Azithromycin: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects

Azithromycin is an antibiotic medication that is effective against a wide range of bacterial infections.
Category
Drug
Where to get
Prescription required, available at pharmacies.
Applicable for
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Azithromycin FAQ


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Is azithromycin an antibiotic?

Azithromycin is an antibiotic in the macrolides class. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved azithromycin in 1991. Like all antibiotics, azithromycin can only fight certain bacteria. For this reason, it is important to talk to a doctor before taking the drug. It is not effective against viral infections or as a pain reliever.

Can azithromycin be used as an alternative to other antibiotics?

Azithromycin treats many of the same infections that drugs such as penicillin and amoxicillin can treat. A doctor may prescribe azithromycin as an alternative to other antibiotics because it typically requires a shorter course.

What is azithromycin used for?

Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria. Azithromycin 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. Azithromycin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the side effects of azithromycin?

Side effects of azithromycin may include nausea and vomiting. Like all drugs, azithromycin can have certain side effects. These are usually minor. In clinical trials, only 0.7% of people stopped taking Zithromax because of its side effects. Most of the side effects that led people to stop taking the drug were gastrointestinal, such as:

What information is available on azithromycin?

More information is available on azithromycin including side effects, age restrictions, food interactions, whether the medicine is available at a government subsidised price on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) as well as other useful information.

Does azithromycin Sandoz work?

It contains the active ingredient azithromycin. Azithromycin belongs to a group of medicines called azalides. The azalides are a sub-class of a group of antibiotics called macrolides. It works by killing or stopping the growth of bacteria causing your infection. Azithromycin Sandoz will not work against viral infections such as colds or flu.

Azithromycin References

If you want to know more about Azithromycin, consider exploring links below:

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