UsesAzithromycin is used to treat bacterial infections of the nose, throat, chest, ear, skin, soft tissues, and sexually transmitted genitourinary infections
Mechanism of ActionAzithromycin belongs to a class of medications called macrolide antibiotics. Azithromycin works by killing bacteria by preventing them from reproducing and repairing themselves
DosageRespiratory tract, Skin and soft tissue infections- 500 mg once daily for 3 days. Or 500mg on day 1 followed by 250mg on days 2 to 5 Typhoid- 500 mg once daily for 7 days Uncomplicated gonorrhoea- 2 g single dose Granuloma inguinale- Initial: 1 g, then 500 mg/day until all lesions has healed completely Chancroid/Chlamydial urethritis-1 g single dose Prophylaxis of disseminated MAC infections- 1.2 g once weekly Treatment or secondary prophylaxis-administered along with other antimycobacterials: 500 mg once daily
Side Effectsdiarrhea that is watery or bloody headache with chest pain and severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling
Warnings/PrecautionsDo not take any antacids containing magnesium or aluminium for up to 2 hours before and after taking this drug Caution should be exercised in patients with history of cystic fibrosis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), irregular heartbeat, or kidney or liver disease, during pregnancy and breastfeeding