Azithromycin is sometimes prescribed long term to prevent chest infections if you keep getting them. In this case, it's usually taken 3 times a week, often on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Carry on taking this medicine until the course is completed, even if you feel better. If you stop your treatment early, your infection could come back.
If your doctor has prescribed azithromycin capsules, you should take them at least 1 hour before food or 2 hours after eating. Azithromycin liquid is available for children and people who find it difficult to swallow tablets.
If you or your child are taking azithromycin as a liquid, it'll usually be made up for you by your pharmacist. The medicine will come with a syringe or spoon to help you measure the right amount. If you don't have one, ask your pharmacist for one.
Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give the right amount. The liquid can have a bitter aftertaste, so it can be a good idea to offer children a drink of fruit juice afterwards. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next one. In this case, just leave out the missed dose and take your next dose as normal.
Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for other ways to remember your medicine. Taking an extra dose of azithromycin by accident is unlikely to harm you or your child. It may, however, increase the chance of temporary side effects, such as feeling or being sick or diarrhoea.
Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you're worried, or if you or your child accidentally take more than 1 extra dose. Like all medicines, azithromycin can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.
These common side effects of azithromycin happen in more than 1 in people. Keep taking the medicine, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away:.
In rare cases it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to azithromycin. These aren't all the side effects of azithromycin. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. Azithromycin isn't normally recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. But your doctor may prescribe it if the benefits of taking azithromycin are greater than the risks. Tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start azithromycin:.
You should also let your doctor know if you're taking any medicines for an irregular heartbeat arrhythmia , such as amiodarone or sotalol. Azithromycin can sometimes affect your heartbeat, so it's best not to take it with other medicines that have the same side effect. For this reason, it's important that you tell your doctor if you're taking medicines that can affect your heartbeat as a side effect. Check the leaflets that come with your medicines and talk to a pharmacist or your doctor if you have any worries.
Reviewed: November 24, 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. Tell your doctor if you have ever had: pneumonia; liver or kidney disease; myasthenia gravis; low levels of potassium in your blood; a heart rhythm disorder; or long QT syndrome in you or a family member.
Side Effects. Side Effects What are the side effects of Azithromycin Zithromax? Call your doctor at once if you have: severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody; fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness like you might pass out ; or liver problems --nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain upper right side , tiredness, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice yellowing of the skin or eyes ; Call your doctor right away if a baby taking azithromycin becomes irritable or vomits while eating or nursing.
Common side effects may include: nausea, vomiting; or stomach pain. Based on FDA pregnancy categories. Interactions What drugs and food should I avoid while taking Azithromycin Zithromax? You may take azithromycin oral with or without food.
What should I do if I missed a dose of Azithromycin Zithromax? If you think you or someone else may have overdosed on: Azithromycin Zithromax , call your doctor or the Poison Control center.
If someone collapses or isn't breathing after taking Azithromycin Zithromax , call What to Expect You should start to feel better within a few days of taking azithromycin, but this will depend on the type of infection you have. Additional Dosage Information Your dosage will depend on your medical condition, your age, the formulation of azithromycin you use, and other factors.
Secondary Uses Azithromycin is used to treat a variety of infections. See More. Azithromycin also has been used to treat bacterial infections in hospitalized patients with COVID More information is needed before any conclusions can be made regarding the possible benefits and risks of using azithromycin either alone or in combination with hydroxychloroquine in patients with COVID Azithromycin is used to treat certain bacterial infections, such as bronchitis; pneumonia; sexually transmitted diseases STD ; and infections of the ears, lungs, sinuses, skin, throat, and reproductive organs.
Azithromycin also is used to treat or prevent disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex MAC infection [a type of lung infection that often affects people with human immunodeficiency virus HIV ]. Azithromycin is in a class of medications called macrolide antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics such as azithromycin will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.
Azithromycin comes as a tablet, an extended-release long-acting suspension liquid , and a suspension liquid to take by mouth. The tablets and suspension Zithromax are usually taken with or without food once a day for 1—5 days. When used for the prevention of disseminated MAC infection, azithromycin tablets are usually taken with or without food once weekly.
The extended-release suspension Zmax is usually taken on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal as a one-time dose. To help you remember to take azithromycin, take it around the same time every day.
Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take azithromycin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Shake the liquid well before each use to mix the medication evenly. Use a dosing spoon, oral syringe, or measuring cup to measure the correct amount of medication. Rinse the measuring device with water after taking the full dose of medication.
If you receive azithromycin powder for suspension Zithromax in the single-dose, 1-gram packet, you must first mix it with water before you take the medication. If you receive azithromycin extended-release suspension Zmax as a dry powder, you must first add water to the bottle before you take the medication.
Open the bottle by pressing down on the cap and twisting. Each antibiotic only works against infections caused by certain types of bacteria, so there are many classes and types of antibiotics. Macrolide antibiotics are typically used to treat infections such as strep throat , syphilis , Lyme disease , and respiratory infections. The other macrolide antibiotics available in the United States are clarithromycin and erythromycin. There are other drugs available to treat your condition.
Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. A: One difference is that while both of these drugs work by killing bacteria, they do it in different ways. Azithromycin belongs to the class of drugs called macrolide antibiotics, as described in this article.
Amoxicillin belongs to a class called beta-lactam antibiotics. This is a large class that includes drugs such as penicillin. Azithromycin and amoxicillin can be used to treat several of the same conditions. These include bronchitis , sinusitis , strep throat, pneumonia, ear infections, skin infections, and lower respiratory infections.
However, they have differences. Azithromycin can also be used to treat gonorrhea, mycobacterium avium complex, and pelvic inflammatory disease. And amoxicillin can also be used to treat urinary tract infections and H. The greatest difference to you may be how often you need to take them. Azithromycin may be taken once per day for 1 to 5 days, depending on the condition being treated.
On the other hand, amoxicillin is often taken two or three times per day for 10 to 14 days. Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date.
However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication.
The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
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