a few.
Amoxicillin is known by its brand name of Amoxil, and it is classified in a group of medications called penicillin antibiotics. Amoxicillin works by preventing bacteria from forming cell walls, which kills the bacteria. Amoxicillin is commonly used to treat bacterial infections such as ear infections, pneumonia, and throat infections, among others.
Although both medications are antibiotics, they have many differences. Continue reading to learn more about azithromycin and amoxicillin.
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Uses Of Clarithromycin And Azithromycin
Update: Azithromycin and Childhood Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa
Azithromycin administered for 5 days or clarithromycin for 7 to 10 days for the treatment of acute otitis media in children has been effective,245,246 but use is limited due to increasing macrolide resistance amongstS. pneumoniae isolates, and cases of meningitis have been reported during oral therapy.247
Ahmed H.H. Bakheit, … Ahmed A. Abd-Elgalil, in, 2014
Can Other Medicines Be Given At The Same Time As Azithromycin
- You can give your child medicines that contain paracetamol or ibuprofen, unless your doctor has told you not to.
- Azithromycin should not be taken with some medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any other medicines your child is taking before giving Azithromycin.
- Check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving any other medicines to your child. This includes herbal and complementary medicines.
- If your child takes medicines for indigestion , give these at a different time of day from Azithromycin. Leave a gap of at least 2 hours between giving Azithromycin and the indigestion medicines.
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How To Use Azithromycin Oral
Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking azithromycin and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually once daily with or without food. You may take this medication with food if stomach upset occurs. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.
For the best effect, take this antibiotic at evenly spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time every day.
Continue to take this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may allow bacteria to continue to grow, which may result in a return of the infection.
Antacids containing aluminum or magnesium may decrease the absorption of azithromycin if taken at the same time. If you take an antacid that contains aluminum or magnesium, wait at least 2 hours before or after taking azithromycin.
Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.
What Drugs Interact With Amoxicillin And Azithromycin
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is rarely associated with important drug interactions.
Azithromycin
Azithromycin should not be taken at the same time as aluminum- or magnesium-based antacids, such as Mylanta or Maalox, because antacids will bind the azithromycin and prevent it from being absorbed from the intestine.
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What Is The Dosage For Azithromycin
- Azithromycin can be taken with or without food, but food reduces stomach upset.
- Zmax should be taken on an empty stomach 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal since food reduces its absorption.
- The adult azithromycin dose is 500-2000 mg in multiple or single doses.
- For most infections, azithromycin is taken once daily for a relatively short course of treatment .
- The first dose is often a “double dose,” twice as much as the remainder of the doses given.
- For acute bacterial sinusitis, azithromycin way is taken once daily for three days.
- Zmax usually is given as a single 2 gm dose.
When Is Azithromycin Preferable To Other Macrolides
While there is no clear advantage of azithromycin over other macrolides for most respiratory infections, its pharmacokinetic properties make it useful for treatment of sexually transmitted infections .9 In addition, its high intracellular concentrations and high potency in vitro are proffered as reasons for use against enteric pathogens such as Salmonella species . Azithromycins once-daily dosing for the prevention and treatment of M. avium complex and its lack of interactions via cytochrome P450 may make it preferable to clarithromycin in some circumstances.
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Side Effects Of Azithromycin
- Rash
- Headache
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience any side effects.
Azithromycin may be prescribed with caution if you have liver problems since it is eliminated by the liver.
Azithromycin is also known to worsen symptoms of myasthenia gravis or, in some cases, cause new symptoms.
If you have a history of torsades de pointes, QT interval prolongation, or bradyarrhythmia, tell your doctor.
Azithromycin can cause or worsen QT prolongation.
What Are Warnings And Precautions For Azithromycin
Warnings
- This medication contains azithromycin. Do not take Zithromax or Zmax if you are allergic to azithromycin or any ingredients contained in this drug.
- Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.
Contraindications
- See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Azithromycin?”
Long-term Effects
- See What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Azithromycin?
Cautions
Pregnancy and Lactation
- Azithromycin use may be acceptable during pregnancy. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies are not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies were done and showed no risk.
- It is unknown whether azithromycin is excreted into breast milk use with caution while breastfeeding.
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What Is Amoxicillin What Is Azithromycin
Amoxicillin is a penicillin-type antibiotic, in the same class as ampicillin , piperacillin , and ticarcillin . Penicillin-type antibiotics do not directly kill bacteria, but they stop bacteria from multiplying by preventing them from forming the walls that surround them. Bacterial walls protect bacteria from their environment and keep the contents of the bacterial cell together. Bacteria are unable to survive without a cell wall. Amoxicillin is effective against several different bacteria such as H. influenzae, N. gonorrhoea, E. coli, Streptococci, Pneumococci, and some strains of Staphylococci. Amoxicillin is used to treat bacterial infections of the middle ear, throat, tonsils, larynx , lungs , bronchi , urinary tract, and skin. It also is used to treat gonorrhea.
Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic chemically related to erythromycin and clarithromycin used to treat otitis media , tonsillitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections, Mycobacterium avium complex, acute bacterial flare ups of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , acute pelvic inflammatory disease, and several sexually transmitted infectious diseases such as nongonococcal urethritis and cervicitis. It is effective against a wide variety of bacteria such as Hemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, mycobacterium avium, and many others.
- rash, and
- allergic reactions.
Azithromycin
