Azithromycin

Information about Azithromycin

Azithromycin Uses

Azithromycin is used in the treatment of bacterial infections. It is used in bacterial infections of tonsils, sinus, ear, nose, throat, skin and soft tissues and lungs (pneumonia).

How Azithromycin works

Azithromycin is an antibiotic. It works by preventing synthesis of essential proteins required by bacteria to carry out vital functions. Thus, it stops the bacteria from growing, and prevents the infection from spreading.

Common side effects of Azithromycin

Nausea, Abdominal pain, Diarrhea
CONTENT DETAILS
Written By
Dr. Love Sharma
PhD (Pharmacology), PGDPRA
Reviewed By
Dr. Shilpa Garcha
MD (Pharmacology), MBBS
Last updated
13 Sep 2022 | 09:28 AM (UTC)

We provide you with authentic, trustworthy and revelant information

Want to know more

Available Medicine for Azithromycin

AzithralAlembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd
₹25 to ₹35621 variant(s)
AzeeCipla Ltd
₹30 to ₹20414 variant(s)
AziwokDr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd
₹16 to ₹27511 variant(s)
AzimaxCipla Ltd
₹22 to ₹18511 variant(s)
ZadyMankind Pharma Ltd
₹26 to ₹1176 variant(s)
LazHetero Drugs Ltd
₹13 to ₹1269 variant(s)
AzibactIpca Laboratories Ltd
₹27 to ₹11710 variant(s)
ZithrocinBiochem Pharmaceutical Industries
₹17 to ₹1179 variant(s)
AzibestBlue Cross Laboratories Ltd
₹20 to ₹1156 variant(s)
AzilideMicro Labs Ltd
₹22 to ₹11712 variant(s)

Expert advice for Azithromycin

  • Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better. Stopping it early may make the infection to come back and harder to treat.
  • Take it 1 hour before or two hours after food.
  • Do not take antacids 2 hours before or after taking Azithromycin.
  • Diarrhea may occur as a side effect but should stop when your course is complete. Inform your doctor if it doesn't stop or if you find blood in your stools.
  • Stop taking Azithromycin and inform your doctor immediately if you develop an itchy rash, swelling of the face, throat or tongue or breathing difficulties while taking it.

Frequently asked questions for Azithromycin

Azithromycin

Q. Is Azithromycin safe?

Azithromycin is safe if used at prescribed doses for the prescribed duration as advised by your doctor.

Q. What if I don't get better?

You should inform your doctor if you do not notice any improvement in your symptoms after 3 days of taking Azithromycin. Also, if your symptoms get worse, inform your doctor immediately.

Q. Can the use of Azithromycin cause diarrhea?

Yes, the use of Azithromycin can cause diarrhea. It is an antibiotic which kills the harmful bacteria. However, it also affects the helpful bacteria in your stomach or intestine and causes diarrhea. If you are experiencing severe diarrhea, talk to your doctor about it.

Q. Can Azithromycin be taken at night?

Azithromycin is usually prescribed once daily. You can take it at any time of the day, but remember to take it at the same time each day. The medicine should be taken 1 hour before meals or 2 hours after eating food. You can take the tablet preparation with or without food. However, you must take Azithromycin exactly as advised by your doctor and ask your doctor if you have any doubts.

Q. How long does Azithromycin takes to work?

Usually, Azithromycin starts working soon after taking it. However, it may take some days to kill all the harmful bacteria and make you feel better.

Q. Why is Azithromycin given for 3 days?

The duration of treatment depends on the type of infection being treated and the age of the patient. Azithromycin is not necessarily given for 3 days. In most bacterial infections, a single dose of 500 mg is given for 3 days. Alternatively, it can be given as 500 mg once on day 1 and then 250 mg once from day 2 to day 5. In some cases of infection such as genital ulcer disease, it is given as a single 1 gram dose. Therefore, you must stick to the regime advised by your doctor.

Q. What should I avoid while taking Azithromycin?

Generally, it is recommended that patients taking Azithromycin should avoid taking any antacid with this medicine as this can affect the overall effectiveness of Azithromycin. It is also recommended to avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds as Azithromycin increases the risk of sunburn.

Q. Is Azithromycin a strong antibiotic?

Azithromycin is an effective antibiotic that is used for the treatment of many bacterial infections. Compared to other antibiotics, Azithromycin has a longer half-life which means that it stays in the body for a long time because of which it is given once a day and for a short span of time. Other antibiotics comparatively have a shorter half-life and are usually given twice, thrice, or four times a day.

Q. Can you get a yeast infection from taking Azithromycin?

Some people may get a fungal or yeast infection known as thrush after taking Azithromycin. Antibiotics such as Azithromycin can kill the normal or ‘good bacteria’ of your intestine responsible for preventing thrush. You should inform your doctor if you get a sore or vaginal itching or discharge. Also, inform your doctor if you get a white patch in the mouth or tongue after taking Azithromycin or soon after stopping it.

INDIA’S LARGEST HEALTHCARE PLATFORM

260m+
Visitors
31m+
Orders Delivered
1800+
Cities
Get the link to download App

Connect

  • Social Links
  • Want daily dose of health?
Download App
Reliable

All products displayed on Tata 1mg are procured from verified and licensed pharmacies. All labs listed on the platform are accredited

Secure

Tata 1mg uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) 128-bit encryption and is Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliant

Affordable

Find affordable medicine substitutes, save up to 50% on health products, up to 80% off on lab tests and free doctor consultations.

LegitScript approved
India's only LegitScript and ISO/ IEC 27001 certified online healthcare platform

Know more about Tata 1mgdownArrow

Access medical and health information

Tata 1mg provides you with medical information which is curated, written and verified by experts, accurate and trustworthy. Our experts create high-quality content about medicines, diseases, lab investigations, Over-The-Counter (OTC) health products, Ayurvedic herbs/ingredients, and alternative remedies.

Order medicines online

Get free medicine home delivery in over 1800 cities across India. You can also order Ayurvedic, Homeopathic and other Over-The-Counter (OTC) health products. Your safety is our top priority. All products displayed on Tata 1mg are procured from verified and licensed pharmacies.

Book lab tests

Book any lab tests and preventive health packages from certified labs and get tested from the comfort of your home. Enjoy free home sample collection, view reports online and consult a doctor online for free.

Consult a doctor online

Got a health query? Consult doctors online from the comfort of your home for free. Chat privately with our registered medical specialists to connect directly with verified doctors. Your privacy is guaranteed.

© 2023 Tata 1mg. All rights reserved. In compliance with Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, we don't process requests for Schedule X and other habit forming drugs.