How much azithromycin should i take

There are no known problems with taking herbal remedies or supplements alongside azithromycin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.

Azithromycin is from a group of medicines called macrolide antibiotics. Macrolide antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that cause the infection. There are other macrolide antibiotics that work in the same way as azithromycin. They include erythromycin and clarithromycin. It's usual to take azithromycin once a day. For erythromycin, it's usually 4 times a day, and twice a day for clarithromycin. Erythromycin is more likely to cause diarrhoea than either azithromycin or clarithromycin.

All macrolides can be used to treat chest and skin infections. Azithromycin and erythromycin can also be used to treat sexually transmitted infections.

Clarithromycin can also be used to treat Helicobacter pylori, bacteria that can cause stomach ulcers. Azithromycin and other macrolide antibiotics kill similar types of bacteria to penicillin antibiotics, such as amoxicillin. Some people are allergic to penicillin antibiotics - they can take macrolides like azithromycin instead. It's very important that you keep taking azithromycin until your course is finished.

Do this even if you feel better. It'll help stop the infection coming back. Tell your doctor if you don't start feeling better after taking azithromycin for 3 days. Also tell them if, at any time, you start to feel worse. Some people get a fungal infection called thrush after taking a course of antibiotics like azithromycin.

Antibiotics kill the normal harmless bacteria that help to protect you against thrush. Symptoms of thrush in the mouth include redness and itching. Women may get vaginal itching. Azithromycin doesn't stop contraceptive pills, including the combined pill and emergency contraception. But if azithromycin makes you vomit or have severe diarrhoea 6 to 8 watery poos in 24 hours for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy.

Look on the pill packet to find out what to do. Read more about what to do if you're on the pill and you're being sick or have diarrhoea. There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking azithromycin will reduce fertility in either men or women. However speak to a pharmacist or your doctor before taking it if you're trying to get pregnant.

Azithromycin can cause dizziness. If you're affected by it, do not drive, ride a bike or operate machinery. Page last reviewed: 6 December Next review due: 6 December Azithromycin On this page About azithromycin Key facts Who can and cannot take azithromycin How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.

About azithromycin Azithromycin is an antibiotic. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? Azithromycin is usually taken once a day. Try to take it at the same time each day. If you have tablets or liquid, you can take them with or without food. For most infections you should feel better within a few days, but you should still finish your full course of medicine. The most common side effects of azithromycin are feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, headaches, or changes to your sense of taste.

Azithromycin is also called by the brand name Zithromax. Azithromycin can be taken by adults and children. To make sure azithromycin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: had an allergic reaction to azithromycin or any other medicines in the past liver or kidney problems heart problems, including irregular heartbeats arrhythmia had diarrhoea when you have taken antibiotics before myasthenia gravis - azithromycin can worsen the symptoms of this muscle-weakening illness diabetes - azithromycin liquid contains sugar.

Important Carry on taking this medicine until the course is completed, even if you feel better. If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. This may cause liver damage or an irregular heart rhythm. If your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

What to do if you miss a dose: Take your dose as soon as you remember. But if you remember just a few hours before your next scheduled dose, take only one dose. Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could result in dangerous side effects. If you take too much azithromycin, you could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body.

This may cause liver damage and irregular heart rhythm. A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions. Azithromycin belongs to a drug class called macrolide antibiotics.

Antibiotics are drugs used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Each antibiotic only works against infections caused by certain types of bacteria, so there are many classes and types of antibiotics.

Macrolide antibiotics are typically used to treat infections such as strep throat , syphilis , Lyme disease , and respiratory infections. The other macrolide antibiotics available in the United States are clarithromycin and erythromycin.

There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you.

A: One difference is that while both of these drugs work by killing bacteria, they do it in different ways. Azithromycin belongs to the class of drugs called macrolide antibiotics, as described in this article. Amoxicillin belongs to a class called beta-lactam antibiotics. This is a large class that includes drugs such as penicillin. Azithromycin and amoxicillin can be used to treat several of the same conditions. These include bronchitis , sinusitis , strep throat, pneumonia, ear infections, skin infections, and lower respiratory infections.

However, they have differences. Azithromycin can also be used to treat gonorrhea, mycobacterium avium complex, and pelvic inflammatory disease. And amoxicillin can also be used to treat urinary tract infections and H. The greatest difference to you may be how often you need to take them. Azithromycin may be taken once per day for 1 to 5 days, depending on the condition being treated. On the other hand, amoxicillin is often taken two or three times per day for 10 to 14 days.

Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date.

However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Do not double doses. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. After water has been added to the powder, use the dose within 12 hours and throw away any unused liquid after your dose. Do not freeze the bottle. Do not keep the oral liquid for more than 10 days. Throw away any unused liquid after all doses are completed.

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