FAQ
1. What is Azithromycin (Zithromax) and what is it used for?
Azithromycin is a medical drug available to us under the name Zithromax which belongs to a class of medication called Macrolide Antibiotics. This medicine is used to treat varieties of bacterial infections that include sinus, Lyme disease, pneumonia, sexually transmitted infections etc. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria and killing them.
2. When and how to use Azithromycin?
Azithromycin is available to us in a form of pill that must be taken by mouth with or without food as per your doctor's prescription. In case of an upset stomach, take it with food. It is usually taken once a day daily. The dosage and length of the treatment is based on your medical condition, response to the treatment and other medicine that you may be taking for the same or different reason. For children, it is also based on their body weight. Swallow the tablet whole rather than chewing or crushing it in your mouth as it may release all the drug in your mouth which increases the risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you with a low dose which will increase gradually. Take the medicine daily at the same time to get the most benefits from it. Do not increase your dose or take it more often than prescribed as this may also increase the risk of side effects without any improvement in your condition. Discuss all the other medicines that you might be taking along with Azithromycin for the same or different reasons. Follow the medical prescription carefully and inform your doctor in case of any exception or confusion.
3. What are the side effects of Azithromycin?
Common side effects observed while medicating with Azithromycin are vomiting, upset stomach, diarrhea/loose stool, gas, abdominal pain or nausea may occur. Inform your doctor if these conditions persist or get worse. There are some serious side effects which must be informed to the doctor right away if observed such as hearing changes (decreased hearing, deafness), eye problem (drooping eyelids, blurred vision), difficulty speaking/swallowing, muscle weakness, signs of liver problems (unusual tiredness, persistent nausea/vomiting, severe abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine), persistent diarrhea, blood/mucus in your stool, white patches in your mouth, a change in vaginal discharge, or other new symptoms etc. There are also some severe allergic reactions involved with these medications which require immediate medical attention if observed such as fast/irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, fainting, rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), trouble breathing, persistent fever, new or worsening lymph node swelling etc.
4. Is Azithromycin an effective medicine?
Azithromycin is a medicine that treats a variety of lungs and chest infections. It is considered as an effective medicine to treat such bacterial infections. According to a study, a single dose of Azithromycin had an excellent cure rate of 97% for a medicational period of 7 days. Also for sexually transmitted infections, Azithromycin has proven to get an efficacy of 95% with only 5% failure of treatment.
5. How long does Azithromycin take to work?
Azithromycin is a kind of medicine that is used as a short term treatment. It is very well absorbed on the body when taken orally and smoothly enters your body tissue to fight bacteria causing infection. It takes 5 days for Azithromycin to get fully effective whereas relief on your symptoms gets started on the very first day of administration of medicine.
6. Is Azithromycin more effective than Amoxicillin?
Azithromycin and Amoxicillin both the medicines, are considered as an effective medicine for treating bacterial infection. When compared, both of them were found to be much effective and well tolerated medicine for the treatment of respective diseases. So, in case of finding out which one is better, let your medical expert or guide decide which one suits well and is effective for your condition.
7. What can Azithromycin be used for?
Azithromycin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. It is used for respiratory infections, skin infections, ear infections, eye infections, and sexually transmitted diseases.
8. How quickly does Azithromycin work?
Doctor will prescribe you to take for 5 days course to fully work, but it will start working to relieve your sore throat and other symptoms on the first day when you take it.
9. Is Azithromycin a Penicillin?
No, Azithromycin and Penicillin they both are different types of antibiotics that use different mechanisms to inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause the infection.
10. What is the difference between amoxicillin and azithromycin?
Amoxicillin and azithromycin are various sorts of anti-microbials. Amoxicillin is a penicillin-type anti-toxin and azithromycin is a macrolide anti-toxin. Brand names of amoxicillin incorporate Moxatag and Amoxil. Brand names of azithromycin incorporate Zithromax, Zithromax Tri-Pak, Zithromax Z-Pak, and Zmax.
11. What does azithromycin do to the heart?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is cautioning the public that azithromycin (Zithromax or Zmax) can cause unusual changes in the electrical action of the heart that may prompt a possibly lethal irregular heart rhythm.
