 Main Use
Bacterial infections
Active Ingredient
Azithromycin.
How does it work?
This medicine contains the active ingredient azithromycin, which is a type of medicine known as a macrolide antibiotic. It 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 may 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.
What is it used for?
Bacterial infection of the middle ear (otitis media)
Bronchitis
Chlamydia
Infection of the lungs and airways (chest or lower respiratory tract infection)
Infection of the nasal passages, sinuses or throat (upper respiratory tract infection)
Inflammation of the sinuses due to infection (sinusitis)
Inflammation of the tonsils due to infection (tonsillitis)
Pneumonia
Skin or soft tissue infections
Warning!
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is important that you finish the prescribed course of this antibiotic medicine, even if you feel better or it seems the infection has cleared up. Stopping the course early increases the chance that the infection will come back and that the bacteria will grow resistant to the antibiotic.
Broad-spectrum antibiotics can sometimes cause diarrhoea. If you experience diarrhoea that becomes severe or persistent or contains blood or mucus, either during or after taking this medicine, you should consult your doctor immediately.
Use with caution in
Decreased kidney function
Decreased liver function
Not to be used in
Allergy to macrolide type antibiotics, eg erythromycin
Liver disease
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
The safety of this medicine for use during pregnancy has not been established. It is not recommended for use in pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. It is not recommended for use during breastfeeding unless considered essential by your doctor. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Label warnings
Do not take indigestion remedies at the same time of day as this medication.
Take at regular intervals. Complete the prescribed course unless otherwise directed.
Take this medication an hour before food or on an empty stomach.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
Headache
Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias)
Indigestion (dyspepsia)
Abnormal reaction of the skin to light, usually a rash (photosensitivity)
Seizures (convulsions)
Pins and needles (paraesthesia)
Hearing distubances
Pain in the joints (arthralgia)
Sleepiness (somnolence)
Weakness or loss of strength (asthenia)
Dizziness or loss of balance
Yeast infection of the moist areas of the body, especially the vagina (candidiasis)
Anxiety and agitation
Allergic skin reactions
Liver disorders
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
This medicine should not be taken by people taking ergotamine or related medicines, eg dihydroergotamine or methysergide (used to treat migraine).
Azithromycin may increase the blood levels of the following medicines:
- ciclosporin
- digoxin
- theophylline.
If you are taking digoxin or ciclosporin it is recommended that your blood levels are monitored while you are taking azithromycin. Your doctor may adjust your dose if necessary.
Antacids for indigestion and heartburn reduce the absorption of azithromycin from the gut if they are taken at the same time as azithromycin. Azithromycin should therefore be taken at least one hour before or two hours after taking any antacid.
Azithromycin may enhance the anti-blood-clotting effects of warfarin and possibly other anticoagulant medicines. If you are taking an anticoagulant your doctor may therefore wish to perform extra monitoring of your blood clotting time (INR) while you are also taking azithromycin.
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