Azithromycin is an antibiotic. It is used to treat certain bacterial infections of the ears, sinuses, throat, tonsils, lungs, or skin.
This medicine is also used to treat genital infections or sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhoea.
Azithromycin may be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.
Take Azithromycin exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether you should take this medicine with or without food. Different brands or preparations of this medicine may be taken differently.
Try to take it at the same time each day.
Azithromycin is available as a tablet, capsule or powder for oral suspension.
If you are taking the tablet or capsule, swallow it whole with a glass of water.
If you are taking the powder for oral suspension, tap or invert the bottle to loosen the dry powder then add the specified volume of water. Shake the bottle well before you take the medicine to ensure that the liquid is evenly mixed. Use the measuring device (e.g. oral syringe) provided to measure your dose.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the treatment timeframe depending on the type and severity of your infection.
Take Azithromycin at regular intervals. Do not skip any doses. You must complete the entire course of this medicine. If you don't, the infection will not be properly controlled.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Do not take Azithromycin if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen eyes) to this medicine or similar medicines such as erythromycin or clarithromycin.
Alert your doctor if you have a history of liver disease due to previous use of Azithromycin as this medicine may not be suitable for you.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- heart problems or disease e.g. slow or abnormal heartbeat, congenital QT syndrome (an inherited disease causing abnormally fast and erratic heartbeats)
- low potassium or magnesium levels in the blood
- myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness disorder)
- severe kidney disease
- liver disease
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving Azithromycin to a child or the elderly. Children and elderly people may be more sensitive to the side effects.
If you are being treated with Azithromycin for a sexually transmitted infection, you should follow your doctor's advice on ways to prevent passing the infection to others. You should also avoid sexual contact until the doctor certifies that you are cleared of the infection.
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- Routine tests (e.g. liver function, complete blood count, ECG [test used to record the electrical activity of the heart]) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
- Regular monitoring for signs and symptoms of liver problems (e.g. nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain) may also be needed.
Azithromycin may cause any of the following side effects: headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, altered taste, diarrhoea, stomach pain, indigestion, stomach wind, tiredness, and loss of appetite.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes, mouth or throat
- rashes with peeling of the skin or blistering of the lips, mouth or eyes accompanied by fever
- yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark coloured urine, swelling in the legs and ankles
- fast or irregular heartbeat, chest pain or pressure
- severe diarrhoea or diarrhoea with severe stomach cramps or bloody stools
- hearing loss or ringing in the ears
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines for migraine e.g. ergotamine
- medicines for irregular heartbeat e.g. procainamide, quinidine, amiodarone, sotalol, digoxin
- medicines for mood disorders e.g. pimozide
- medicines to treat depression e.g. citalopram
- other antibiotics e.g. moxifloxacin, levofloxacin
- cholesterol-lowering medicines e.g. lovastatin, atorvastatin
- blood-thinning medicines e.g. warfarin
- ciclosporin (medicine used in organ transplants or certain immune disorders)
- colchicine (medicine for gout [high uric acid level in the blood])
- hydroxychloroquine (medicine to treat malaria [a disease characterised by chills, fever and sweating that is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito])
- nelfinavir (medicine for HIV infection)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Azithromycin.
This medicine should not be taken with antacids (medicines that neutralise stomach acids) as they could reduce the effectiveness of Azithromycin. If you must take antacids, take them at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after you have taken Azithromycin.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
The oral suspension can be stored between 5-30°C after you have mixed the powder with water. Throw away unused portion after 10 days.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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