Prescription Drug:
Zithromax capsules and suspension contain the active ingredient azithromycin, which is a type of drug called a macrolide antibiotic. (NB. Azithromycin is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic drug.) Azithromycin is used to treat infections caused by bacteria.
Azithromycin works by preventing bacteria from producing proteins that are essential to them. Without these proteins the bacteria cannot grow, replicate and increase in numbers. Azithromycin therefore stops the spread of infection and remaining bacteria are killed by the body's immune system or eventually die.
Azithromycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is active against a wide variety of bacteria that cause a wide variety of infections. Azithromycin may be used to treat infections of the upper or lower airways, skin or soft tissue, or ears. It is also be used to treat the sexually-transmitted infection chlamydia.
To make sure the bacteria causing an infection are susceptible to azithromycin your doctor may take a tissue sample, for example a swab from the throat or skin.
Azithromycin is used for the treatment of infections including those of the chest, skin and ear. It is also used for some types of stomach ulcer.
Even if your condition improves it is important to complete the prescribed course or your infection could come back.
The most common side effects are feeling sick, being sick, tummy pain, diarrhoea and indigestion or heartburn.
Azithromycin is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections; it works by killing bacteria that cause the infection.
Drug without Prescription:
Azithromycin is an antibiotic related to erythromycin. It is prescribed for adults to treat certain mild to moderate skin infections; upper and lower respiratory tract infections, including pharyngitis (strep throat), tonsillitis, sinus infections, worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pneumonia; sexually transmitted infections of the cervix or urinary tract; and genital ulcer disease in men. In children, Azithromycin is used to treat middle ear infection, pneumonia, tonsillitis, and strep throat.
There is a possibility of rare but very serious reactions to Azithromycin, including angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, and neck that impedes speaking, swallowing, and breathing), anaphylaxis (a violent, even fatal allergic reaction), and serious skin diseases. If you develop these symptoms, stop taking Azithromycin and call your doctor immediately.
No Prescription:
Azithromycin is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic chemically related to erythromycin and clarithromycin (Biaxin). It is effective against a wide variety of bacteria organisms, such as Hemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and mycobacterium avium, and many others. It is unusual in that it stays in the body for quite a while, allowing for once a day dosing and for shorter treatment courses for most infections.
Azithromycin, like all macrolide antibiotics, prevents bacteria from growing by interfering with their ability to make proteins. Due to the differences in the way proteins are made in bacteria and humans, the macrolide antibiotics do not interfere with humans' ability to make proteins.
Prescription is used for:
Bacterial infection of the lungs and airways (chest or lower respiratory tract infection, eg pneumonia, bronchitis)
Bacterial infections of the nasal passages, sinuses or throat (upper respiratory tract infection, eg sinusitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis)
Bacterial infections of the middle ear (otitis media)
Bacterial infections of the skin or soft tissue
Chlamydia
Azithromycin is effective against susceptible bacteria causing infections of the middle ear, tonsillitis, throat infections, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and sinuses. It is also effective against certain sexually transmitted infectious diseases, such as nongonococcal urethritis and cervicitis.
Prescription Side Effects:
Abdominal pain;
Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias);
Abnormal liver tests;
Abnormal reaction of the skin to light usually a rash (photosensitivity);
Allergic reactions;
Allergic skin reactions;
Anxiety and agitation;
Awareness of your heartbeat (palpitations);
Decrease in the number of platelets or white blood cells in the blood;
Diarrhoea;
Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea constipation indigestion nausea vomiting or abdominal pain;
Dizziness;
Headache;
Hearing distubances;
Hyperactivity;
Indigestion and heartburn;
Liver or kidney disorders;
Loose stools;
Loss of appetite;
Nausea (feeling sick);
Nausea;
Nervousness;
Pain in the joints (arthralgia);
Pins and needles (paraesthesia);
Seizures (convulsions);
Sleepiness (somnolence);
Thrush infections;
Tummy pain;
Vomiting (being sick);
Vomiting;
Weakness or loss of strength (asthenia);
Prescription Form:
Capsules (red): 250 milligrams;
Suspension: 100 and 200 milligrams/teaspoon.
Prescription Recommended Dosage:
ADULTS
Pneumonia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Tonsillitis, Strep Throat, and Skin Infections
The usual dose of Azithromycin is 500 milligrams in a single dose the first day. This is followed by 250 milligrams once daily for the next 4 days. Alternatively, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be prescribed 500 milligrams a day for 3 days.
Sinus Infection
The usual dose of Azithromycin is 500 milligrams once a day for 3 days.
Genital Ulcer Disease
The usual dose is a single gram (1,000 milligrams) one time only.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
The usual dose is a single 2-gram (2,000 milligrams) dose.
CHILDREN
Middle Ear Infection
For children aged 6 months and up, treatment may be given three ways. One option is a single dose of 30 milligrams per 2.2 pounds of body weight. Another option is a dose of 10 milligrams per 2.2 pounds given each day for 3 days. Azithromycin can also be given over a period of 5 days, starting with a dose of 10 milligrams per 2.2 pounds on the first day and continuing with daily doses of 5 milligrams per 2.2 pounds for the next 4 days.
Sinus Infection
For children aged 6 months and up, the usual dose is 10 milligrams of Azithromycin suspension per 2.2 pounds of body weight given once daily for 3 days.
Pneumonia
For children aged 6 months and up, the usual dose is 10 milligrams of Azithromycin suspension per 2.2 pounds of body weight in a single dose the first day, followed by 5 milligrams per 2.2 pounds for the next 4 days.
Strep Throat and Tonsillitis
For children aged 2 years and up, the usual dose is 12 milligrams per 2.2 pounds of body weight once daily for 5 days.
Azithromycin should be taken at least one hour before or two hours after meals since it may bind to food and not be absorbed from the intestine. For most infections, azithromycin is taken once daily for a relatively short course of treatment (usually five days). 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.
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