Azithromycin medicine: Uses, dosage and usage

What is Azithromycin?

Azithromycin medicine is an antibiotic that fights bacteria. It is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria, such as respiratory infections, skin infections, ear infections, eye infections, and sexually transmitted diseases.

The drug may also be used for purposes not listed in the medication guide.

Azithromycin drug information

• Drug Name: Azithromycin.
• Registration Number: VD-13790-11.
• Active ingredient – ​​Concentration/strength: 250mg, 500mg, 200mg, 100mg.
• Dosage form – Packing: box of 2 blisters x 10 capsules.
• Expiry date: 24 months.
• Antiviral drug group

How does Azithromycin work?

Active ingredient Azithromycin is an azalide, a subgroup of macrolide antibiotics. By binding to the 50S-ribosomal subunit, the active ingredient avoids translocation of the peptide chain from one side to the other of the ribosome. Therefore, RNA-dependent protein synthesis in susceptible organisms is prevented.

Indications for the use of Azithromycin

Drug can be applied to treat the following infections, when caused by microorganisms sensitive to the drug:

• Acute bacterial sinusitis (fully diagnosed).
• Acute bacterial otitis media (fully diagnosed).
• Pharyngitis, tonsillitis.
• Exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (fully diagnosed).
• Community-acquired pneumonia is mild to moderate.
• Skin and soft tissue infections.
• Uncomplicated Chlamydia trachomatis urethritis and cervicitis.

Official guidance on the appropriate use of antibacterial agents should be considered.

Contraindications to use

Hypersensitivity to macrolide antibiotics or any component of the drug. Liver failure, kidney failure, diabetes, taking drugs of ergot origin.

Dosage of Azithromycin

Use orally.

Dosage for adults:

• Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Single dose of 1000 mg.
• Prophylaxis of opportunistic infections in HIV-infected patients: 1 time 1200 mg/week for at least 3 months.
• Disseminated opportunistic infections in HIV-infected patients: Take 600 mg × 1 time/day until immunity is restored.
• Other indications: Oral 500 mg/day × 3 days.

Dosage for children: Oral suspension is recommended.

• Streptococcal pharyngitis, dermatitis, soft tissue, otitis media: Take 10-20 mg/kg × 3 days (not to exceed 500 mg/day).
• Maximum total dose: 1500 mg.

How to take Azithromycin?

Tablets: take with 1 glass of water on an empty or full stomach.

Single dose oral suspension powder (pack): mix the powder packet with a little water, drink immediately after mixing, can rinse the cup to drink all the remaining medicine

Multi-dose oral suspension powder (bottle): mix the medicine with an exact amount of water as required by the manufacturer, shake the bottle well at each time of taking the medicine, take exactly the dose prescribed by the doctor.

Azithromycin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Azithromycin: (rash, trouble breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a serious skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning sensation). eye, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).

Call your doctor right away if you have:

• severe stomach pain, watery or bloody diarrhea;
• fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out); or
• liver problems–nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
• Older adults may have more heart rhythm side effects, including life-threatening tachycardia.

Common side effects of azithromycin may include:

• Diarrhea;
• Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
• Headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Azithromycin drug interactions

Write a list of all the medicines you are taking (including prescription, nonprescription and dietary supplements) and show them to your doctor or pharmacist. Do not arbitrarily use Azithromycin, stop or change the dose of the drug without the permission of the doctor.

• Droperidol;
• Methadone;
• Nelfinavir;
• antibiotics- clarithromycin , erythromycin , moxifloxacin, pentamidine;
• Anticoagulants (warfarin, coumadin);
• cancer medicine–arsenic trioxide, vandetanib;
• antidepressants–citalopram, escitalopram;
• antimalarials–chloroquine, halofantrine;
• heart rhythm medicine–amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, flecainide, ibutilide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol;
• Sedatives–chlorpromazine, haloperidol , mesoridazine, pimozide, thioridazine.

Food and alcohol interact with Azithromycin

Certain medications should not be taken with meals or at the same time as certain foods because interactions can occur.

Alcohol and tobacco can also interact with certain medications. Consult your health professional about taking your medicine with food, alcohol and tobacco.

Be careful while using Azithromycin

• Drug and other macrolides should be used with caution because the potential for allergic reactions such as angioedema and anaphylaxis is very dangerous (although rare).
• As with other antibiotics, during use, signs of superinfection should be observed from non-susceptible organisms, including fungi.
• An appropriate dose adjustment is required for patients with renal impairment with creatinine clearance > 40 ml/min.
• Do not use for people with liver disease, because the drug is eliminated mainly through the liver.

For pregnant & lactating women

Azithromycin is not recommended for pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. The drug passes through breast milk, so it should not be used by nursing women unless absolutely necessary.

How much does Azithromycin cost?

Price of Azithromycin 500mg box of 30 tablets: 5,700VND/tablet – 170,000VND/box. Type 250mg box of 60 pills price: 3,600VND/tablet – 215,000VND/box. Type 200mg box of 24 medicine packages price: 3,500VND/pack – 74,000VND/box. Type 200mg box of 24 medicine packages price: 3,500VND/pack – 74,000VND/box.

How to store medicine?

• You should store the medicine at room temperature, in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.
• You should not store the medicine in the refrigerator.
• Keep the medicine out of the reach of children.
• Do not throw medicine down the toilet or plumbing.

The above article is for reference only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. Readers should only follow the instructions of the doctor who is treating you, Index-China disclaims responsibility if problems occur.

Index-China

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